The problem with Isle of Wight Ferries

Radio story about the problems with IOW Ferries and ways of improving travel across the Solent.
Bronwyn Brown and Wightlink User Group
wug.org.uk
Isle of Wight MP Bob Seeley
bobseely.org.uk
Carl Feeney
solentfreedomtunnel.co.uk
Created, edited and voiced by Jacob Rayner

[@6panel300]

The big problem is that the cost of the ferry trip is killing the main income for the IOW...tourism.

[@philipbradshaw4050]

Very keen to visit the Isle of Wight but never will due to the ferry prices. Go to the Isle of Man on a four hour cruise for less money. Outrageous prices.

[@adrianwright8685]

Either the ferry companies are charging a fair price or they are unfairly - and illegally - colluding together. Looking at their profits should enable which is the case and, if the latter, legal action taken.

[@stevehunter8473]

Thought about coming on holiday to the Isle of Wight, then looked at the prices of travel and accommodation, we are going to Majorca instead, it's cheaper.

[@oddities-whatnot]

Totally different sort of holiday destinations. Well done for the irrelevant comparison.

[@stevezodiac491]

We went to the isle of Wight a couple of years ago. It was like a full time traffic jam. All the attractions like the Needles have been commercialised to death as well. The place is wall to wall people. Not a nice place to go to at all now.

[@Buckbury]

A practical solution is a privately funded and run Vectis fixed link, the cheapest option would be a bridge between Lepe and Thorness and proper infrastructure improvements. The tolls properly structured would give a reasonable pay back period, but does anyone want to invest ?.

[@bertiewooster3326]

Be careful for what you wish the bridge to the Isle of Skye has ruined the gridlocked isle now.

[@TheBlueOwl21]

This is the most expensive sea crossing in the world !

[@headforthehillsuk]

Even if a tunnel is completed a ferry service would have to remain. Road safety rules on transport of dangerous freight would prevent some HGVs from using a tunnel so a ferry would need to remain as the only option for some freight.

[@WinchesterJournalismNews]

This is very possible, and there always would be boats to some extent. But a tunnel would certainly mean most freight could go through in a much more simple way.

[@stevezodiac491]

The well off nobs and nautical types on the Island, do not want a fixed bridge, they are trying to keep the island 'select' , which it isn't by far. A bridge is what is needed though.

[@oddities-whatnot]

Ive been across a couple of times in a van and a truck. Shocking price. Glad the company I worked for was paying.

[@davidporter9131]

There needs to be government intervention and enforced service.

[@geoffwright9570]

A tunnel makes sense when you consider theres one to france and it could provide a boost to business and employment on the island.

[@JelMain]

And they're looking for worthwhile tunnelling projects now HS2 has had its wings clipped.

[@rjkism]

the price to travel on those ferries is so astronomical its less to fly to to europe or go on the euro tunnel its what stops me visiting something has to be done to stop the price just endlessy going up ....... stay cation would work but not at those travel prices, having said that the last time i visited the island its noticable that the attractions are very dated and shabby

[@bernardholcroft5138]

still think a huge international airport for all international freight and passengers with regular local connectors and road rail link to mainland[if the Dutch can do it so can we]would make sense for national security customs and immigration having 2 prisons nearby.and now connected a freight port in the bay to the north

[@MegaGerryk]

We love going to the Island but the rise in costs is making it a strain. We can go from Dover to Dunkirk and back on DFDS for less that it costs to cross the Solent. You either need a bridge or tunnel or to bring the ferry companies under the control of a not for profit organisation, otherwise they will continue to charge more and until they have squeezed the life out of the island, they will then stop trading!!

[@thegreyfolk]

Just looked at prices - talk about piracy on the high seas! Almost cheaper to cross to Dublin.

[@bertiewooster3326]

Who owns them some foreign company?

[@WinchesterJournalismNews]

Red Funnel is owned by a Canadian Board, and Wightlink is owned by Fiera and Basalt Infrastructure, which are USA and London based respectively.

[@bertiewooster3326]

@@WinchesterJournalismNews Clearly masses of ferry experience 😄

[@GWAYGWAY1]

That looks like cartel, we wanted to go there with our camper and it was not justifiable compared to the channel crossing.

[@nickmarshall7019]

Isn't this the low regulation, light touch philosophy at the centre of the Conservative Party policy thinking? Remind me how the Isle of Wight residents voted in the 2019 election?

[@JSmith19858]

And a formerly state owned service, too. Plus there already is a third operator across the Solent and the others haven't gone bust. Hovertravel.

[@WinchesterJournalismNews]

You're correct, there is a third operator in Hovertravel, however they don't operate a vehicle ferry service which is the main issue going to and from the IOW. This should have been clarified in the video, apologies.

[@garrymartin6474]

Surely Nationalising the ferries would be much less expensive than building a tunnel.

[@simonedwards5070]

Licensed thieves avoid at all costs, go to Cornwall or Wales

[@yellowgreen5229]

Seize them! Public ownership now!!

[@DoktorBayerischeMotorenWerke]

Solution? buy a boat or stay on the island!

[@chrisst8922]

Ferries...no; tunnel...no; bridge....no. Just sling some ropes 'round it and let the Cunard boats tow it ashore.

[@MartinTheBear]

This is not a video. Put in more photos , a map or even a real video.

[@WinchesterJournalismNews]

You're right! As stated in the description it's a radio package.

[@ipohtennischannel5482]

The problem with Isle of Wight Ferries... They sail to the Isle of Wight. 😅😅😅

[@green856w]

The big problem is too many whingers on KZbin.

[@duncbee]

Err you live on an Island you pay the price. No one is forcing you to live there. Like the Scots who live in far fling places that's your choice you pay for it.

[@bazzer621]

What you don't understand sunshine is that wages are low on the Island and the cost per mile on the ferries is much higher compared to the Scottish ones!

[@oddities-whatnot]

@@bazzer621sunshine ? Trying to be clever saying that are you ? Yep. An unnecessary sarcastic insult. Bet you would HATE it if someone said that to you in a comment. You would be all peeved and red in the face.

[@duncbee]

@@bazzer621 No one is forcing you to live there

[@WinchesterJournalismNews]

A lot of people grow up on the IOW, and end up moving off when they are old enough. It is still a massive issue, even just for those visiting family who still live there, but there are countless affected groups.

[@bazzer621]

@oddities-whatnot Are you joking SUNSHINE? SUNSHINE is not insulting! If you want to be offended then there's far better words to use 🤡

[@peterjol]

It's time they had electric ferries like this.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHbCfmSkYqifhaM

[@davidwood62]

Buy your own boat, its not far.

[@WinchesterJournalismNews]

Great solution! So you reckon that there should be roughly 140 thousand boats around the island for everyone who lives there? Plus boats for those who travel to the island for work? Very cheap and environmentally sensible.

[@declanmurphy6427]

The problem with the Isle of Wight ferries is that they go to the Isle of Wight!

[@alecjefferson6993]

Build a Bridge 🌉 won’t do it someone’s making a lot of money 💴 out of this cars motorcycle etc. got to be the most expensive ££££ bit of water to cross in the world 🌍😱⛽️⛽️⛽️