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Hovertravel Reveals Weather Contingency Plans

Hovertravel has announced a string of contingency plans should its services be cancelled due to adverse weather.

The firm says when bad weather suspends crossings it will operate a free dedicated bus from the terminal at Ryde to the Wightlink car ferry terminal at Fishbourne.

The bus will have a limited capacity of 35 passengers to maintain the appropriate social distancing and will not carry bikes.

The Hoverbus in Portsmouth will include an additional stop at the Wightlink Gunwharf Quays terminal and the weather contingency timetables for both buses can be found on Hovertravel's website here.

From tomorrow (Saturday), Hovertravel will be the only foot passenger service operating from Ryde. 

Wightlink's FastCat is being temporarily withdrawn from service due low passenger numbers. 

Advance Warning

Throughout the second lockdown, Hovertravel pilots will review the weather in advance.

A service status message will be sent at 2pm the day before any adverse weather cancellations are anticipated.

The company hopes it will give customers advance warning as to whether to work from home, change their travel plans, or make their way directly to the car ferry. 

Hovertravel staff at Wightlink terminals

Wightlink has provided dedicated areas in both its terminals at Fishbourne and Gunwharf Quays for Hovertravel staff to welcome customers, scan tickets and get onboard as seamlessly as possible.

The new Weather Contingency Plan is only for the period of this second lockdown.

A Hovertravel spokesperson said:

"The weather is highly unpredictable and we can only enact our weather contingency plan based on forecasts of weather, tide height and wind direction. As all of you realise, the conditions on the Solent can change very quickly and we may, as we have done before, be able to start operating sooner than anticipated.

"Our new plan for the weather is a new operating procedure for you and us and we would ask for your patience as we deploy these new measures for the first time this weekend. At Hovertravel we are focussed on the customer and we are striving to make the weather cancellations more manageable for you all.

"For those of you who do need to travel during this second lockdown, please be kind and Hover responsibly."

More details can be found on Hovertravel's website here.

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