Wightlink has responded to calls for greater control over Isle of Wight ferry fares, saying it recognises the importance of affordable travel but continues to face significant increases in the cost of running its services.
The ferry operator has issued a statement after Prime Minister Andy Burnham agreed to consider a proposal to regulate ferry prices during an exchange in the House of Commons yesterday (Tuesday), as previously reported by Island Echo.
Isle of Wight East MP Joe Robertson challenged the Prime Minister over what he described as the Island’s ‘number one cost of living issue’ – the price of travelling across the Solent.
Mr Robertson asked whether the Government would consider creating regulatory powers to control prices currently set by ferry companies. In response, the Prime Minister told the MP to “bring me a proposal”, adding that he would look seriously at the issue.
Now Wightlink has responded to the renewed political focus on cross-Solent fares.
Katy Taylor, CEO of Wightlink, has said:
“Ferries are lifeline services for the Isle of Wight, and we recognise how important reliable and affordable ferry travel is for residents, businesses and the wider Island economy.
“Like many transport businesses, we face significant cost pressures, including rising fuel costs, increases in national insurance and business rates, the introduction of the Government’s emissions levy and broader increases in operating costs, while continuing to provide reliable, year-round services.
Article continues below this advertisement “Many Island residents already travel using discounted and fixed-price products, and analysis shows the average Islander fare is around £39 per crossing for a car and up to seven passengers.
“We will soon meet with the Department for Transport and stakeholders, including Isle of Wight MPs, through the Cross Solent Transport Group to discuss the challenges facing ferry services and what more can be done to support Islanders and help drive economic growth on the Island.
“Our focus remains on working constructively with Government, local partners and Island communities to continue improving services.”
A series of monthly ferry meetings convened by the Department for Transport are due to begin later this month, bringing together stakeholders to discuss cross-Solent transport.
“analysis shows the average Islander fare is around £39 per crossing for a car and up to seven passengers.”
And which previous decade was this analysis done in?
They haven’t been £39.00 for years per crossing.
current price £42 + the fuel surcharge
Multi link is £42 each way at present.
She’s hardly going to admit that she is ripping people off is she ?
It’s just waffle waffle waffle
She would make a good Politician, they tell a load
of porkies.
What £3/4/5 Hundred pounds return good value? bloody delusional..the other day they wanted £89 to cancel !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! on a £90 something fare..so just didn’t turn up bloody disgusting ripoff..so shut up your bullshit most it should be would be £60 each way and still make money loads of it ..
One can travel from France cheaper.
Lol
Many Island residents already travel using discounted and fixed-price products, and analysis shows the average Islander fare is around £39 per crossing for a car and up to seven passengers…bullshit crap times which don’t suit many trips..utter crap.
Why the fcuk does the Yarmouth to Lymington route
cost about 50% more to travel than Fishbourne to Portsmouth!
Scandalous. Wightlink are WORSE than Southern Water
The ferry operators are fools. All they are proving is that they cannot be trusted to self reglate and therefore must be regulated independently
One good thing with costly fares, it keeps off a lot of riff raff from moving here.
Sadly though the empty prison when a truly ‘endless’ number of enrichers are looking for suitable HMO’s to fill, then such a place as the I.W, will be great for them. What better than a soft touch, weak Police presence and gullible ‘nice but dim’ inhabitants most of whom have ‘not had the pleasure’ of living amongst such ever before. So they would likely love to come here to breed us into the hell holes that they ‘managed’ to escape from, but the same misery coincidently reappear shortly after they settle anywhere enmasse, anywhere and everywhere on the planet it seems.
Most people here now have come fairly recently from the mainland, and IF you don’t like it, a boat leaves every half hour, best sell up, and be on it, you will only need a single fare then, YOU might be happier, and WE certainly would be without you.
It doesn’t really, the majority of Numpties are already
living on the island.
Take a walk around Sandown or Ryde
That is an eye opener, many places on the mainland
don’t have so many p*ssheads or druggies loitering.
I bet the mainland are pleased the ferry fares are expensive
It stops the Islands unsavoury’s going to Pompey, Lymington
or Southampton.
Bodybags Burham couldn’t care less about the south, apart from putting up taxes since we are all rich.
The North and South divide!
Look what happened years ago in America
when the North and South were against each other
IT DIDN’T END WELL.
Ridiculous woman. Spouting utter lies and obfuscation. What possible qualification does she have to run a ferry service? Worked her way up from the bottom over 40 years? No. A Sea Captain? No. A Chief Engineer? No. A degree in surfing or something equally useful? Probably.
Twisted data! Massive backfire as it proves their lies – anyone who travels on the passenger ferries knows a return with a discount can be around £40 for a twenty minute journey!!!
Cheaper to buy a Dinghy and row across.
I hope something is done, the service is useless and you cannot get a connecting train on either side.
The ticket price is outrageous and they run when they want, I can’t remember the last time they kept to the timetable
I left London at 6.08pm on Friday and got to Portsmouth Harbour at 8.20pm we were then told the boat had left early as it was full and the next one was at 9.45pm, when we arrived at the pier head at 10.15pm there was no connecting train, so people had to walk down the pier in horrendous weather or pay for a taxi.
If nothing is going to be done the island is going to suffer, also people are not going to bother with trips for the Bank holidays etc and hotels and bars will not make money.
It is faster for me to leave London and arrive in Paris via Eurostar than travel to the Island from Waterloo, and it costs about the same.
I know it’s just wishful thinking but I would love for Uber to set up a Solent Taxi service.