RED Funnel will run extra sailings on its car ferry and Red Jet routes during the Isle of Wight Festival weekend.
Additional crossings will run on Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday.
The company is advising customers it will be extremely busy during the festival weekend and has issued the following advice for its passengers:
Thursday, June 21 & Friday, June 22
Foot Passenger services (Red Jet and vehicle ferry)
On Thursday and Friday, it is anticipated that there will be queues from mid-morning until the evening on the vehicle ferry service and Red Jet service from Southampton, with no anticipated delays for East Cowes or West Cowes departures.
As in previous years foot passenger travel will be on a first-come first-served basis. Holders of books of tickets, 12 month, 6 month, 30 day and seven-day season tickets, pre-paid Travel Card customers, elderly and disabled customers and passengers with NHS/Hospital appointments for these dates will be prioritised but delays should still be expected.
Vehicle ferry services
Vehicle traffic from Southampton will be extremely busy across the day. To help prevent traffic congestion, vehicle customers must pre-book and arrive no more than one hour and no less than 30 minutes before their booked sailing time.
Saturday, June 23 & Sunday, June 24
All Red Funnel services
The weekend days have capacity in both directions and no delays are anticipated on either route, although traffic later into Sunday evening will be busier than normal.
Monday, June 25
Foot passenger services (Red Jet and vehicle ferry)
Queues are expected from 9am until late afternoon for foot passengers departing from East Cowes and West Cowes.
Again, foot passenger travel will be on a first-come first-served basis. Holders of books of tickets, 12 month, 6 month, 30 day and seven-day season tickets, Travel Card customers, elderly and disabled customers and passengers with NHS/Hospital appointments for these dates will be prioritised but delays should still be expected. Customers are advised to allow additional time for onward connections.
Vehicle ferry service
As in previous years, Red Funnel has been working closely with the Isle of Wight Council, East Cowes Town Council, the police and Solo to help mitigate disruption to the residents and businesses of East Cowes after the festival.
To help prevent traffic congestion, vehicles must be pre-booked and are requested not to turn up more than one hour before their booked sailing time.
All ferry traffic (excluding booked freight vehicles) will enter a traffic management system at Whippingham (Beatrice Avenue) which will be in place to manage the flow of vehicles entering East Cowes; this will be clearly signed and well staffed on the day by Red Funnel staff, Isle of Wight Council Highways and the police.
• For the latest Red Funnel service follow Red Funnel’s official Travel News Twitter feed @RF_Travel_News or view the Service Status on the Red Funnel website or mobile website (www.redfunnel.co.uk)