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| 1 | There are so many reasons that I think that the Competition Commission should do another investigation. It's way overdue as the last one was 15 years ago. Prices have been going up horribly. The average Islander only makes £13K a year and can't afford to get off of the Island. I wonder what it's doing to our economy as well, particularly tourism and other commerce. I'm a regular commuter with an Island Club card who can barely afford the travel costs, and that just went up £170 in one year! The ferries are completely unregulated. There used to be some competition - Cowes Express and Red Funnel did a service to Portsmouth. . .but that doesn't exist anymore. I wish that they'd stop operating it like a cruise ship with its new leather seats and flat screen tellies and treat it like what it's meant to be - a lifeline between the mainland and the Isle of Wight that's really just a bus on the water. |
| 2 | The exorbitant increase on the Fares make us feel as if the Red Jet is holding us at ramson. A considerable about of our already average salary goes into paying for the tickets. There are no many jobs in the Island and a lots of us are forced into commuting to the mainland. If the fares continue to increase at this rate, many of us will be forced to live in the mainland. This would devastating for I.O.W. economy. Tourists are already more tempted into taking a holiday abroad than coming to the Isle of Wight. Families are separate as young people find no other option, but to find work in the mainland. Many of them cannot even afford to return on weekends, or even on monthly basis to visit their family. I feel that Red Jet is just greedy. |
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| 5 | The prices I feel are too high and should be alot cheaper, especially for island residents |
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| 9 | As a regular commuter I find the prices extortionate! Plus one would assume paying such exorbitant amounts would result in an exemplary service – however in my experience this is not the case where Red Funnel is concerned. There is very little help for elderly or disabled travellers – where we as regular travellers have to help them with massive cases into and off a rocking boat. Further more, the antagonising announcements about how we as commuters have to be on time where the Red Funnel Ferry very seldom is – or how they appreciate our custom given our wide ranging choice! That is ridiculous – there is NO other choice if you are travelling from Cowes. There is an incredible lack of communication once a ferry is delayed / cancelled leaving commuters queuing in the dark. I have been left standing on the gangway, watching a half full boat leave, because Red Funnel happened to be understaffed. Given the Isle of Wight’s flailing economy, some would think it wise to encourage travel to and from the island – but the cost involved is daylight robbery. All in all the Red Funnel experience is highly unsatisfactory. |
| 10 | Ferry fares are a great burden on families on the mainland who want reglar contact. Absent children including students find it impossible. |
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| 12 | Ticket prices are too high. Cost of singles and day-returns is the worst, with monthly and annual season tickets a close second. |
| 13 | Discount for students is a JOKE. |
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| 15 | I love the Island and would certainly visit more if it were more affordable to get there. I also feel for those who live on the Island who are restricted, because of the cost, to the number of times they can travel to the mainland (for holidays, hospital treatment, visit relatives etc). |
| 16 | This is my works email address. Please use this conservatively. Yes, I do agree that Red Funnel prices are very high, and indeed extortionate for those travelling on a regular basis. |
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| 19 | I don't think that the recent price hikes equate to an improvement in service. When will these increases stop? |
| 20 | Suggest you sent up a petition on the Downing Street petitions web site also!!! |
| 21 | This is an excellent project and I know you'll get lots of support. |
| 22 | I regularly use the ferries on business and pleasure trips to Cowes and over the years the cost of these trips has increased well above the rate of inflation. There seems to be a monopoly or cartel in operation! |
| 23 | I believe that Red Funnel has a monopoly. There is NO alternative route for those travelling between Cowes and Southampton. There are few decent jobs on the island so many of us have to work on the mainland. The price of an annual season ticket has increased by around £400 over the past few years and is now £1,800!!! These increases are way above the rate of inflation. I have not noticed any improvements in the service over that time. Red Funnel's Red Jets seem to be for ever breaking down. Are they actually maintaining them properly? The waiting rooms at Cowes and Southampton and the toilets at West Cowes are also unkempt and dirty. I don't believe passengers are getting value for money. I have lived on the Isle of Wight all of my life and really don't want to leave. However, I'm reluctantly selling my home and moving to the mainland this year as I simply cannot afford the cost of commuting with Red Funnel. I'm very sad about this. |
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| 26 | the ferry companys that run to and fro from the island have always been to expensive, it seems we are all held to ransom by them, i think its about time something was done because it is our only life lines to get off the island many thanks |
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| 28 | The percentage rise in the price is unjustafiable and the near monoploy situation from Cowes should encourage the competition comission to investigate. |
| 29 | I like to go over to the IoW for cycling but a) the ferry fares are pretty expensive; b) parking at the ferry terminal in Southampton is very expensive and c) while folding bikes are allowed on all trains the Red Jet is quite antagonistic and unpredictable about taking them on the high speed I usually end up having to take the much slower car ferry. The only alternatives are to travel some distance along the coast either way to Lymington or Portsmouth which is no real a choice. |
| 30 | Although Islanders may appreciate discounts during the Winter, surely when ferries are full in the Summer they could be cheaper. |
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| 34 | My sons multi link tickets increased by 30% this January. This level of increase is totally unjustified. The company will not even offer an excuse! |
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| 36 | They shoud not get away with it. |
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| 38 | I think that it is poor value for money considering it is the most expensive ferry crossing in the world for the distance travelled & i feel that it would help the islands economy more if it was reasonably priced & our pocketsas well as wages are so low on the island. |
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| 41 | Overall it is a very good reliable service, however the cost of travel across the solent is very high, I will be reviewing whether I can continue to work in Southampton when my season ticket is due for renewal as the cost of nearly £2,000 a year for a season ticket eats away at my finances teamed with bus and petrol on top (another £750.00). If there were more jobs on the Island/better opportunities that paid well we would not be forced to try and take jobs in Southampton. Also the £5.00 charge enforced for getting an earlier ferry on the Vehicle Ferry even though it is a 90 day return (and you are forced to advise time of return) is ridiculous, when I visit my family in the North I only have a rough estimate of time of arrival in Southampton due to roadworks along the way, I have been forced to either wait for another ferry or pay the £5.00 charge even when the ferry is not full, what is the point of saying it is a 90 day return, why not just say a return. |
| 42 | I am travelling from Southampton to London (return) via National Express this weekend to see friends and it is costing me just £4! Last weekend, I travelled a few miles across the solent to visit my parents, and the cost....£17.90 return. No decent bulk discount available and it appears as though the island concession has also been lost on period return tickets. Thank you for travelling Red Funnel. Like we have a choice? Travel miles out of the way to travel WightLink. |
| 43 | They have us over a barrel when it comes to price increases. It is unfair that we have to accept these above inflation fare increases. |
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| 48 | I have family on the Island that I wish I could visit more often but the cost of the ferry is outrageous and makes it impossibe to visit regularly. |
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| 50 | Think the ferry operators are exploiting their strong position. The change in Wightlink's multilink ticketing policy where books of 10 car+driver tickets can now only be bought with a 6 month rather than a 12 month life is an typical of their disregard for customer service. |