‘Amfibus’ trialled on River Clyde

Stagecoach believes there is potential for a new ‘amfibus’ service linking communities on the Clyde, making use of existing slipways at Renfrew and Yoker. The amfibus would run by road from Braehead to the Renfrew ferry slipway, cross the Clyde to Yoker and then travel on by road to Clydebank.

It would be a boost for local people facing the loss of the existing ferry service between Renfrew and Yoker from the end of March. Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) voted to withdraw the 500 year old service last month as part of a series of cost saving measures. The present vessels ‘Renfrew Rose’ and ‘Yoker Swan’ are reaching the end of their working lives.

The new £700,000 amfibus can carry 50 passengers and is built in Holland by Dutch Amphibious Transport Vehicles BV (DATV) of Nijmegen. Based on a bus chassis, the amfibus incorporates a hull to allow the vehicle to float and is fully safety certified for operation on road and water by European transport regulatory authorities. On the road, the vehicle operates like a standard coach. In the water, the amfibus is driven by twin water jets and can achieve a speed of 8 knots.

Stagecoach has already carried out tests of the amfibus in Rotterdam harbour, where the vehicle coped well with the wash from heavily laden barges and provided a smooth travel experience. The amfibus demonstrated on Monday is due to be used by Rotterdam Splash Tours for excursions around the harbour from next month. The vehicle performed well on Monday in the conditions on the Clyde. Technical trials are now completed and Stagecoach will evaluate the commercial side of the proposed service.

Brian Souter, Stagecoach group chief executive was on hand for the trials and said, ‘This is an exciting transport project that would provide a seamless bus connection between two important local communities. Passengers can use the amfibus to travel over road and water without having to leave the comfort of their seat to change from a bus to a ferry. It shows the potential of Scotland’s rivers and estuaries to be links rather than barriers to travel and we are looking forward to testing the technology on the Clyde.’

Meanwhile, Stagecoach is continuing to progress plans for a cross-Forth hovercraft service linking Kirkcaldy and Portobello. In November 2009, Stagecoach announced it has in place a joint venture agreement with Bland Group and a combined £14m funding package as it moves forward with plans to establish a permanent service.

Stagecoach submitted detailed planning applications to both Fife Council and City of Edinburgh Council in December 2009. An estimated 870,000 passengers a year are predicted to use the hovercraft link after it is fully established.