Isle of Wight ferries

[Russel]

Looking at nipping over to the IOW in June and we all know how expensive the ferries are, I'm looking at the Red Jet and it's coming out at around £30 return, so I'm going to book a Southampton Airport Parkway to Cowes West return train ticket which is around £20 with a railcard, bargain...

Question, do I have to do anything when I get to the pier in Southampton such as collect / exchange train tickets for ferry tickets or do I just present the train ticket at the pier to board?

Edit - Just spotted that booking a train ticket from St Dennys or Millbrook makes it even cheaper!

 

[stadler]

Looking at nipping over to the IOW in June and we all know how expensive the ferries are, I'm looking at the Red Jet and it's coming out at around £30 return, so I'm going to book a Southampton Airport Parkway to Cowes West return train ticket which is around £20 with a railcard, bargain...

Question, do I have to do anything when I get to the pier in Southampton such as collect / exchange train tickets for ferry tickets or do I just present the train ticket at the pier to board?

Edit - Just spotted that booking a train ticket from St Dennys or Millbrook makes it even cheaper!

Buying a ticket from Millbrook is the cheapest. This is slightly cheaper than St Denys so i think Millbrook is your best option. Also just to point out that you can get it even cheaper by using the East Cowes ferry instead of the West Cowes ferry. The fares are quite complex as it depends whether you are doing a day trip and need a day return or are coming back a different day and need an open return. It also depends what time you are travelling as they also have Off Peak and Evening Out and Sunday Out cheaper fares for the ferry. But for most tickets it is usually a bit cheaper doing a Millbrook to East Cowes ticket if you are happy with the longer ferry ride compared to the West Cowes option. The ferry from Southampton to East Cowes takes 60 minutes while the ferry from Southampton to West Cowes takes 30 minutes.

 

[Gloster]

Be aware that the connecting bus between Southampton Central and the Red Funnel terminals only connects with the Red Jets (sort of). Any connection with the car ferries is by chance.

 

[DelW]

Both Wightlink Ryde boats out of action this morning and expected to remain so over the whole of the bank holiday weekend. There's a limited shuttle service replacement running until 18:00 today, using a hired in vessel.

 

[Jimini]

Both Wightlink Ryde boats out of action this morning and expected to remain so over the whole of the bank holiday weekend. There's a limited shuttle service replacement running until 18:00 today, using a hired in vessel.

Oof, that's awful timing! The hired in vessel can only make the crossing in ~30 minutes as well apparently. That'll be fun and games.

 

[DelW]

Oof, that's awful timing! The hired in vessel can only make the crossing in ~30 minutes as well apparently. That'll be fun and games.

Yes, they're not running to any timetable either, just departing when ready. Not fast to load and unload either, so it's rather less than an hourly service.

 

[Gloster]

Both cats were supposed to be in use for part of the day both today and Monday. I have just checked and I can find nothing about disruption on the National Rail, South Western Railway and Islandline websites. A search for a journey gives the timetabled times, including catching a 14.15 ferry from Portsmouth despite Wightlink saying that there will be no ferries between 14.00 and 15.00.

 

[Russel]

Buying a ticket from Millbrook is the cheapest. This is slightly cheaper than St Denys so i think Millbrook is your best option. Also just to point out that you can get it even cheaper by using the East Cowes ferry instead of the West Cowes ferry. The fares are quite complex as it depends whether you are doing a day trip and need a day return or are coming back a different day and need an open return. It also depends what time you are travelling as they also have Off Peak and Evening Out and Sunday Out cheaper fares for the ferry. But for most tickets it is usually a bit cheaper doing a Millbrook to East Cowes ticket if you are happy with the longer ferry ride compared to the West Cowes option. The ferry from Southampton to East Cowes takes 60 minutes while the ferry from Southampton to West Cowes takes 30 minutes.

I'll be getting the first Xc down and last Xc back to Southampton from Birmingham so it would be an off peak day return i would be buying.

Just had a look on BR Fares, the Cowes East option is looking to be very similar in price to using the Red Jet to Cowes west with a Railcard, so the additional time the car ferry takes would eat into my time on the risk and as I'm only planning a day trip to have a ride on the new D stock trains...

I also wanted to try the Cowes floating bridge which was the main reason I'm choosing the Southampton option over the Wightlink Ryde option... And cost of course.

 

[Gloster]

I also wanted to try the Cowes floating bridge which was the main reason I'm choosing the Southampton option over the Wightlink Ryde option... And cost of course.

Just check that the floating bridge is operating. It is a running ‘joke’ on the island about its frequent service suspensions. (Actually, that should be a ‘non-running’ joke.)

 

[Russel]

Just check that the floating bridge is operating. It is a running ‘joke’ on the island about its frequent service suspensions. (Actually, that should be a ‘non-running’ joke.)

Oh wonderful, I'll check bus options just in case!

Thanks

 

[Gloster]

Oh wonderful, I'll check bus options just in case!

Thanks

From (West) Cowes to Newport it is the 1 from outside Marks & Sparks: 10 minutes frequency weekday, 15 Sundays and Bank Holidays. From Newport to Ryde Interchange is the 9 (10/15); to Shanklin it is, in effect, half-hourly with the 2. From East Cowes it is hourly to Ryde with the 4.

If the floating bridge is out they usually put on a foot-passenger only shuttle with a little tourist boat.

Make sure you don’t come over the Festival weekend: 19-22 June.

 

[Russel]

From (West) Cowes to Newport it is the 1 from outside Marks & Sparks: 10 minutes frequency weekday, 15 Sundays and Bank Holidays. From Newport to Ryde Interchange is the 9 (10/15); to Shanklin it is, in effect, half-hourly with the 2. From East Cowes it is hourly to Ryde with the 4.

If the floating bridge is out they usually put on a foot-passenger only shuttle with a little tourist boat.

Make sure you don’t come over the Festival weekend: 19-22 June.

Some good advice there, thanks

I'll have to spend a bit of time on bustimes and Google maps as it's been about 10 years since I last visited!

I'll be avoiding the festival as I'll be visiting on the 4th June.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 May 2025 ==

Oof, that's awful timing! The hired in vessel can only make the crossing in ~30 minutes as well apparently. That'll be fun and games.

What vessel have they hired in?

 

[DelW]

Both cats were supposed to be in use for part of the day both today and Monday. I have just checked and I can find nothing about disruption on the National Rail, South Western Railway and Islandline websites. A search for a journey gives the timetabled times, including catching a 14.15 ferry from Portsmouth despite Wightlink saying that there will be no ferries between 14.00 and 15.00.

I don't think either WightRyder was operating today. Certainly this morning they were both tied up in Pompey.
There were quite a few foot passengers in both directions on the Fishbourne car ferries this evening, so I assume people were being diverted that way from Ryde.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 May 2025 ==

What vessel have they hired in?

A round-the-harbour cruises boat called Ali Cat. Somewhat slower than the usual boats but otherwise satisfactory.

 

[Gloster]

I don't think either WightRyder was operating today. Certainly this morning they were both tied up in Pompey.
There were quite a few foot passengers in both directions on the Fishbourne car ferries this evening, so I assume people were being diverted that way from Ryde.

And this my point: they are providing only a limited service with one ferry when the timetable says that there should be a full service with two ferries on both Saturday and Monday.

A round-the-harbour cruises boat called Ali Cat. Somewhat slower than the usual boats but otherwise satisfactory.

Ali Cat has a capacity of 290, while the Ryders have 260, but I am not sure if the Ryders’ includes the open deck as they can’t use it after dark, so capacity may be limited to the cabin only. Ali Cat can get 130 on deck; she has, if I remember, less luggage space.

 

[Russel]

A round-the-harbour cruises boat called Ali Cat. Somewhat slower than the usual boats but otherwise satisfactory.

Is Ali Cat a sister of the almost identical Ali Cat with Calmac?

 

[DelW]

Is Ali Cat a sister of the almost identical Ali Cat with Calmac?

Sorry, no idea on that. A plaque in the cabin records that she was built in 2017, but doesn't say by whom.

 

[Russel]

Sorry, no idea on that. A plaque in the cabin records that she was built in 2017, but doesn't say by whom.

Doing some digging, the Calmac Ali Cat was built for Solent Cruises in 2000 but chartered to Calmac, so it looks like there is a connection, which explains the name and similarities!

 

[weeklycommuter]

Ali Cat has a capacity of 290, while the Ryders have 260, but I am not sure if the Ryders’ includes the open deck as they can’t use it after dark, so capacity may be limited to the cabin only. Ali Cat can get 130 on deck; she has, if I remember, less luggage space.

I note that the current two fastcats Wight Rider I and Wight Rider II operating since 2009 each have a capacity of 260 passengers but the previous two fastcats Ryde and Shanklin that operated 2000 to 2009 each had a capacity of 360 passengers. Patricia and Pamela that operated from 1986 before Ryde and Shanklin each had a capacity of around 400 passengers. The Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head ferry service was originally operated by the railway but was privatised in the 1980s. Whoever owns and operates it in future perhaps in future there should be two fastcats operating the route each with a capacity of around 400 passengers so one of them by itself can carry all the foot passengers between Portsmouth and Ryde on the route served by the fastcat and the hovercraft so there is no problem is one of them is out of action. I admit this would not help if both were out of action as is the case this weekend.

 

[DelW]

It was disappointing yesterday that there was no mention or warning, at the Wightlink terminal at Harbour station, that both cats were out of action and that the timetable had effectively been abandoned. I know many passengers would look up the website, but not everyone has a smartphone or would necessarily have expected problems.

I would have expected at minimum a whiteboard or similar at the entrance, explaining the situation and giving a warning not to expect the timetable to be met. The PA announcer on the Ali Cat did apologise on behalf of Wightlink, but of course by then everyone knew the situation anyway.

Coming back the car ferry crew were quick at getting foot pax on and off, but it's obviously not an ideal interchange between boat and train at Pompey, and even less so on the island.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 May 2025 ==

Edit: Automerged the following day:

Red Funnel also having Bank holiday troubles today:

Red Jet bank holiday timetable slashed due to crew shortage

Red Funnel have suspended several cross-Solent Red Jet sailings this bank holiday Monday (May 5).

www.countypress.co.uk

At least nine Isle of Wight Red Funnel high-speed sailings have been dropped today (Monday, May 5) after the ferry company's bank holiday services are slashed due to crew shortage.

Update (9.05am): The 9am Red Funnel car ferry from Southampton and the 10.30am ferry from East Cowes have been cancelled owing to a fault with the HT pump on Red Falcon's AFT engine.

 

[317 forever]

Do through train tickets from the mainland to Shanklin always specify 1 ferry company?

I am due an outing with a friend to the Isle of Wight but prefer us not to land up on different ferries!

 

[Gloster]

Do through train tickets from the mainland to Shanklin always specify 1 ferry company?

I am due an outing with a friend to the Isle of Wight but prefer us not to land up on different ferries!

My last ticket from a couple of months ago (Ryde Esplanade-Bognor Regis return) had ‘Valid on any permitted route & Wightlink’. I presume that Hoverspeed tickets have something similar, but I have never travelled with them.

 

[Russel]

How punctual is the Red Jet service, mid week, outside of school holidays?

Just working out how much slack to build into my plan for a day trip.

Admittedly though, using XC to and from Southampton should concern me more...

 

[Gloster]

How punctual is the Red Jet service, mid week, outside of school holidays?

Just working out how much slack to build into my plan for a day trip.

Admittedly though, using XC to and from Southampton should concern me more...

Not too bad, if it runs… Although the same could be said for the car ferry: another failure today.

 

[Russel]

Not too bad, if it runs… Although the same could be said for the car ferry: another failure today.

"If it runs" doesn't fill me with confidence.

 

[DelW]

Do through train tickets from the mainland to Shanklin always specify 1 ferry company?

I am due an outing with a friend to the Isle of Wight but prefer us not to land up on different ferries!

Yes, they either say via Wightlink or via Hovertravel. By default my local ticket office usually issues via Wightlink, though I think they're supposed to ask - I just specify which I want. The fares are normally slightly different via each route.

For Hovertravel you need to get off the train at Portsmouth and Southsea and use the bus (included) or walk to Southsea hoverport. Show your train ticket at the check-in desk and they'll issue a boarding card.

For Wightlink go to their terminal at Portsmouth Harbour station. That now has gates that don't read mag-stripe tickets, but I assume they can read a train ticket's QR code. The gateline is staffed and they'll let you through with a mag stripe ticket.

 

[Gloster]

Yes, they either say via Wightlink or via Hovertravel. By default my local ticket office usually issues via Wightlink, though I think they're supposed to ask - I just specify which I want. The fares are normally slightly different via each route.

For Hovertravel you need to get off the train at Portsmouth and Southsea and use the bus (included) or walk to Southsea hoverport. Show your train ticket at the check-in desk and they'll issue a boarding card.

For Wightlink go to their terminal at Portsmouth Harbour station. That now has gates that don't read mag-stripe tickets, but I assume they can read a train ticket's QR code. The gateline is staffed and they'll let you through with a mag stripe ticket.

Yes, the Wightlink readers read the QR code, but they don’t always work so there will be a manual check-in. This takes place at the gate before you enter the waiting area, not as you board as it was before.

 

[Meerkat]

i Nearly got caught out once as a planner gave me the cheapest and that was Hovertravel.

 

[317 forever]

Yes, they either say via Wightlink or via Hovertravel. By default my local ticket office usually issues via Wightlink, though I think they're supposed to ask - I just specify which I want. The fares are normally slightly different via each route.

For Hovertravel you need to get off the train at Portsmouth and Southsea and use the bus (included) or walk to Southsea hoverport. Show your train ticket at the check-in desk and they'll issue a boarding card.

For Wightlink go to their terminal at Portsmouth Harbour station. That now has gates that don't read mag-stripe tickets, but I assume they can read a train ticket's QR code. The gateline is staffed and they'll let you through with a mag stripe ticket.

Thank you for your detailed response. I feel that I prefer the Wightlink option.

 

[Gloster]

Be aware that the Red Funnel two ferry service will continue until 7 June.

 

[Russel]

For those that have done it, what is the average walk time between Southampton Southampton Central Station and Red Jet terminal?

Google Maps is stating 28 minutes but looking at the actual route, I'd say 20 minutes at most...