Wightlink has confirmed that it will be continuing its winter timetable until 11th April as a result of pressures on staffing levels due to COVID sickness.
The Fastcat catamaran service and the Yarmouth car ferry service have been hit with a number of cancellations over the past week, which the cross-Solent operator says is a result of a surge in COVID cases amongst the workforce.
Although it is no longer a legal requirement to self-isolate, Wightlink insists on staff taking time off work and only returning upon completion of a negative lateral flow test. It’s unclear if this policy will continue when free testing becomes a thing of the past in April, as the country learns to live with COVID.
Wightlink says that the timetable will now continue until the Easter Holidays, with the summer timetable coming into effect on Monday 11th April.
The Fishbourne-Portsmouth car ferry service will operate with just 2 ships, with additional sailings on Mondays, Friday and Sundays.
Meanwhile, the Yarmouth-Lymington and Ryde Pier Head-Portsmouth Harbour services will continue as per the current winter timetable. This means the last catamaran to the Isle of Wight is at 20:20.
One disgruntled passenger has told Island Echo:
“The excuse of COVID-related cancellations is surely just an excuse for lack of backup staff and/or planning? Staff sickness should always be factored into any planning, and the fact that Wightlink can’t seem to uphold minimum staffing levels just begs the question as to how they operate at all?
Article continues below this advertisement “As an Island, we rely on this company for both personal travel and for business. Delays not only inconvenience us but are stifling the Island’s economy”.
Further timetable information can be found at https://www.wightlink.co.uk/plan-your-journey/timetables.
They should be fined by local government when they cancel. They cancel to save on fuel costs. It is not hard to have staff on call so when they know someone can not come in they can call on someone else to fill in. Also there are agencies that specialise in short notice fill ins. Make it cheaper for them to get a replacement than cancelling a sailing. I’ve worked in staff management situations, it is not hard to setup a contract for short notice cover.
Think this just proves it was far too early to make changes to covid rules, Masks should still be compulsory just for the safety of the vulnerable and every member of staff and passengers aboard any public transport. Its not a big price to pay to keep staff safe so we can have a consistent service.
Afraid Wightlink only gave themselves to blame. They do not treat their staff well, having cut numbers backs and back, and now to still insist on a negative LFT as well as insisting staff stay off.
There is no legal requirement for this, so, sorry, but you have created this situation!
No worries though, it’s only the paying customers who suffer!