Hovercraft

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 19 Jul 2007, 08:10

Several video clips of the hovercraft now beginning to appear on YouTube:

Hovercraft on YouTube

magbagpuss · Post by **magbagpuss** » 19 Jul 2007, 12:01

walking to dog and cat home this morning 7.30 in a gale, saw maybe 20/25 folk get off, 4/5 get on, held up for 10 mins, not allowed to pass incase spray caught me, I was fluffing soaked anyway, still damp breeks at 11.30. The Hovercraft does look good though, ver fast. Head it back and forward all morning, big queue at Marine Garage at 11.15. The Prince is offering Hovercraft specials of Fish Fingers!!

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 19 Jul 2007, 13:25

Looks like they are finally getting their act together:

Commuter priority booking hotline for Stagecoach cross-Forth hovercraft trial

19/07/2007

Pre-booking available for regular customers travelling on peak-time trips

New system may also be extended to leisure trips on popular transport link

More than 8,200 passengers carried already on Kirkcaldy-Portobello service

Commuters using Stagecoach's popular cross-Forth hovercraft service are now able to pre-book their journeys via a dedicated priority hotline.

More than 8,200 people have used the Kirkcaldy to Portobello Forthfast link since the two-week trial started on Monday 16 July, resulting in most trips on the 130-passenger hovercraft being full.

Now passengers using the first two services of the day from both Kirkcaldy and Portobello and making their return journey from 3.30pm or later will be able to pre-book seats by calling 0797 689 1529. Bookings can be made for day return trips or weekly travel.

The priority booking line will operate Monday to Saturday from 9am to 4pm and from 10am to 4pm on Sunday. To ensure the system operates fairly and effectively, any passengers that book a week's travel in advance and fail to turn up for a journey will invalidate their bookings for the remainder of the week.

Regular travellers can make use of Stagecoach's excellent value weekly megarider ticket, which gives seven days' unlimited bus travel between Kirkcaldy and Edinburgh for just £18 and is also valid for hovercraft trips. Individual return trips are priced at £4.50 off-peak and £9.50 peak*.

Stagecoach will be monitoring the new arrangements over the next few days and the system may also be extended to leisure trips next week if it proves to be successful.

Robert Andrew, Managing Director of Stagecoach Scotland, said: "There has been a fantastic response to the hovercraft service from passengers and the demand has exceeded all expectations.

"The purpose of the trial has been to learn more about what customers want from the hovercraft and we have made a number of improvements since the service was launched.

"Commuters are a key market for this new, innovative public transport link and the numbers using the service have been growing steadily. We believe the new priority booking hotline will help attract even more people out of their cars by giving them certainty over planning their working day."

Mr Andrew added: "We have already made a number of additional trips on top of the published timetable to ensure as many people as possible experience the hovercraft service. If the commuter priority booking hotline is a success, we may extend it to cover leisure trips in the second week of the trial."

Stagecoach is undertaking a two-week trial, part-funded by SEStran (the South East of Scotland Transport Partnership). It runs until Saturday 28 July – excluding Sunday 22 July - offering a fast 20-minute crossing time using a 28-metre BHT130 hovercraft, incorporating the latest diesel engine technology.

A total of 22 services a day – 11 in each direction - 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.

Mr Andrew said: "The first few days of the trial have proved there is a huge demand for a new public transport option over the Forth.

"The hovercraft crew and the ground staff have done an excellent job over the past few days. We have been particularly impressed with the performance of the hovercraft, which has been able to operate in Force Six sea conditions with waves of up to two metres, which would have forced some small ferries and catamarans to cancel services.

"We look forward to learning more about the demand for a cross-Forth link in the second week of the trial, improving the delivery of the service to customers and undertaking a full evaluation of the project in the months ahead."

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.

ENDS

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 19 Jul 2007, 13:29

From Fife Today:

Kirkcaldy to Edinburgh in just 15 minutes ...

kings roader · Post by **kings roader** » 19 Jul 2007, 14:07

The Prince is offering Hovercraft specials of Fish Fingers!!

Are they served with a bowl of Bhuna sauce ??

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 20 Jul 2007, 11:10

Bit of a blow when you had intended to go to Kirkcaldy and end up on the Isle of Wight. Then again....

Mr Soupy · Post by **Mr Soupy** » 20 Jul 2007, 12:18

Must admit had planned to take a trip this weekend on the hovercraft but by the sound of it it's not worth the hassle. If I want a 3 hr wait there are other forms of public transport that will fit the bill just as well.

Mr Soupy

Dave · Post by **Dave** » 20 Jul 2007, 17:56

Wouldn’t worry about access to and from or delays when trying to pass the Hovercraft. I have heard a whisper, that after the trials it will be relocated near Granton.

Has anyone else heard anything?

teddygirl · Post by **teddygirl** » 20 Jul 2007, 19:12

Yes there was a big article in the Scotsman last Saturday about it, and it said there, that if it was a success, it would probably run from Granton to Burntisland. Oh and it would probably be a boat they would use and not a hovercraft

don't see the point of the trials if that were to be the case.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 21 Jul 2007, 21:46

For posterity:

GRANTY · Post by **GRANTY** » 21 Jul 2007, 23:04

I got a shot in the hovercraft today. I casually strolled along the Prom at 9.15am only to be told - with a nice smile- that I'd secured a place on the 11.30am sailing! Crikey! The long wait was worth it. It's a really fascinating view and nice to be in the middle of the stretch of water I look out onto every day. Be warned, though, it's not so easy to return. There were still 3 hour queues and that was in the pouring rain. However, it's relatively easy to jump on a bus to Edinburgh and catch the shuttle back to Porty - all included in the ticket price. Not bad for £ 4.50 return.

Try it while you can!

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 22 Jul 2007, 10:58

Granty: did you have to queue even though you'd "secured a place"? Or could you go off and come back?

GRANTY · Post by **GRANTY** » 22 Jul 2007, 16:00

Once you have a boarding pass for an agreed journey, you can wander off until 15 minutes prior to take off. You won't really lose your place in the queue as the other 126 people are in 2 double decker buses, keeping cosy and struggling to beathe! They only unload when the hovercraft arrives.

You can actually book a journey by phone now as well. That was just too organised for me.

Ali

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 22 Jul 2007, 16:34

GRANTY wrote:You can actually book a journey by phone now as well. That was just too organised for me.

Thank you. Got this from their website - I will check with Stagecoach tomorrow to see if the last paragraph below is in place yet:

19 July 2007
It has now been made possible to pre-book journeys on the first 2 outward crossings from Kirkcaldy and Portobello, and crossings from 1530 hours onwards, to ensure return travel.

Passengers who would like to book these peak time crossings should call 0797 689 1529.

The priority booking line will operate Monday to Saturday from 9am to 4pm and from 10am to 4pm on Sunday. To ensure the system operates fairly and effectively, any passengers who book a week’s travel in advance and fail to turn up for a journey will invalidate their bookings for the remainder of the week.

Regular travellers can make use of Stagecoach’s excellent value weekly megarider ticket, which gives seven days’ unlimited bus travel between Kirkcaldy and Edinburgh for just £18 and is also valid for hovercraft trips. Individual return trips are priced at £4.50 off-peak and £9.50 peak*.

Stagecoach will be monitoring the new arrangements over the next few days and the system may also be extended to leisure trips next week if it proves to be successful.

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 22 Jul 2007, 21:36

See the hovercrafts had wee babies, 3 small ones zipped by this afty.

I'm thinking of trying to book on the hover next week ( mum has a birthday, think she'd like to spend it in Fife? )

Puerto bella · Post by **Puerto bella** » 22 Jul 2007, 21:46

Saw them breifly - they looked tiny. Do you think they were private ones just out for a jaunt?

GRANTY · Post by **GRANTY** » 22 Jul 2007, 21:53

They weren't jet skiis were they??????

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 22 Jul 2007, 22:15

No, silly
Jet skis are motorbikes designed to sink ( alas not my original quote)
These were wee craft rather like the ones seen in the Florida Keys