Hovertravel has been forced to cancel its cross-Solent service this afternoon (Tuesday) due to another technical issue – the 2nd in just 4 days.
Customers are being advised that no hovers are currently operating between Ryde and Southsea, with an update not expected until at least 16:00.
This could cause disruption for those heading home after school and work.
Tickets are being accepted on Wightlink’s Fastcat service in the meantime.
It was on Friday morning that services had to be suspended for around 2 hours whilst an undisclosed technical issue was resolved.
UPDATE @ 17:08 – Services remain suspended with the next update due at 17:30.
UPDATE @ 17:40 – It has been confirmed that services are to resume at 17:45.
I wonder whether we will see a day when our transport options to the mainland run without disruption, I reckon they have a book of excuses that they use in rotation.
Several books, now on volume 1798
There is absolutely no doubt about this. Wightlink is the worst offender, with a series of rotating excuses, with Hovertravel a close second. The real issue is that we, the commuters, are taken for fools by the operators, which is so insulting.
Wouldn’t it be nice to get home from a hard day at work instead of having to wait for a clue as to when you can,
I would definitely vote for a tunnel or bridge,
You are never getting a bridge or a tunnel, and there will certainly be no vote. A tunnel would cost over £5 billion and the government won’t pay that, and nor would any private investor. There is no hope of ever getting any return on such a huge investment. Alternatively, you could ask every man, woman, and child on the island each for £35,000 and dig it yourself.
How about pioneering a radical hover replacement (hideous racket)…mini submarines.No need to be submerged,just gently ploughing the bounding mane but not at all susceptible to the vagaries of harsh nautical conditions.
Maybe trial an older sub from the navy.No need for fancy technology just some imaginative seating arrangements ? could be electric/diesel powered too,as are some military ones ? Quiet,never cancelled and fairly funky a mode of conveyance.
An idea who’s time has surety come i apprehend ?
Maybe even an airship link. Or a jetski tandem. Or (my favourite) an banana boat – just do a turn and dump off the passengers on the other side.
Or a Zip Wire!
Bridge would be next to useless, high winds would make it close… has to be a tunnel… and for those that voted negative, obviously do not ever travel across..
You are never getting a tunnel. Teleportation is a more likely solution.
Pete, other than owning shares in wightlink what have you got against a tunnel or bridge,both are a good idea in the 21st century, where ever in the UK they have gone up they have been a success and a financial one at that.
Yawn! This happens too often to be newsworthy
That’s why its newsworthy, ‘ this happens all to often ‘. It might be boring for you, however people rely on this service like all the other operators across the Solent. These services need to be running reliably not as and when.
The weather should be the only thing that stops services, this is an Island, cross Solent services are not a luxury but a necessity, There will never be a fixed link, the government would never foot the bill and the majority of Islanders don’t want it and even if we did we could never afford the cost. Cross Solent travel needs to be regulated and a guaranteed service should be in place, weather being the only reason for disruption.
As usual, a complete and utter failure to provide a service. Main reason I stopped using Hovertravel, before giving up with Wightlink and moving to the mainland to get to work before being held to ransom by their costs and repeated failure to run.
As a Pensioner, I am imprisoned on this Island as cannot afford the ridiculous ferry costs, cannot go visit family on mainland, and they cannot afford to come here, again due to ferry costs…
£13 for a senior day return isn’t exactly extortionate
… and this tunnel that you want would cost how much to use?
so ryde crow – you were a commuter then – an annual season ticket on the fastcat is about £2k. Assuming you work mon to fri and have four weeks leave a year, that will then average out at a cost of £8.33 a day or £4.165 each way.
hardly breaking the bank is it
Missed the point totally – its less the cost and more the lack of reliability. But 2k a year is also not a small number. Maybe you could offer to pay, I mean hardly breaking the bank is it?
Ok so what happens to those booked on the ‘Fast’ cat, but cannot get on due to being full…??
Unlike the hover, the cat is first come first served my friend
it isn’t ever full and they just tell you that next one in an hour if you miss it.
The only sensible cure would be a TUNNEL… ferries are useless, none reliable. Weather determined too.. Originally used for Tourists that wanted a day out on the Island… sadly times have changed, many people actually live here and want to go Mainland for days out…!! On a regular schedule, not when dictated to by the ferry companies.. More and more Islanders want to commute to Mainland for better jobs.. Island needs more Industry, new jobs.. better DENTISTS and DOCTORS, let alone NHS staff !! Pointless unless we have a TUNNEL..
ha – there won’t even be so much as a spade in the ground before 2050
But you are never getting a tunnel because it is too EXPENSIVE!!!!!
How’d you know?
Same old, same old, how are both broken again? Just glad they dont look after my car lol
It’s a technical issue.
Technically it’s knackered.