An open letter representing the members of the Wightlink User Group has been sent to Island MP Bob Seely branding plans for a 3rd ferry operator between the Island and the mainland a ‘fantasy’.
In an open letter exchange with Seely about the cross-Solent service, the group which has over 1,000 members, criticised the idea of a 3rd ferry operator stating it would be an almost impossible geographical challenge to locate the terminal and that the cost to create such infrastructure would be ‘huge’.
Just last week, plans were released for a proposed new summer ferry service between Ryde and Southampton – a move that would end the duopoly of Red Funnel and Wightlink. But with these plans in their infancy and any concrete changes not expected until 2050, things look set to carry on as they are.
On the notion of another player entering the market, the group has said:
“Whilst this proposal sounds excellent, it is as we know an almost impossible geographical challenge. There is nowhere from which a 3rd-car ferry can operate without huge infrastructure costs and /or environmental consequences.
“Neither current ferry companies will share their terminals. This is not a ‘free market’, there is only the pretence of competition. We are stuck with a duopoly, and it needs to be recognised as one. A 3rd operator is a fantasy.”
The group has also said that the consumer has the right to affordable and reliable ferries, adding that money earned by the travel operator wasn’t being invested into making the service better and more efficient for those who used it.
“Timetables that are designed for the convenience of the operator, and not the user, the financial asset stripping, the opaque management structure, the massive dividends paid to the shareholders, and the eyewatering renumeration paid to the senior management all ensure we have neither affordable or reliable ferries.”
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Might as well build a tunnel. Would make more sense and probably cost the same.
They built the euro tunnel and its cheaper to go to France on the ferry
Cars do require a lot of infrastructure, obviously. Just a reality of a car-dependant nation.
There should be Service Level Agreements full stop.
Any MP who doesn’t properly tackle the ferries shouldn’t be an MP next time around imo.
Only two choices, taken into public hands or fixed rail / road link. Yet both the Tories and Labour will pick the third option which means we’ll get shafted even harder. Only real option is for the people to do what the french did 1789 and purge the ruling classes.
Yep have a purge on the ruling classes, that should work, if you know anything about french politics you will know they have more privilege and corruption thean we do, they just do not have a fancy title, so by your deluded thining its ok to be a sociallist and corrupt but not conservative, shows how bigoted you are.
I think I’d rather have a tunnel (either rail or road) than another ferry company which probably wouldn’t be any cheaper or more reliable than what we have currently.
Very much doubt the government would be willing to invest the billion or so pounds it would require, even though it would be of more use than their HS2 project which is getting on for 100 times that.
Make commuters union -> boycott wightlink -> use redfunnel -> wightlink drops prices ez
Just booked tickets to visit family at off peak, it is now actually more expensive than the channel tunnel.
Unknown why the idea of a tunnel was not mentioned. If someone could get through the tick heads of government, then they would see the ferries are choking the Island to a slow death. THINK : Doctors, NHS workers, new business’ , which would bring new employment.. Cheaper crossing anytime of day or night 24/7, weather would not stop a tunnel..
Have been informed some reason could not bore a tunnel, s0 why not use the newer method, Immersed tunnel. Just dig a trench and drop the sections in.. much cheaper than boring, less disturbance to infrastructure…. WE NEED A TUNNEL, NOT ANOTHER FERRY> ferries are useless in bad weather, ferries break down, ferries need many staff….
How can they justify nearly £200.00 a crossing from Fishbourne to Portsmouth dearer than flying to Spain and this was in January Jewel of The Uk yes it’s priceless like a Diamond to get here
Fixed Link is needed to save money on island residents and help island businesses grow. £45M and we have a tunnel.
How the hell did you work that one out, £45M, you truly are living in cloud cuckoo land a bit like the dream of a bridge/ tunnel, 3,2,1 your back in the room lol.
Getting half a sausage involved is a complete waste of time. Just wait for the brown envelopes to change hands and you’ll see that nothing changes.