When I follow that link the page includes a link to a pdf timetable.
It's also on the MacBraynes website, although they don't operate it. (I presume that it's still the 'summer timetable' link because it hasn't changed, but I haven't checked that).
-
Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
Commuter Ferries
- Thread starter markymark2000
- Start date
- Status
When I follow that link the page includes a link to a pdf timetable.
It's also on the MacBraynes website, although they don't operate it. (I presume that it's still the 'summer timetable' link because it hasn't changed, but I haven't checked that).
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
61653 HTAFC
Veteran Member
Despite living in West Yorkshire I wasn't aware of this service. Just checked their website and it has no mention of fares. Is the operation supported by WYITA? and are MCards/Dayrovers accepted?
If not (and based on the information on the Leeds Docks website) then I'm not sure it qualifies as true public transport, more as a tourist attraction.
Midnight Sun
Member
- Joined
- 16 Sep 2018
- Messages
- 310
The Sandbanks ferry should be back in service by the end of the week
Midnight Sun
Member
- Joined
- 16 Sep 2018
- Messages
- 310
I had no trouble, the first page opened had the timetable and fare on it. https://www.leedsdock.com/whos-here/watertaxis/. A service that runs every 15 mins that provides a direct service from the Railway Station to Granary Wharf. Many people work in that area (Yorkshire Water HQ, Sky, Stantec plus others around the the dock) so it should count as true public transport. And in the rushhour quicker than the 70 bus. The boat only takes 12 mins. If it was a tourist attraction the fare would be much higher than the current £1.
Last edited:
61653 HTAFC
Veteran Member
I think the developers of Leeds Dock fund it in part or wholly. Give it a go next time you're in Leeds - it's genuinely useful if you want to get to / from the Armouries or thereabouts.
The Brixham Express fast ferry between Torquay and Brixham was a good idea, and the planned crossing time of 15 minutes beat the existing ferries (30 minutes) and the bus journey (40+ minutes) hands down. It was perhaps unfortunate that it parachuted itself into a period of intense rivalry between the two existing operators of seasonal tourist crossings on the route, neither of which were interested in bidding for the contract. Its biggest drawback was that the construction and delivery of the dedicated fast ferry was delayed by nearly two years, meaning that Brixham Express had to hire a succession of unsuitable boats and the service was unreliable, often because the craft used could not operate due to weather conditions or were too slow to maintain the timings.
Stagecoach had also trialled a fast ferry between Brixham and Torquay back in August/September 2008, the ferry being loaned by Red Funnel of Southampton. The service was popular, but it was felt at the time that the expense of improving the harbourside facilities at both locations could not be justified. These improvements were subsequently funded for Brixham Express through the Government's Local Sustainable Transport Fund, which also funded a connecting bus link in Torquay for one year and improvements to cycle routes in Torquay.
Stagecoach had also trialled a fast ferry between Brixham and Torquay back in August/September 2008, the ferry being loaned by Red Funnel of Southampton. The service was popular, but it was felt at the time that the expense of improving the harbourside facilities at both locations could not be justified. These improvements were subsequently funded for Brixham Express through the Government's Local Sustainable Transport Fund, which also funded a connecting bus link in Torquay for one year and improvements to cycle routes in Torquay.
Last edited:
I think I read somewhere there was a proposal to run a commuter ferry service between Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch. With levels of road congestion at an all time high, the boat would have probably been quicker than using local buses between the three towns.
Midnight Sun
Member
- Joined
- 16 Sep 2018
- Messages
- 310
That was in the Echo. It would never work, the speed limit in Poole harbour is 10 knots in the Ship channel and 6 knots elsewhere. So 25 mins from passing Sandbanks to Poole Quay. The speed limit in Cristchurch harbour is only 4 knots, the Harbour is really only suitable for shoal draft craft, say 4tf max, even at the top of spring tides.
markymark2000
On Moderation
We need to find out a way to increase water speed limits then as they seem to be the issue here. I know a lot of limits are in place for a reason but as are road speed limits, there must be a way with investment to increase speeds for passenger vessels. With commuting via ferrys not being very big in the UK, there was no reason to try and up speed limits and there would always be the risk of some numpties on speed boats taking the mic. Now, ferries provide a viable alternative compared to the road in terms of it being traffic free and can carry 100-200 people at a time at in the region of 30mph non stop.
In previous years we have been about investing in land transport but I think that now we are realising that there is only so much we can do to expand our rail and road capacity, ferries are now one of the only ways to improve mass transit in coastal towns/cities. Ferries are well loved as well because you are guaranteed a seat, most have cafes which you can walk up to and purchase goods rather than waiting for a trolley to run over 500 people to get to you. The views can also be much better than trains/buses depending on where you are.
In previous years we have been about investing in land transport but I think that now we are realising that there is only so much we can do to expand our rail and road capacity, ferries are now one of the only ways to improve mass transit in coastal towns/cities. Ferries are well loved as well because you are guaranteed a seat, most have cafes which you can walk up to and purchase goods rather than waiting for a trolley to run over 500 people to get to you. The views can also be much better than trains/buses depending on where you are.
Midnight Sun
Member
- Joined
- 16 Sep 2018
- Messages
- 310
Increase in speed results in greater wash (Wash is the term for the waves that a boat creates as a it moves through the water) The trouble with boat wash is that it affects more than just the person driving the boat or being towed behind it. Waves continue, sometimes for hundreds of yards, until they lose all energy or breaks on something. . Constant heavy wash can erode the banks, leaving them in much worse shape than had no boats been present. In some places it only takes a little bit of turbulence to cause damage. In mooring areas, for example, too much wash can rock boats and potentially have them knocking into each other.
A few years ago there were plans to introduce a passenger hovercraft service between Southampton and Portsmouth.Thats as far as it got.
In 2015 there was a company called Scoot Ferries, who introduced 2 new passenger services from the Isle of Wight to the mainland. The services were from Yarmouth to Lymington and Cowes to Portsmouth.
The services were aimed at the commuter and leisure market.
The services from Yarmouth to Lymington were operated by 12 seater fast craft and were planned to increase to 30 seaters.
The services to and from Portsmouth were to the Camber Docks and a shuttle bus was laid on to take people to and from The Hard/Portsmouth Harbour station.
I think these services, which started early morning and finished late at night, only lasted a few weeks before the company folded.
So not easy to start a new ferry service or try and break into already established routes
In 2015 there was a company called Scoot Ferries, who introduced 2 new passenger services from the Isle of Wight to the mainland. The services were from Yarmouth to Lymington and Cowes to Portsmouth.
The services were aimed at the commuter and leisure market.
The services from Yarmouth to Lymington were operated by 12 seater fast craft and were planned to increase to 30 seaters.
The services to and from Portsmouth were to the Camber Docks and a shuttle bus was laid on to take people to and from The Hard/Portsmouth Harbour station.
I think these services, which started early morning and finished late at night, only lasted a few weeks before the company folded.
So not easy to start a new ferry service or try and break into already established routes
My maritime contacts told me from day one it would be a failure. The company that gained the concession and subsidy delivered their new boat very late (by about two years I think), and the substitute vessel they hired in for a while was deemed unsuitable for PRMs and thus ineligible to receive the agreed subsidy. Service was patchy and custom sparse in the extreme. The mooring on the outer pier at Torquay was inconvenient and very exposed and the special link bus service was withdrawn very quickly as fresh air proved particularly wasteful to transport in a vehicle that could be redeployed more usefully elsewhere. You couldn't rely on the short journey time in winter as heavy seas might result in a slower crossing, and poor weather also limited the maximum number of passengers that could be carried (although I don't think that was ever a problem!). In the event of a cancellation for weather, which was frequent in winter, you would have to revert to bus, so again you couldn't rely on it to get you to work on time unless you got up early enough to be able catch the bus anyway, so you might as well catch the bus with a go anywhere season ticket for a similar price and be able to make other journeys as well. All year round ferries can work well in sheltered river situations like Dartmouth, but a small boat crossing a large open bay with variable and sometimes severe sea conditions proved a big fat FAIL in this case. The Dart summer leisure boats are only licensed to operate around the headland and across the bay between Easter and October, although they can legally cruise the Dart all year round I understand.
deanmachine
Member
Shields Ferry is currently a Ferry Replacement Bus Service for at least a while.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-50378963
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-50378963
scotrail158713
Established Member
Good point. I forgot about Copenhagen.
Apparently it was reinstated before Christmas (which I'm very glad to hear) https://www.nexus.org.uk/news/item/shields-ferry-resume-services-saturday-21-december
How about (Lake) Lucerne too? (and Falmouth/St Mawes)
Last edited:
Used one of there ferries , was free as no one came round to asking or selling a ticket.
randyrippley
Established Member
- Joined
- 21 Feb 2016
- Messages
- 5,132
I've often wondered if a fast ferry Southport - Blackpool - Fleetwood - Heysham/Morecambe - Barrow would get any takers.
Reliability due to weather would be an obvious issue
Reliability due to weather would be an obvious issue
Where on earth would you dock at Southport given the distance the tides cover?
randyrippley
Established Member
- Joined
- 21 Feb 2016
- Messages
- 5,132
Maybe use the pier? How deep is the water there?
Royston Vasey
Established Member
New York Waterway provides an extensive network of busy fast ferries on the Hudson and East Rivers from New Jersey and suburban New York into midtown and the financial district. Free buses then distribute passengers on multiple cross-town routes. Staten Island Ferry adds a substantial chunk into Battery Park and onward Subway.
But Manhattan is a 23 square mile island with 1.5 million daily commuters and the vast majority still use NY Subway, PATH and buses from the boroughs and NJ. It has the geographical limitations and opportunities for ferries to work, and the sheer critical mass of passengers. Ferry fares are quite a bit higher than a swipe on the subway or bus ticket. They still only obtain a small share of 2%, much of which from NJ into the financial district and the Staten Island Ferry. But 2% of 1.5 million is still a lot of people.
Hard to see where the passenger numbers and geographic necessity to cross a major waterway exist in the UK.
I've used NY Waterway to commute and it's the most breathtaking commute you could dream of, IMHO
But Manhattan is a 23 square mile island with 1.5 million daily commuters and the vast majority still use NY Subway, PATH and buses from the boroughs and NJ. It has the geographical limitations and opportunities for ferries to work, and the sheer critical mass of passengers. Ferry fares are quite a bit higher than a swipe on the subway or bus ticket. They still only obtain a small share of 2%, much of which from NJ into the financial district and the Staten Island Ferry. But 2% of 1.5 million is still a lot of people.
Hard to see where the passenger numbers and geographic necessity to cross a major waterway exist in the UK.
I've used NY Waterway to commute and it's the most breathtaking commute you could dream of, IMHO
Last edited:
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
0" for a lot of the day. It's a very shallow beach, at low tide the water is quite literally miles out. People used to use it for underage driving practice back in the day. (No, not me, though my Dad did talk about doing it).
Snow1964
Established Member
There was (might still be, as don’t live in that area now) 2 ferries in Christchurch, a Mudeford-Hengistbury ferry across harbour mouth; and one on the river which I think was called Wick ferry which ran from near Iford to Christchurch Quay.
There used to be a 2 boat chain ferry commuter ferry in Southampton until Itchen Bridge was built. This led directly to Central Bridge, which was built by railway to replace 2 level crossings, couple of hundred yards either side of new bridge (hence central). Was originally a tram connection on Central Bridge. Off topic but the reason for Central Bridge was level crossings could be down 40 mins due to busy rail location causing chaos to road traffic.
That would need to be a hovercraft
Peter Mugridge
Veteran Member
I was thinking that myself. A Griffon 8000 would probably be around the right size for the job.
randyrippley
Established Member
- Joined
- 21 Feb 2016
- Messages
- 5,132
Obvious advantages in using a Hovercraft, but they are more limited in the weather they can handle
Peter Mugridge
Veteran Member
On the old Dover - Calais service, the SRN4s were limited by the wind speed rather than the wave size and were capable of operating in worse conditions than their catamaran replacements.
randyrippley
Established Member
- Joined
- 21 Feb 2016
- Messages
- 5,132
They were pretty big machines though, any coastal ferry is going to be a lot smaller, more the size of an SRN6
edwin_m
Veteran Member
So Waterway is fairly much analogous to the Thames Clipper - something of a niche market charging a higher fare. Only the very biggest cities can justify a large-scale ferry operation for journeys that can also be done by transit. Staten Island Ferry is because there's no other sensible route between Staten Island and Manhattan.New York Waterway provides an extensive network of busy fast ferries on the Hudson and East Rivers from New Jersey and suburban New York into midtown and the financial district. Free buses then distribute passengers on multiple cross-town routes. Staten Island Ferry adds a substantial chunk into Battery Park and onward Subway.
But Manhattan is a 23 square mile island with 1.5 million daily commuters and the vast majority still use NY Subway, PATH and buses from the boroughs and NJ. It has the geographical limitations and opportunities for ferries to work, and the sheer critical mass of passengers. Ferry fares are quite a bit higher than a swipe on the subway or bus ticket. They still only obtain a small share of 2%, much of which from NJ into the financial district and the Staten Island Ferry. But 2% of 1.5 million is still a lot of people.
Hard to see where the passenger numbers and geographic necessity to cross a major waterway exist in the UK.
I've used NY Waterway to commute and it's the most breathtaking commute you could dream of, IMHO
- Status