Petition asking Wightlink for later Portsmouth to Ryde FastCats

More than 1,500 have signed it, since it launched on Sunday morning.

Scroll down to sign it

Currently, the last crossing from the mainland is the 8.20pm departure - with check-in required just after 8pm to guarantee your ticket.

This means an Islander who travels to London for a day needs to leave Waterloo Station on the 5.38pm train to catch the last FastCat crossing - the 6pm train has recently changed to a 6.09pm which means it is back too late to meet the 8.20pm. 

It also means people can't enjoy a night out in Portsmouth or elsewhere on the mainland, without travelling back on the car ferry (which takes passengers to Fishbourne not Ryde) or booking an overnight stay.

It has led to claims of a curfew on Islanders.

What is the petition asking of Wightlink?

The petition is asking for later evening sailings on the FastCat in both directions, including at least one after 10pm, every day of the week.

It asks that these are timed to align with trains arriving in Portsmouth Harbour station.

Later crossings from Ryde Pier Head would also provide flexibility for those working evenings on the Island.

Who is behind the Wightlink petition and why?

Harriet Hadfield, who is a parish councillor in Nettlestone and Seaview, started the campaign.

Journalist Harriet Hadfield. (Image: Harriet Hadfield)

She said: “I’ve been totally overwhelmed - but not that surprised - with the speed in which we’ve gathered more than 1,000 signatures.

"It just shows the strength of feeling over this issue and how many Islanders, and indeed mainlanders, have been affected by the reduced FastCat timetable since Covid.

“The petition asks people to add their experiences in the comments section so that I can collate the case studies for Wightlink - in the hope that the real-life issues Islanders face will make a difference.

"This petition will be sent to Keith Greenfield, Wightlink chief executive, when we’ve reached enough signatures. I will also send it to Bob Seely MP plus Portsmouth MPs such as Penny Mordaunt who we know is sympathetic to the issues of cross-Solent travel.

“To be honest I’d like to lobby Wightlink about lots of issues - the car ferry timetable for example, or ask questions about the inner workings of bookings for multilink ticket pass holders. But I chose a very specific and achievable ask for this petition - which I believe the company needs to act on immediately.

“As a local journalist via my 5-Stories newsletter and Island Stories podcast, I receive so many messages from subscribers about the problems of cross-Solent travel.

"It’s undoubtedly the number one issue for Islanders and I believe vital to the sustainability of our Island economically and socially."

Harriet said she decided to do the petition after taking a 10.15pm car ferry in late September which had more than 60 foot passengers onboard.

She had been to London for an event and missed the 6pm train from Waterloo.

She feels another issue is safety for passengers expected to walk through Portsmouth Docks at night, perhaps alone, from the train station to the car ferry terminal.

Then, at the other end of the ferry crossing, is the problem of getting to Ryde where people have parked their cars or expected to get transport links from.

What is Wightlink saying about late night sailings?

Since Covid, Wightlink has said there isn't demand for late-night Fastcat sailings but it is monitoring it.

The County Press has asked Wightlink for a statement today.

Find the petition by clicking here 

UPDATE: Read Wightlink's response about late night catamarans