Runners and supporters travelling from the Isle of Wight for the ABP Southampton Marathon on Sunday 3 May 2026 will have access to an extra early morning ferry service to help them reach the start line on time. Red Funnel is adding an additional round trip to its passenger-only service to ensure participants can easily cross the Solent for the event.
The extra sailing will depart from Terminal 2 at Town Quay in Southampton at 05:30, with a return trip departing from West Cowes at 06:05. This adjustment is intended to support those who need to reach the marathon events, which are set to begin at 09:00 at Dock Gate 8 near the City Cruise Terminal.
The ABP Southampton Marathon, a major sporting event in the city, frequently coordinates with local transport providers to assist with crowd movement. Once runners arrive in Southampton, Radio Taxis Southampton, the official participant travel partner, will be operating from 06:30 to transport participants from the ferry terminal and surrounding areas directly to the Dock Gate 8 entrance.
This is not the first time the ferry operator has adjusted its service for large-scale gatherings in the city. The company, which has been connecting Southampton and the Isle of Wight since 1861, often provides additional sailings for major sporting events, such as home matches at St Mary’s Stadium. Participants planning to use the ferry are encouraged to review the updated sailing information to ensure their travel plans align with the early start.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
