Wightlink Announces New Night-Time Crossings For Summer 2023

Tuesday, 24 January 2023 10:11

By Dominic Kureen @WriteOnDom

Wightlink is announcing additional FastCat services between Portsmouth Harbour and Ryde Pier starting on Monday March 27.

There will also be changes to the Lymington-Yarmouth timetable to improve connections with South Western Railway (SWR) trains.

The extra FastCat evening sailings will be the 9.20pm and 10.45pm from Portsmouth and the 10pm and 11.10pm from Ryde.

Crossings will also be hourly throughout the day, Monday-Sunday.

Foot passengers can also travel on Wightlink’s car ferries.

The 10.15pm and 11.59pm crossings from Portsmouth to Fishbourne (returning at 11pm and 1am) complement the scheduled FastCats to offer extra sailings to and from the Isle of Wight.

On the Lymington-Yarmouth route, Wightlink’s summer timetable is being adjusted to ensure customers have more time to make connections between ferries and trains at Lymington Pier station.

“We have always made it clear that we would add additional FastCat sailings when customer numbers justified the decision,” says Wightlink Chief Executive Keith Greenfield. “I hope many Islanders and mainland customers will take advantage of these additional crossings.

“We also trust the minor amends to our Lymington-Yarmouth service will be helpful for customers who use the connecting SWR trains to and from Brockenhurst and the rail network beyond.”

Welcoming the news, Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely said:

“I’m delighted Wightlink has agreed to extend its FastCat service to include late-night sailings from Portsmouth and Ryde from March 27.

“The return of these sailings is something I have fought hard for because I know these services are important to Islanders, especially to those who work in or near Portsmouth and struggle to catch the 8.20pm service back to Ryde.

“I would like to thank Wightlink for listening and responding.

"There have been numerous conversations, phone calls, letters and emails between us over recent months.

"I would also like to thank those individuals and campaigners who have also pressed Wightlink on this issue over recent months.

“Islanders deserve regular and reliable services that get them home quickly and safely. I welcome these changes.

“I also welcome the additional hourly daytime sailings Wightlink have committed to in their new timetable, these are valuable. I’m keen to encourage them to keep this level of service operating year-round."