Hovertravel

Infobox Company
company_name =
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company_type = Private
genre = Transport
foundation =
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location_city = Portsmouth
location_country = England
location =
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key_people =
area_served = Portsmouth and Ryde
industry = Passenger Ferry
products =
services =
revenue =
operating_income =
net_income =
num_employees =
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divisions =
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owner =
company_slogan =
homepage = http://www.hovertravel.co.uk/
dissolved =
footnotes = :"For information on hovercraft in general, please see hovercraft".

Hovertravel is a ferry company operating from Southsea, Portsmouth to Ryde, Isle of Wight, UK. They are the only company operating in Britain with passenger hovercraft, after Hoverspeed stopped using their craft in favour of catamarans. Hovertravel are now the world's oldest hovercraft operator.cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A471412|title=BBC - Hovercraft on the Isle of Wight|publisher=www.bbc.co.uk|accessdate=2008-09-25]

The route

The company operates between Southsea Common, next to Clarence Pier, and Ryde Transport Interchange. Terminal facilities are provided at both ends, and services run every 30 minutes during daylight hours. However, in high season (generally July and August) the frequency increases to every 15 minutes or less. The crossing time is less than 10 minutes, and is therefore the fastest route across The Solent from land to land.cite web|url=http://www.hovertravel.co.uk/|title=Hovertravel - Homepage|publisher=www.hovertravel.co.uk|accessdate=2008-09-13] However, the inconvenient site of the Portsmouth terminal means this is not reflected for through journeys.

outhsea

At Southsea, the terminal is located on Southsea Common, next to Clarence Pier. It is also near to the aquarium, although further from Southsea Castle. It is also a significant distance from Portsmouth Harbour railway station and Portsmouth and Southsea railway station. This is because when the hovercraft started running in the mid 20th century, the area near Harbour station (the ideal location due to its good connections) was a mixture of residential and naval space, with all remaining land occupied by the fishing harbour and Wightlink car ferry terminal.

This problem is solved with a "Hoverbus" link, operated by Tellings-Golden Miller, which runs between the Southsea Terminal and Portsmouth & Southsea Station and "Portsmouth" city centre. It is timed to connect with all hovers on the basic 30-minute timetable.

The terminal has recently been refurbished with new lighting and toilets and a general cleaning up. A new wall was built separating the Hoverport and the esplanade complete with viewing windows.cite web|url=http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/portsmouth/New-lease-of-life-for.3959911.jp|title=Portsmouth Today - New lease of life for hovercraft terminal|publisher=www.portsmouth.co.uk|accessdate=2008-09-13]

Ryde

At Ryde, the terminal has recently been rebuilt. The new building was opened by the Duke of Edinburgh in 2004. It is located conveniently near to Ryde Esplanade railway station and Ryde Bus Station, however passengers must cross the railway by means of a footbridge, as they are located on the opposite side of the line. The whole complex is due for rebuilding, commencing in 2007, in order to create a new transport interchange. Also nearby is the Ryde Arena ice rink and LA Bowl.

Connections

Most bus services connecting with the hovercraft on the Island are run by Southern Vectis. In addition to these routes, Wightbus, another local operator, run Service 20 that stops nearby. Island Line trains run from there to Brading, Sandown, Lake and Shanklin, where a connecting bus can take you to Ventnor or St Lawrence. By changing trains at Smallbrook Junction, one can also visit the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.

Full details of services from near the Ryde terminal can be found at Ryde Transport Interchange.

A recent innovation is the introduction of "Hoverliner" tickets that allow travel from an origin railway station on the UK mainland, on the Hoverbus, a crossing on the hovercraft and travel on the "Island Line", and return journey. These are also available for journeys starting on the Island, the only difference being the name used, which is "Hoverline".

Fleet

The Past and current fleet

Current

*Freedom 90 (1990-
*Island Express (2002-
*Solent Express (2007-

Past

*RN6-025 (1968-1980)
*SRN6-026 (1966)
*SRN6-130 (1965-1980)
*Freedom (19??-1983)
*Tenacity (1983-1990)
*Resolution (1983-1987)
*Perseverance (1985-1988)
*Double-O-Seven (1989-2003)
*Courier
*Idun Viking (1998-2002)

Image Gallery

cotland

Hovertravel hovercraft have occasionally been chartered to operate temporary services across the Firth of Tay between Carnoustie and St Andrews in connection with major golf tournaments (due to Carnoustie's relative lack of hotel accommodation). The "Solent Express" was chartered to operate an experimental service across the Firth of Forth (marketed as "Forthfast") between Portobello (Edinburgh) and Kirkcaldy between 16-28 July 2007.cite web|url=http://www.stagecoachbus.com/fife/forthfast.html|title=Stagecoach - Fife - forthfast|publisher=www.stagecoachbus.com|accessdate=2008-09-13]

References

External links

* [http://www.hovertravel.co.uk Hovertravels official website]
* [http://www.bartiesworld.co.uk/hovercraft/hovertravel.htm - History and current details of Hovertravel and hovercraft used]