Competition 4 IOW Ferries

2007-04-22T08:44:00.000-07:00

SIGN THE PETITION by clicking here!

Thanks to the strong support from Isle of Wight residents, we have thousands of signatures, both online and on paper. Please pass this website on to friends and family or print out the paper petition for those who do not have internet access.

Help us make the case to the Office of Fair Trading by sending us your old vehicle ferry ticket stubs and old timetables! Send them to: Ferry Passengers for a Fair Deal, PO Box 168, Newport, Isle of Wight PO30 6BE. See below for more information!

FERRY PASSENGERS TO SUBMIT OWN FORMAL REQUEST TO GOVERMENT COMPETITION AGENCY

2007-04-22T08:42:00.000-07:00

Members of Ferry Passengers for a Fair Deal will be putting forth their own ferry review request to the Office of Fair Trading, illustrating the need for an immediate independent Government-sponsore d inquiry into the cost of travel and carriage to and from the Isle of Wight.

The group of ferry passengers has been conducting their own research of the ferry companies' business records, land ownership and other public documents and has been gathering anecdotal information from the public, in addition to spearheading a petition calling for ferry service review.

Liz Fletcher of Ferry Passengers for a Fair Deal said "We are pleased to help our fellow islanders, businesses and tourists by taking urgent action on the issue of rising ferry costs. A new thorough government inquiry is severely overdue. Any ferry passengers who would like to contribute further may send factual testimony, vehicle ferry ticket stubs and old ferry timetables to Ferry Passengers for a Fair Deal, PO Box 168, Newport , Isle of Wight , PO30 9BE ."

The petition and the forthcoming bid recently have been supported by Peter Skinner MEP who represents the Isle of Wight, Hampshire , Sussex and Kent .

People who have signed the petition have commented on their view of the ferry prices’ impact on small businesses including tourism, friends and family trying to stay connected, young adults looking for work, pensioners with little income, and patients who need medical treatment in mainland hospitals.

The group will submit their bid to the Office of Fair Trading in June.

Contact: competition4iowferries@yahoo.co.uk
07967159 539
01983 240 903

Ferry Passengers for a Fair Deal
www.competition4iowferries.blogspot.com
PO Box 168
Newport
Isle of Wight
PO30 9BE

Ferry Passengers for a Fair Deal

2007-02-10T14:12:00.000-08:00

Are ferry fares to and from the Isle of Wight getting too expensive for you? Do you feel that you are getting value for your money? We don't!

We, a large group of ferry passengers, are petitioning to request an independent, government-sponsored investigation into the cost of travel and carriage to and from the Isle of Wight.

SIGN THE PETITION by clicking here! Add your comments to the petition! (Don't only "vent". . .also provide clear comments about your experience with and knowledge of cross-Solent travel!)

The Isle of Wight also desperately needs a comprehensive review of the impact of ferry travel costs on the Isle of Wight's economy and Islanders' quality of life. We, the organisers of this petition, see the ferries to and from the Isle of Wight as a vital "utility" as much as our water, electricity and other regulated utilities are critical to our survival in today's society. By virtue of being an island, the ferries are the only viable means for Islanders, goods and business to travel to and from the Isle of Wight, barring owning and operating boats. As travel to and from the island is an extremely necessary utility, we believe that the government should conduct an immediate investigation and should consider the regulation of the ferry companies.

As the petition states, the signatures and comments will be sent to the Competition Commission (that conducted the last investigation 15 years ago as the then-Monopolies and Mergers Commission), and the comments and the number of signatures will also be sent to the Office of Fair Trading (the UK's consumer and competition authority which also makes the referrals to the Competition Commission and other investigative government agencies) and the House of Commons Select Committee on Transport. The Secretary of State for the Department of Trade and Industry will also be notified of the petition.
We do not know why the prices of the ferries are what we consider to be expensive; there are many legitimate reasons for why ferry operators might need to charge certain fares. We are not alleging that there is any evidence of legal or illegal misconduct by the ferry operators. However, it is our opinion that ferry prices are continuing to out-price many Islanders and regular mainland travellers and are challenging our tourist industry and other businesses. We want this independent government inquiry to consider carefully the ferry operators’ “point of view”, including circumstances that may be completely beyond their control, such as their own potentially increasing costs. We believe that the ferry operators have always desired and, in fact, depend upon a healthy island for the good of their business and the quality of life for their employees as well. It stands to reason that reaching a true tipping point in ticket fares would be detrimental to their businesses as well as paralyse the people and businesses dependent upon their services.
We also want the inquiry to review the costs of cross-Solent travel compared with other similar ferry companies, but also look at all potential anti-competitive practices (which may or may not exist) used by businesses to eliminate or discourage competition. Just because there is more than one ferry operator, it does not necessarily follow that there is adequate competition or fair fares for travellers. There is a large distance between the ferry ports on the mainland and also on the island. The inquiry should review perspectives from both mainland and island foot passengers and car drivers, asking whether it is realistic to use alternative routes of ferry travel and therefore be able to choose to use other ferry companies.
Additionally, we would like the government to conduct a comprehensive “big picture” study of the impact of ferry travel on the Island’s economy and lives of Islanders and mainlanders.
Red Jet season ticket prices have increased year on year at 2-3 times the rate of inflation. A season ticket costs £1840 plus an optional £15 card protection scheme.
There is no government regulation of ferry ticket prices and passengers are vulnerable to further rises imposed
Islanders, particularly those travelling on foot, have no alternatives and are at the mercy of the unregulated ferry operators for getting off the island
In addition, parallel increases in the cost of transport of freight and goods across the Solent can push up up the cost of living on the island
Review the comments on the petition about what other ferry passengers have to say about Wightlink and Red Funnel.

WHAT CAN YOU DO??

If you too have concerns about the cost of your ferry travel across the Solent sign the petition by clicking on the link on the right hand side of the screen
All your details will be held securely and will not be passed on to anyone but the Competition Commission (a non-political branch of her Majesty's Government that investigates potential monopolies). Your comments will be sent to the Office of Fair Trading and the House of Commons Select Committee on Transport.
Please tell us of any experiences (good or bad) that you have had with the ferry operators (e.g. customer service, level of operation, cost etc)
Please pass this link onto anyone who might be interested

It's been 15 years since the last look at ferry prices!

2007-02-10T14:08:00.000-08:00

The last enquiry by the Competition Commission (then the Monopolies and Mergers Commission) into cross-Solent travel was in 1991. Click here for the report: http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/rep_pub/reports/1992/315crosssolent.htm#full

Look at this!

The enquiry focussed primarily on Wightlink but thoroughly reviewed all ferry operators, including cost comparison with other ferry services in Europe.
When the report was done, Cowes Express, a high-speed foot-passenger service, serviced Southampton and West Cowes in addition to Red Funnel's Red Jet high-speed service. Red Funnel was also running service from West Cowes to Portsmouth. Neither of these services exist anymore.
The Competition Commission concluded that the situation could need continuous monitoring and this has not been knowingly done in a thorough manner in the last 15+ years. "1.6. We have found no current aspects of Wightlink's performance to be against the public interest but the competition it faces cannot be regarded as strong. The company remains in a dominant position which could be open to abuse and there may be a need for further monitoring of its profitability and fares in the future."
There was some conclusion that the cost-per-kilometre operation of the ferries across the Solent was one, if not the most, expensive ferry trips. (See page 20 onward of http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/rep_pub/reports/1992/fulltext/315c2.pdf and http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/rep_pub/reports/1992/fulltext/315a2.4.pdf for the raw data) However, there was a significant caveat that short ferry trips have significant overhead costs.