[Article] Liffey river taxi gearing up for launch

Victor

http://home.eircom.net/content/irelandcom/topstories/4492506?view=Eircomnet

Liffey river taxi gearing up for launch
From:ireland.com
Tuesday, 23rd November, 2004

A river taxi may be running on the Liffey next summer if a plan submitted by the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) is approved by Dublin City Council.

The DDDA is seeking permission to build a landing stage at Bachelor's Walk. The stage would consist of a 20-metre-long floating pontoon with a sliding gate entrance, access platform and gangway for passengers off the boardwalk.

A 54-seater vessel is being built in Sweden for delivery next spring. The authority hopes to run trials on the river for several months. It anticipates that the transport service could be up and floating by June, focusing initially on the tourist market.

The initiative is part of the DDDA's River Liffey regeneration strategy, which also allows for the introduction of a fast commuter ferry service between the docklands and the coast - initially Dún Laoghaire.

The strategy proposed a cross-river ferry between City Quay and the Irish Financial Services Centre (IFSC) II among a series of projects to revive practical use of the waterway.

It is understood that the DDDA has held discussions with several operators in relation to contracting out operation of the services, and may advertise formally for bidders. Navigation of the river's 15 bridges, specifically the upper reaches between the Ha'penny Bridge and Heuston Station, is restricted by tides and the low headroom on fixed structures.

The new Millennium Bridge and the Matt Talbot Bridge are particularly problematic at high tide, and the riverbed rises west of the Ha'penny Bridge, which causes a difficulty at low water. The service could eventually run to Heuston Station. Water bus stops may also be located at Tara Street to link with the DART, at the IFSC I and II, Forbes Street, Britain Quay, the Point Theatre and the Alexandra Basin ferry terminal.

sliabh

I know that the river level is a major problem for this type of service (either too low or too high). But there has been suggestions in the past of putting a weir somewhere around the Custom house to help with this.

Does anyone know what the status of this is? Is it still just a suggestion or has real money been spent on feasability studies?

luckat

There was a Liffey ferry ohh, back in the 20s or so. Went from Ringsend, I think; not sure where it arrived to.

Scottish

Dún Laoghaire to town in a ferry taxi would be brilliant.

Victor

It sounds awfully hair brained although here at least they have fleshed out the plan.

sliabh wrote:

But there has been suggestions in the past of putting a weir somewhere around the Custom house to help with this.

This would of course mean adding a time consuming lock - the Liffey doesn't flow very fast (although combining it with a stop at Tara Street may minimize time loss).

Does anyone know what the status of this is? Is it still just a suggestion or has real money been spent on feasability studies?

Real money has been spent on a boat.

kenmc

Scottish wrote:

Dún Laoghaire to town in a ferry taxi would be brilliant.

Could you imagine the return trip though in rough seas after a few scoops..... eugh!

Victor

luckat wrote:

There was a Liffey ferry ohh, back in the 20s or so. Went from Ringsend, I think; not sure where it arrived to.

Point Depot - Ringsend - Sir John Rogerson Quay. I think it ran until the 1970s (or possibly when they opened the Eastlink).

sliabh

Victor wrote:

Real money has been spent on a boat.

I meant the weir! :-)

There are a few snippits on the net.

And the times (get yer free sub while it lasts)
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/newsfeatures/1997/0305/archive.97030500111.html

weehamster

It sound like a good idea. Ive used them in London and Sydney but in reality it is not a pratical commuting servce.

So what happens when the tide is high and the bridges from Heuston to Matt Talbot are unusable. This can occur during peak commuting times.

The same can be said when the tide is low. The river can get too shallow. Can the pontoons be used? Oh ye and dont forget the stink as well.

And how lazy can you get. A service from City Quay to the ISFC. WALK people.

I just see it as a tourist thing and nothing else.

mackerski

Scottish wrote:

Dún Laoghaire to town in a ferry taxi would be brilliant.

Could it really improve on the DART? Perhaps it would if you work in the IFSC and can go door-to-door...

Dermot

Metrobest

weehamster wrote:

It sound like a good idea. Ive used them in London and Sydney but in reality it is not a pratical commuting servce.

So what happens when the tide is high and the bridges from Heuston to Matt Talbot are unusable. This can occur during peak commuting times.

The same can be said when the tide is low. The river can get too shallow. Can the pontoons be used? Oh ye and dont forget the stink as well.

And how lazy can you get. A service from City Quay to the ISFC. WALK people.

I just see it as a tourist thing and nothing else.

In Amsterdam the bridges are opened to let tall ships through. Surely the same could be done with these tourist boats?

sliabh

Metrobest wrote:

In Amsterdam the bridges are opened to let tall ships through. Surely the same could be done with these tourist boats?

With the exception of the east link all these bridges are fixed. Changing them to lifting bridges would effectively mean replacing them all.

SickCert

The bridge at tara st station , arches are almost covered at high tide meaning impassable at (spring tide) time , every 4 weeks!

The early dunlaoghaire - city taxi ferry ran until the introduction of the atmospheric train and building of the train line. Now the dart.

Metrobest

sliabh wrote:

With the exception of the east link all these bridges are fixed. Changing them to lifting bridges would effectively mean replacing them all.

Yeah, the whole idea of running commuter boats to Heuston sounds daft. Might be quicker than the LUAS though. Perhaps the company that runs the odd car/boat thing (the one where they get the tourists to yell at pedestrians!) should have a look into the route.

Flukey

There was a song done about the ferry, by Pete St. John:

THE FERRYMAN
(Pete St. John)

The little boats are gone, from the breast of Anna Liffey
And the Ferrymen are stranded on the Quay
The Dublin docks are dying and a way of life is gone
Molly it was part of you and me

Chorus:
Where the strawberry beds sweep down to the Liffey
You'll kiss away the worries from my brow
I love you well today, and I'll love you more tomorrow
If you ever loved me Molly love me now

'Twas the only job I knew, it was hard but never lonely
The Liffey ferry made a man of me
Now it's gone without a whisper, forgotten even now
Sure it's over Molly over can't you see

Chorus

Well now I'll tend the yard, and I'll spend my days in talkin'
I'll hear them whisper Charlie's on the dole (but not for long)
Molly we're still livin' and darlin' we're still young
And the river never owned me heart and soul

Chorus
Chorus

Flukey

It would be nice to see it going. There would appear to be a lot of practical problems to overcome though.