On 2014\11\17 18:02, wrote:
On Mon, 17 Nov 2014 16:33:54 +0000, Basil Jet
wrote:


https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/roads/river-crossings

Looking at the options for East London crossings, I am surprised by the
costs. Even hundreds of millions of pounds to replace the Woolwich Ferry
in situ with new floating stock.

Suppose TfL wanted to extend the EL1 bus so that it linked Ilford and
Barking to Bexleyheath. Linton Mead in Thamesmead provides access to the
river bank, and access could easily be achieved on the other side.

Two options spring to mind.

The London Duck carries tourists on land and on the Thames. Why could an
amphibious vehicle not run a regular bus route across here? (I'm
guessing the answer might have the word "wheelchair" in it somewhere.)

This was demonstrated in the UK about 4 years ago,possibly it also
made a London visit.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8506154.stm
Haven't heard any more news but last time I checked the company had
become Maltese based . I think the market they are aiming at is a more
modern version of vehicles for tourist tours.
No vehicle designed for water and land use is really much good at
either and needs a lot of maintenance. A dedicated fleet for a bus
route would be expensive and I doubt the MCA would allow driver only
operation. Staff would need to have certain marine certificates and
drill regularly.

I remember that now. It costs less than a million, so you could buy 100
of them for less than the cost of replacing the three Woolwich Ferries.


Why could a private chain ferry not be installed here, to be used only
by the EL1 bus? The buses would have a control box on the dashboard...
push a button to open the electronic gate, drive onto the ferry, look up
and down the river to check it's clear and then push another button to
shoot across the river and drive out, allowing another bus to come back.
Obviously the drivers would have to be given extra safety training and
would be dedicated to this route.
Or a transporter bridge.

I don't see the advantage of that over a chain ferry, except where a
river was prone to freezing for several months of every year.

Thanks!