Cross-Solent travel is being hit by strong winds and heavy downpours caused by Storm Dennis for a second day.
A number of sailings to and from the Isle of Wight were either cancelled or the route suspended altogether yesterday (Saturday), with the problems continuing this morning.
Updated Sunday 16th February
This information is now out of date. Please refer to a newer article.
Red Funnel
East Cowes-Southampton (Vehicle ferry) – Running to timetable
Cowes-Southampton (RedJet) – Suspended
Wightlink
Yarmouth-Lymington (Vehicle ferry) – Running to timetable
Fishbourne-Portsmouth (Vehicle ferry) – Running but with a 25-minute delay
Ryde Pier-Portsmouth (FastCat) – Running to timetable
Hovertravel
Ryde-Southsea (Hovercraft) – Running to timetable



























































































So the hover is running and the boats and red jet are not are they just using the weather as a excuse because there poorly maintained fleet break down ?
Read the article it says the Ferries are running but the HOVER is suspended!
hover was running – from first thing until 1630 – that is when they sent out their notification about suspending.
I hope everyone donates to the tunnel viability study https://solentfreedomtunnel.co.uk/the-sft-viability-study-by-arup/
If you don’t want the limitations of living on an island then move off the island, don’t destroy it for the people that enjoy the beauty of being separated.
When the tunnel is built you will enjoy using it
Stop harping on about a bloody tunnel, its an island and called that for a reason, if you dont like it move to the mainland.
The UK is STILL an Island yet Linked to Europe by tunnel! The IOW will still be an Island when it has the tunnel completed..Get used to it
Well said!!
Tunnel flooded, bridge now in France
It will never happen.
Are you originally an islander or an overner? If the latter go back if the former you should be ashamed
Just get on with the tunnel. Stop debating. Build the bloody thing.
9.00am from Southampton running.
A group of us have spent the night on the red funnel car ferry, docked in Southampton while storm Dennis wreaked havoc. We were very well looked after with complimentary hot drinks through the night AND a lovely breakfast in the morning. Very lovely staff too
Thank you very much from Julies Mamma Mia group x
You beat me to it Viv, yes the staff couldn’t have been more friendlier or helpful, and the complimentary cooked breakfast was enjoyed by all
Likely get more support Kev if you did crowd funding to raise enough cash to hire a removal van so you and your loved ones could leave this extremely ‘isolated’ isle, and then you could all ‘move’ to the land and people you ‘imagine’ you would be happier having better access to.
Can’t believe the total stupidity of those who ‘love the Island’ but then want a bridge and then ‘imagine’ that it will remain the same as it is now, or remain for the reason they ‘say’ they love it here now.
Why NOT go to the mainland to live?
Answer: because it is not as nice as the Island.
WHY is it not as nice?
Answer: Because it has more people, more houses, more built up, more hectic, more traffic, more crime.
Won’t us having a fixed link cause the Island to then have all those problems?
Answer: Without doubt.
Case closed.
Ferries running again now. Suggest you book a one way. You ‘may’ be happier, and WE certainly would.
I would be interested to know your age
For the record Az, it is Not KEV as you made reference to but KEN who entered the link to a tunnel.
For the record I have put it out on Island Echo recently that Portsmouth is infact an Island with a fixed short link to the Mainland, Portsmouth is often classed as the Mainland because that is what it has become, that with a fixed link is exactly what the Island would become part of Mainland Britain.
However for those who require Ferries/Hover especially for work commitments on a daily basis the Ferries/Hover are offering a very poor standard of reliable transport, weather conditions can dictate on occasion to disruptive transport and that is part and parcel of the choice to live on an Island, However the continued disruption due to Breakdown and staff shortages is totally unacceptable and a man made situation which is avoidable with proper management and investment.
A campaign structure needs to be entered into, these transport providers have the people of this Island at ransom and this has to stop.
It is largely thanks to the awful service of Ferries/Hover that any campaign for a fixed link even exists.
Ken/Kev not without sympathy for all those who were born here wanting, expecting and deserving a quality, reliable transportation means across such a narrow stretch of water, at an affordable price.
Yet most born here, accept the issues of living here, and more to the point we are discussing, ‘leaving here’, and it is often those who ‘decided to move to the Island’ that are the biggest whingers and ‘demand’ change.
Those born here mostly ‘see’ the ‘other side’ and weigh up such and accept the bad is easily outweighed by the advantages. Hence they then dislike those who ‘come’ and then want ‘change’ that without doubt would alter what they are mostly happy with.
We would all love ‘this perfect’ world or place to live. With the mainland being larger and more diverse, then for Islanders happy here to suggest moaning people ‘leave on the next boat’ is not ‘just’ being rude, but a wise suggestion as then the complainant ‘may’ in a wider landmass, have more chance of discovering just what then ‘might’ make them happy.
I see high fares on ferries, and unreliability as a minor annoyance and as a positive for keeping off more of the undoubted crime, low life, troublemakers, along with the overcrowding, the massive house building, the little quirky lanes, the still to be found quiet beach’s, downlands, footpaths, and unique ‘feel’ which the Island still retains.
Certainly I don’t need to leave the Island as much as some, but IF I needed too, and found the ferries too restrictive I would either change my job, or move over to the mainland, with a view to retiring here, as many happily do, in later years BECAUSE it is different.
What I would NOT do, is expect all Islander to RUIN their right to live on a peaceful, beautiful, and low crime place, JUST to appease me, who, then would be too thick to see that after a few decades of a fixed link, the Island would NOT BE WORTH living on, compared then to quieter parts of the larger Mainland mass of land and so the ‘moaners’ would likely upsticks anyway after having ruined the Island, not for a while, BUT FOREVER.
Most would sooner not ‘take’ that risk.
Move to the mainland nearer your job and stop talking such drivel
When the Tunnel is built you will enjoy using it
They are already building more houses it’s more hectic and yes more crime here already. A fixed link with a toll wouldn’t make that much difference. You are so narrow minded and cannot see that the island cannot sustain itself as it is. There are also plenty of nice places on the mainland n rural areas and before you say it no I wont move just to please you! You are also so rude, just because your options dont agree with someone else’s doesn’t make you right. Would gladly move away from people like you!, but dont see why I should!
Sue it is YOU that is narrow minded. Of course they are ‘building houses’ here now. But nowhere near the scale that would happen if a fixed link was provided.
The Island can sustain itself BY being in the unique position OF being an Island on the Southern end of the UK. Many people and children love the ‘thrill’ of coming here knowing that they are coming to ‘an island.
Islands ALWAYS have a ‘pull’ to people. Hence those who dream about ‘winning the lottery’ oft say, “I would buy a tropical Island”, NOT ” I will live on a tropical mainland coast location”.
Whilst not tropical, as our planet warms, we will be well positioned to gain from an increase in both stay at home vacations and those wishing to escape the unpleasant temperatures abroad. Hot tubs on many holiday parks, have increased the season too whist we await such changes.
Naïve people like you just want the best of both worlds, not ‘understanding’ that to ‘gain’ one way, will mean great loss in another. IF, it were just ‘you’ losing out, then fine, happy for that to happen, but it won’t be, it will be all real Islanders and those content to live with less houses, more countryside, less cars, quirky roads, less troublesome newcomers, less crime, and just enjoying the ‘feeling’ and yes, the limitations of living on an Island.
So your comment “No, I won’t move just to please you” is also flawed, for I could not care less if you are unhappy here, or deliciously happy living on the mainland, it is ‘all about you’ isn’t it, being selfish, wanting ‘just’ what you want, and ‘stuff’ everyone else.
That comment proves such, you would deny your chance of being happy, just to prove a point.
Your ‘sort’ who, by your own admission, would be happy to move to the mainland (except for ‘giving in’) and would no doubt do so just as soon as you had your fixed link and then had witnessed that you were wrong (but never would admit such) as the Island then became ruined, not for a while, but for the rest of time.
To those unfortunate enough to know you, you would say “Oh were not leaving because we were wrong about the fixed links damage, but ‘had’ to move because of work, the children’s education, aged parents on mainland etc, ANYTHING but ‘admitting’ the fact that YOU were ‘wrong’.
I KNOW your ‘sort’.
So let’s get this right, millions of pounds wasted on a tunnel that will flood which let’s be honest will only benefit the mainland rats that will use it to steal from our homes.
A bridge that will be closed during high winds, like so many around the UK.
This is an island of beauty, not Portsmouth. The only beautiful thing about Portsmouth is the view of our island.
Ask all true caulk heads, not overners or part time residents what they want and they’ll tell you straight.
STAY AN ISLAND.