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Hovercraft trial “a success” |
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Monday, 30 July 2007 |
The trial of a hovercraft service across the Forth has been hailed as a “major operational success” by operators Stagecoach as work begins to evaluate the two week pilot.
Stagecoach say that more than 32,000 passengers travelled on Kirkcaldy-Portobello service, adding that the service also provided a boost for economy as local retailers report increased shoppers and sales as a result of the trial, which was part funded by SEStran, the South East of Scotland Transport Partnership.
Robert Andrew, the regional director for Stagecoach Scotland, said: “The two-week trial has been a major operational success. It has been incredibly informative in helping to shape a new public transport alternative that delivers what customers want.
“During the trial, we have collected a wealth of passenger data and customer feedback. We look forward to working in partnership with SEStran, the Scottish Executive, as well as the Fife and City of Edinburgh Councils, to establish whether there is a business case to create a permanent cross Forth transport link.”
Councillor Russell Imrie, Chair of SEStran, said: "This trial helps to prove the case that cross-Forth travel using the under-used waterway could be a success. This trial has demonstrated that there is a core commuter demand that could be built on and also a considerable potential for leisure trips to supplement the business case.
“We look forward to analysing the results of the trial in the context of the wider study into the viability and preferred option for a regular, year round cross-Forth service."
The hovercraft service has included dedicated bus shuttle links from Portobello to Leith and Edinburgh city centre. Nearly 9,000 travellers used the shuttle bus to travel to Waverley Bridge, with around 7,000 passengers heading to Ocean Terminal, providing a boost to local business.
Stagecoach estimates that running a two-craft operation would cost around £2m a year. Around 9,000 passengers a week - and up to 470,000 passengers a year – are estimated would use the service. While the service would require initial public investment, Stagecoach believes that within a few years passenger volumes could grow to make it commercially sustainable.
One person has commented on this article. 1. Hovercraft Trial
Nikki MacLeod, Unregistered The Executive and local councils should act quickly to keep up the momentum on this project. I took my bike over on the hovercraft and was very impressed, even though it took 5hrs to cycle back. The Forth is a beautiful and under-used resource and I would like to suggest more trans-forth and along-forth crossings if they could be run in an environmentally friendly way. A hydrofoil from Granton to Burntisland is an obvious next step and then maybe a reinstatement of the Old Chain Pier to Stirling steamer!
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Last Updated ( Monday, 30 July 2007 )
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