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On the Southampton – Cowes route the Isle of Wight Royal Mail Steam Packet Company (IWRMSPC) was formed in 1820 and the Isle of Wight Steam Packet Company (IWSPC) in 1826. These merged in 1861, becoming the Southampton, Isle of Wight & South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Company (IW&SERMSPC). [4]
Eventually, Hovertravel took over running of the route on behalf of Seaspeed; however, in 1980, the decision was taken to discontinue the Cowes-Southampton service due to rising costs and increased competition from Red Funnel's hydrofoils, instead concentrating its resources on the Ryde-Southsea service, which was viewed as being more viable. [8]
The Blue Funnel Cruises operating out of Southampton Port and the Solent Cruises operating out of Portsmouth and Cowes as well as the Hythe Pier, Railway and Ferry operations are all run independently but co-operatively. [1] [2] The 75-126 seat Jenny series of boats are noted for their high speed of up to 19 knots. [3] [4]
Red Funnel's main competitor is Wightlink whose services operate from Portsmouth to Fishbourne and Ryde, and from Lymington to Yarmouth. The other major Solent ferry company, Hovertravel, operates between Southsea and Ryde. Both provide a frequent service to the Isle of Wight, but neither normally serve Southampton, Cowes or East Cowes.
The Island Line is the one railway left on the island. It runs some 8½ miles from Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin, down the eastern side of the island via Brading and Sandown.It was opened by the Isle of Wight Railway in 1864, and was nationalised in 1948, falling under the Southern Region of British Railways.
View of the Solent from Gurnard, near Cowes, Isle of Wight The Solent from Wootton, Isle of Wight, showing Wightlink Fishbourne–Portsmouth ferries crossing.. The Solent (/ ˈ s oʊ l ən t / SOH-lənt) is a strait between the Isle of Wight and mainland Great Britain; the major historic ports of Southampton and Portsmouth lie inland of its shores.
Seaspeed operated several services; its first route, running between Cowes and Southampton, was launched on 6 July 1966. Initially operating a fleet of SR.N6s for these short-distance services, it opted to procure larger SR.N4s for its cross- Channel ferry service; the first of these hoverferries was introduced in 1968.
The Cowes Floating Bridge is a vehicular chain ferry that crosses the River Medina on the Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England.The ferry crosses the tidal river from East Cowes to Cowes, and remains the only way to cross the River Medina between the towns without taking a ten-mile trip via Newport.