Hovertravel consults on possible cuts

There are some great accurate points in the thread, not sure Hovertravel is aware but if you open BOTH doors then you could get loaded twice as quick as only 1 door, which seems to be the normal practice. The Mail is an issue on later crossings, why not have a freight only craft for this crossing? Please Hovertravel do not get into Wightlinks practices which I admit you have been doing over the last few months.

Consultation?? They will do as they please, regardless. The problems are due to staff standing around doing little, Hovertravel taking on Royal Mail and other delivery contracts at the expense of commuters, not maintaining craft so one is regularly out of service etc. This is NOT about providing us with a better service, it is cost-saving for them. Last year a fellow commuter lost her job after being warned of lateness - for four or five weeks, hover ran to service 1 or 2 days each week only, due to staff sickness, craft breaking, weather (looked a bit gloomy) and countless other excuses. Often we are left waiting around for ages before someone begrudgingly admits to a delay. An appalling service, I wish I had Andy's faith or working conditions that didn't mean I was so reliant on needing to cross at commuter time.

Any news on the return to service of Solent Express?

I'm a regular commuter, and the biggest problem during rush hour isn't the service that runs a few minutes late it's the one that doesn't run at all because a hovercraft is broken down and there's no longer any back-up. A the moment when one hover is off, the half hour (every 15 minutes each way) service is just about managable, it's very crowded but most people get on the next craft. On the alternative timetables suggested, there will be a 40 minutes wait and a third more people waiting to try and get on. There will be a lot more passengers left behind who'll be very late to work or getting home and of course then a knock-on effect on the next service.

This is just another excuse to cut the service. What’s the problem with one or two Hovers going out a bit late? We have to wait an hour during the winter months as Hovertravel have already cut the service by a half. If Hovertravel are worried about this they should chase up the staff that just stand around with their hands in their pockets while one or two staff do the work. Use the two stairs instead of just the one. Spread the cargo out over one or two crossings rather than cramming in as much as they can on the one. This has nothing to do with what is best for the regular commuter. Who will be counting the results of this survey?

This is symptomatic of a far greater problem - we need a bridge.

Dave,
At least Hovertravel are asking the opinion of the users on 3 possible options before making any decision is made.
I have read them and for me a 20 minute service during the peak times is fine. The 15minute version hardly leaves on time especially during the evening when the mail is being unloaded at the same time as disembarking and embarking of the passengers.
I am a regular HoverTravel user and know that weather conditions can affect the timetable and so by increasing the time between services it will be minimised as much as possible.

Oh dear oh dear - let's hope that the usual 2 or 3 Forum Regulars who constantly attack Wightlink but omit Red Funnel and Hovertravel from their ignorant tirades, will now show some humility !!

Any views or opinions presented in the comments above are solely those of the author and do not represent those of the Isle of Wight County Press.