Red Funnel has announced it is making changes to its hi-speed Red Jet timetable from Monday, reducing the service significantly to a ‘commuter timetable’.
While the operator will maintain its daily Red Jet service between West Cowes and Southampton 7 days a week, the service will move to a ‘commuter’ timetable format effective from Monday 16th November.
The revised temporary timetable will be as follows:
Red Funnel has seen a 60% decline in demand for its services compared to recent weeks, now bringing overall daily traffic passenger counts to just 15% of what they were this time last year.
The revised timetable has been established to serve the majority of Red Jet customers who continue to commute for essential reasons, with an estimated 70% of passengers already travelling at the same times as the revised schedule.
With demand significantly reduced, the Red Jets will also be able to carry up to 5 full size (non-folding) bicycles per crossing, on a first come first served basis.
To support Islanders crossing the Solent following the suspension of the FastCat service, Red Funnel also confirms that the company will accept all pre-booked Wightlink foot passenger tickets on both its routes between Southampton and East and West Cowes.
Fran Collins, CEO, Red Funnel added:
“As for many businesses, this second lockdown has brought additional challenges and we are doing our absolute best to ensure we make the right short-term decisions, to safeguard our long-term ability to provide a lifeline service to the Island and its communities. We remain deeply committed to doing everything we can to keep sailing and maintain our services. We hope these changes won’t last long.
“As we’ve done since the start of the pandemic, we’ve worked closely with the other operators and the Isle of Wight Council to ensure that the Island remains connected and supplied to, to the best of our efforts, and we look forward to resuming normal timetables as soon as we’re able.”
With effect from Friday 13th November, Red Funnel will be suspending its food and retail services in Southampton’s Terminal 1 and closing the Signature Lounge on board its vehicle ferries until further notice. Takeaway food and drink services will continue to be offered on-board the vehicle ferries.
Isle of Wight Council leader, Dave Stewart, has said:
“I welcome the retention of vital commuter services between Cowes and Southampton. These will be daily, hi-speed foot passenger sailings which meet the needs of most regular passengers still travelling for essential reasons.
“I cannot over emphasise how important it is for the Island to maintain good commuter services through this second lockdown. They provide a lifeline for Islanders who need to travel to the mainland for work, to attend medical appointments or attend school.
“As I said yesterday, I understand the pressures of lockdown are having a significant impact on our ferry companies, caused by reduced footfall and, like many other businesses, they are clearly reviewing their service provision.
“As a council we will continue to lobby for services to be maintained to their fullest and the Island has connectivity with the mainland in a way that provides a vital lifeline for goods, services and keyworkers”.
For more information visit www.redfunnel.co.uk/SailSafe and find all of the latest timetables at www.redfunnel.co.uk/timetables.
Congratulations Red Funnel, continuing services and taking Wightlink tickets too. Good work.
7 sailinga day. WOW. Really helping us out with that, eh, Red Funnel? Still, gotta keep those shareholders happy, and the Directors bonuses up. Much more important!
They are a business don’t forget!!
Disgusting service as per usual as per your other competitor. Welcome to HMP Isle of Wight, thanks for trapping us here!
Least red funnel are attempting to help islanders shitelink just don’t care fair play to red funnel
Dammed if they do, dammed if they don’t!!
People criticise them if they cut ferries and if they don’t cut the ferries – the ferry companies can’t win!!