Important information for travellers to and from the Isle of Wight
Operators to/from the Isle of Wight are running at a reduced capacity to help maintain social distancing. Please check the information below for your journey:
- Cowes, via Red Funnel: Reservations are not offered. The QuayConnect shuttle between Southampton Central station and Red Funnels’ terminals is suspended and you will need to use alternative transport. Bus routes U1A, U1C & U1E and taxis are available from outside the stations (platform 4 exit), or a walk to the terminal is around 25 minutes (1.1 miles). Please note that through rail and ferry tickets are not valid on other buses or taxis.
- Ryde, via Hovertravel: Reservations are recommended and can be made through Hovertravel’s reservation form. Please allow up to 48 hours (excluding weekends) for your request to be processed.
- Ryde or Yarmouth, via Wightlink: Reservations are recommended and can made by calling Wightlink on 0333 999 7333 (09:00 – 18:00 Monday to Friday, 09:00 – 17:00 Saturday and Sunday).
You do not need to have a reservation on Hovertravel or Wightlink and may be asked to join a standby queue. At busy times, you may not be able to travel on your intended crossing and will need to wait for the next one available.
Whether you’re using the Island Line for your daily commute, a day out or as a visitor to the Island, here’s all the information you need to plan your journey.
To find out more about the stations along the Island Line, our station information provides detail on station facilities, car parking and guidance for passengers who need assistance.
Our Island Line timetable allows you to plan your journey well in advance – from London Waterloo, across the Solent and onto the Island. Our Island Line service is 30 minutes from Ryde to Shanklin and runs every 30 minutes throughout the day. Have a look at our handy Island Line map.
Getting to the Isle of Wight
You’ve lots of choices for travelling to the Isle of Wight – and all of them involve water.
From Portsmouth
Wightlink’s high speed passenger catamaran goes from Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head, with a journey time of just 22 minutes. From here you can find connecting trains for Brading, Sandown, Lake and Shanklin.
Wightlink also operate a 45 minute crossing from Portsmouth to Fishbourne using a larger car and passenger ferry.
HoverTravel offer a speedy connection between Southsea and the beach at Ryde by passenger hovercraft with a journey time of just 10 minutes. You’re just a few steps from Ryde Esplanade train station. There’s also handy shuttle bus to Southsea Hoverport from Portsmouth and Southsea train station.
From Southampton
Red Funnel operate both high speed passenger catamarans and car ferries between Southampton and Cowes.
The catamaran service operates from Terminal 2, Town Quay, Southampton with a journey time of just 25 minutes to West Cowes. Red Funnel’s passenger vehicle ferry service departs from Terminal 1, Dock Gate 7 and reaches East Cowes in 55 minutes.
Both Southampton terminals are connected with Southampton Central train station by a fast and frequent shuttle bus.
From Lymington
You can also reach the Isle of Wight in 40 minutes from Lymington Ferry terminal using Wightlink’s regular car and passenger ferry. The terminal is immediately adjacent to Lymington Pier train station.
