MP Bob Seely has won a promise of improved journeys for passengers after he raised concerns about the lack of connectivity between some ferry and rail services.
In a letter to Wightlink and South Western Railway (SWR) sent on 28 November, Bob asked the transport operators to work together to coordinate ferry and rail timetables to address the “current points of friction hampering the Island's connectivity.” He also reiterated Islanders’ frustrations with the lack of late-night FastCat sailings.
Responding to the Island’s MP, Wightlink said they had jointly investigated the timetable anomalies with SWR highlighted in Mr Seely’s letter and promised to make four changes.
The first was to address connectivity for passengers leaving London Waterloo after 16:00 hours.
By changing the current 18:00 sailing to leave five minutes later, train passengers will be given crucial extra time to make the sailing via the connection at Brockenhurst. Wightlink said it would also instruct Captains not to depart from Lymington until the connecting train had arrived, on the basis that it was not unduly delayed.
Their second commitment addresses the current tight connection time for passengers wishing to catch the 08:14 train from Lymington. By retiming the 07:30 sailing, passengers will have a bigger window – seven minutes - in which to make this connection.
Wightlink has also agreed to push back the 08:45 departure from Yarmouth to 08:55, to better connect with the 09:44 SWR departure from Lymington. SWR has also agreed, from May 2023, to amend the 09:44 departure from Lymington Pier to 09:57 to ensure consistency with the rail schedule for the remainder of the day.
Finally, Wightlink will re-time its final 20:00 sailing from Lymington in future timetables to ensure connection with the 19:59 arrival of the Lymington train.
The ferry firm has instructed its Captains not to depart from Lymington until the 19:59 train from Brockenhurst (which itself connects with Waterloo services) has arrived at Lymington Pier.
Wightlink told Mr Seely that their timetable amendments would be implemented from 27 March 2023, at the beginning of the summer schedule.
Bob said: “I am pleased that Wightlink and South Western Railway have listened to the concerns I raised on behalf of Islanders and acted on them. I thank them for that.
“Too many constituents have told of their frustrations at arriving on the mainland to see their connecting train disappearing, myself included, so these changes are very welcome and should help to improve connections for thousands of passengers each year.”
Addressing Mr Seely’s concerns about the lack of late-night FastCats between Portsmouth Harbour and Ryde Pier Head, Wightlink Chief Executive Keith Greenfield said: “Wightlink wants to get to a point where FastCats run later and more frequently, and we are examining trends every week for signs that we can run extra services.
“We do hope that customers will support our later night Christmas charters to build momentum regarding any decision to reintroduce additional FastCats in 2023.”
On that issue, Bob said: “I remain frustrated about the lack of late-night FastCat services from Portsmouth Harbour after 20:00 hours. Wightlink’s late-night Christmas charters are a good start but these far from address Islanders’ ongoing concerns.
“Islanders deserve regular, reliable services that get them home, it really isn’t too much to ask.”
