ISLE of Wight ferry operator Red Funnel is investing £500,000 to build a new terminal at Southampton and increase the size of its vehicle holding area to halve disembarkation time.
The new terminal, scheduled to open in April 2000, will have almost twice as many ticket desks and a larger, more comfortable seating area. There will be a new cafe and games room with Internet access, as well as baby changing and facilities for the disabled.
A further £500,000 is being spent on a new pontoon – a floating platform for boarding and disembarkation – at the West Cowes passenger embarkation point which will increase capacity by at least a third. The new pontoon will be floated into place this month.
Red Funnel marketing director Olive Glass said the investment was needed to keep up with the demand for its traditional ferry and hi-speed catamaran passenger service. The ferry operator will not release figures, but said passenger numbers were up 7% last year compared to 1998.