Stagecoach today (19 June 2007) confirmed plans for a full passenger trial of a cross-Forth hovercraft link next month.
The Perth-based international transport group will test a hi-tech130-passenger craft on a route between Kirkcaldy and Portobello for two weeks from Monday 16 July to Saturday 28 July.
A total of 22 services a day – 11 in each direction - will operate on the route, with convenient peak-time services and integrated bus links to accommodate commuters looking to avoid congestion on the Forth Road Bridge.
The £300,000 trial will cover part of the period of the Forth Bridge closure, giving commuters a further public transport alternative to the train in addition to existing regular bus services.
Brian Souter, Stagecoach Group Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted that after a huge amount of work, as well as strong support from statutory organisations and the local community, we are now able to get a hovercraft on the water.
“The Forth estuary is an underused resource and we are looking forward to giving people a chance to see the benefits this technology could bring to the region’s communities, economy and public transport system. It is crucial we have a wide range of public transport options to cope with the increasing flow of people between Fife and the Edinburgh area.”
A 28-metre BHT130 hovercraft, manufactured by Isle of Wight-based Hoverwork Limited and incorporating the latest diesel engine technology, will be used for the trial. The crossing time will be around 20 minutes and the craft, with normal operating speeds of approximately 35 knots, will be able to run in waves of up to two metres.
Passengers will be able to travel for the same price as existing bus fares, with return tickets from £4.50. Stagecoach’s existing 6, 6A, 7, X59 and X60 bus services will stop at the Kirkcaldy departure point at the west end of the Esplanade. Link buses will operate from the Portobello landing point at rear of the Lothian Buses depot on the Promenade to both Leith and Edinburgh City Centre. Shuttle buses will also run from Edinburgh City Centre and Leith to the Portobello departure point.
The first service will leave Kirkcaldy at 7.10am, with the last service to Portobello departing at 6pm. Services from Portobello will operate between 7.35am and 6.30pm. No services will operate on Sunday 22 July. Full timetable, fares and bus link information is available on the web at www.stagecoachbus.com/fife/forthfast. Customers can also call 01592 642394 for further information.
Stagecoach estimates that running a two-craft operation would cost around £2million 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
Marine consultant Alistair Macleod has carried out detailed planning work on the hovercraft project on behalf of Stagecoach, including extensive discussions with public and statutory bodies. Scottish Natural Heritage has approved the pilot project and Stagecoach will be carrying out ongoing environmental impact studies, particularly in relation to bird life, during the two-week trial
The Scottish Executive, SEStran (the South East of Scotland Transport Partnership), and Fife and City of Edinburgh Councils – all of whom have given financial and other support to the project – today welcomed confirmation the trial was to go ahead.
Brian Souter campaigned against the repeal of Section 2A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1986 (incorporating Section 28, the provision for England and Wales), donating up to £1 million to fund a postal ballot poll to obtain public opinion on the issue. In March this year, he donated £500 000 to the Scottish National Party, citing an imbalance of funding within Scottish politics. To read more about the ballot (widely viewed as homophobic,) and some of Stagecoach's past business practices click here to read a BBC article and here to read the BBC article on the donation to the SNP.
And. I'm sorry. If you're curious about hovercrafts Wikipedia should get you started.