VB readers will remember the reports we ran last week and the week before regarding the possible scrapping of late Saturday night catamaran crossings by Wightlink.
The 2012 train timetable revealed that it looked as though the last cat back to the Island on a Saturday night would be 22.15 rather than the current 00.15.
Wightlink claimed that no final decision had been made and that they had needed to give a worst-case scenario to Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) who were producing the timetables.
Revised Wightlink timetable reveals several cuts
Wightlink released their 2012 timetable at the weekend revealing that from 4th January 2012, the last cat home from the mainland on Saturday nights will be 22.15.
Here’s what they told VB this afternoon, “The current economic climate is continuing to impact on our business and we have had to reduce our ongoing costs wherever possible.
“A thorough review of our timetable on the Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head route has been undertaken which has identified those sailings with a low level of demand. This way we can continue to operate a viable 24/7 operation whilst crucially controlling our operating costs.
Year round withdrawal
“The main change to the sailing schedules – is unfortunately the year round withdrawal of the Saturday night/early Sunday morning sailings (from Portsmouth Harbour at 23:15 – Saturday and 00:15 and 06:15 – Sunday and from Ryde Pier Head at 23:47 – Saturday and 00:47 and 06:47 – Sunday) along with an hourly timetable being operated at weekends during off peak periods.
“We are aware that the change to our sailing times may not suit all of our passengers; unfortunately these changes are essential to ensure the future of the Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head route whilst minimising the impact for the majority of our passengers.
“Wightlink would like to apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause.”
We’ve asked whether the cuts will affect jobs and are awaiting an official response.
