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Riverside Inverclyde backs Hovercraft Trial on Clyde
Riverside Inverclyde, in conjunction with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), Glasgow City Council and Inverclyde based company Clydefast, is backing the trial of a 12 passenger hovercraft on the River Clyde to test the viability of a permanent service with potential to operate between Glasgow Broomielaw, Braehead, Greenock, Dunoon and Rothesay.
The three day trial running from 10 - 13 March involves a Griffon 2000TD hovercraft and will allow Clydeport Harbourmaster the chance to assess the impact, if any, that a regular operation may have on other river users. It will also give interested investors and local authorities the chance to experience for themselves what a hovercraft can offer in terms of alternative transport. The main benefit is that hovercraft offer a fast service and minimal ‘wash' at speed.
Two roundtrips per day will run during the trial period between the SECC pontoon in Glasgow, Braehead, East India Harbour in Greenock and Dunoon.
Alistair Macleod, Chief Executive of Clydefast, said: “We are very excited about the test and indebted to Riverside Inverclyde, SPT and Glasgow City Council for making the trial possible. It will hopefully demonstrate the potential for a permanent hovercraft operation to be brought to the Clyde. The service will be fast – for example a service from Dunoon to Glasgow will reach the city centre in 52 minutes, over 20 minutes quicker than the present journey time of an hour and a quarter (by train and ferry). Rothesay will be included in a permanent operation which would add a further 15 minutes to the journey.”
He added: “Another bonus in using the hovercraft would be its ability to navigate through bridges which don't open. Some of the current Clyde bridges restrict catamaran ferries getting directly to the city centre, particularly at the Broomielaw.”
A permanent service would operate to/from Glasgow Broomielaw, Braehead, Greenock, Dunoon and Rothesay and could carry up to 130 passengers. The craft can travel in the open seas at speeds of up to 40 knots but the river speed would be reduced to a level acceptable to the Harbourmaster. Hovercraft were last seen in regular use on the Clyde in the late 1960's.
Bill Nicol, Chief Executive of Riverside Inverclyde said: "Riverside Inverclyde is delighted to support the Clydefast hovercraft trials since this could be a step towards providing an exciting and effective way of linking Inverclyde with the wider metropolitan region. For me, it is a positive demonstration of not only assisting a local businessman, Alistair Macleod, but cross organisational working with colleagues at SPT and Glasgow City Council."
For visit www.griffonhovercraft.co.uk
