Coronavirus: Wightlink's FastCat Service Cancelled For Second Time

Tuesday, 10 November 2020 12:04

By Oliver Dyer @olidyer

Wightlink is to suspend its Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head FastCat service from Friday (13).

The ferry firm says it is because of lockdown restrictions on non-essential travel.

It will also be reducing its Lymington-Yarmouth car ferry sailings to a weekday-only two-hourly service following the last sailing on Friday 13 November 2020.

Wightlink says the changes are being made because "very few people need to cross the Solent at present".

It says "it is not sustainable to run loss-making services with such low numbers of customers."

Wightlink’s Portsmouth-Fishbourne route will continue as an hourly service.

From Monday 16 November 2020, the Lymington-Yarmouth timetable will be amended to support Island students who need to attend classes on the mainland. The first weekday sailing from Yarmouth will depart at 07:30 instead of 06:25.

Wightlink Chief Executive Keith Greenfield says:

“We are sorry to suspend our FastCats and reduce sailings between Lymington and Yarmouth, however we will still be able to transport all essential travellers and supplies to the Isle of Wight on our remaining services.

“We will continue to monitor demand with a view to restoring services as soon as they become sustainable. Wightlink continue to work closely with the Isle of Wight Council Transport Infrastructure Board and the other cross Solent operators to make sure the Island has the essential services it needs at this difficult time.”

FastCat passenger numbers have now declined by 80% compared to last year, according to Wightlink.

Although they can carry 230 people, most sailings have fewer than 20 on board and sometimes single figures.

On the Lymington-Yarmouth route, numbers of cars are now down by 65% compared to last year. Ferries on this route are designed to carry up to 65 cars but most sailings at the weekend carried fewer than 10 and in some cases no vehicles at all.

Under the leadership of Isle of Wight Council during the pandemic, all cross-Solent operators continue to work together to keep the Island connected. As part of this co-operation, Wightlink’s foot passenger tickets will be accepted on Red Funnel and Hovertravel. This includes rail tickets and season tickets.

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Neil Chapman, Managing Director of Hovertravel, said:

“For the Solent ferry operators the unique circumstances of this COVID crisis have challenged us all and demonstrated that co-operation is needed now, more than ever. We are proud to be offering Wightlink customers a fast ferry option for this second lockdown.

"Hovertravel’s commitment to supporting the communities on both sides of the Solent is as strong today in November, as it was in March.”

Hovertravel has added nine extra daily services for Monday to Friday; four more flights in the morning commuter period (Ex Ryde 0700 & 0730 and Ex Southsea 0715 & 0745) and an additional five flights to help customers returning in the evening (Ex Ryde 1600 & 1700 and Ex Southsea 1615, 1715 & 1745).

Operating both craft and offering a 15 minute frequency during commuter times will ensure that people can travel to work, to school, to college or university and for medical appointments.

Those who need to travel and who have pre-booked with Wightlink (including season card holders) will be able to pre-book Hovertravel services from 12 noon on Wednesday 11 November. There will be no additional fare payable and will also include use of the HoverBus for onward connections within Portsmouth.

In the event of adverse weather, Hovertravel is also launching a new disruption plan - a free, dedicated Hoverbus will operate between the Hovertravel terminal in Ryde and the Fishbourne Car Ferry for both Hovertravel & Wightlink customers as an alternative travel option. The Portsmouth Hoverbus will also have an additional service stop at the Portsmouth Gunwharf Terminal.

Mr Chapman added:

“The three ferry companies kept the Island connected during the last lockdown and by working together with the Isle of Wight Council we will do it again. Hovertravel is ready and able to serve by continuing to fly people, post and patients across the Solent throughout this pandemic.“