ISLE of Wight ferry firm Wightlink is reinstating its later FastCat sailings.

Additional services between Portsmouth Harbour and Ryde Pier will start on Monday, March 27.

The extra FastCat evening sailings will be the 9.20pm and 10.45pm from Portsmouth and the 10pm and 11.10pm from Ryde.

Crossings will also be hourly throughout the day, Monday to Sunday.  

Foot passengers can also travel on Wightlink’s car ferries.

The 10.15pm and 11.59pm crossings from Portsmouth to Fishbourne (returning at 11pm and 1am) complement the scheduled FastCats to offer extra sailings to and from the Isle of Wight.  

There will also be changes to the Lymington-Yarmouth summer timetable to improve connections with South Western Railway (SWR) trains.  

“We have always made it clear that we would add additional FastCat sailings when customer numbers justified the decision,” says Wightlink Chief Executive Keith Greenfield.

“I hope many Islanders and mainland customers will take advantage of these additional crossings.   

“We also trust the minor amends to our Lymington-Yarmouth service will be helpful for customers who use the connecting SWR trains to and from Brockenhurst and the rail network beyond.”  

The news has been welcomed by Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely.

He said: "I’m delighted that Wightlink has agreed to extend their FastCat service to include late-night sailings at 9.20pm and 1.45pm from Portsmouth and 10pm and 11.10pm from Ryde from March 27. 

“The return of these sailings is something that I have fought hard for because I know these services are important to Islanders, especially to those who work in or near Portsmouth and struggle to catch the 8.20pm service back to Ryde. 

“I would like to thank Wightlink for listening and responding. There have been numerous conversations, phone calls, letters and emails between us over recent months.

"I’m glad this has resulted in a positive outcome for Island commuters and visitors. This is a great result. I would also like to thank those individuals and campaigners who have also pressed Wightlink on this issue over recent months."