Transport in Saint Kitts and Nevis

Transport within the Caribbean islands of St. Kitts & Nevis (one country, a two-island federation) includes normal road traffic, public buses, taxis, ferries, airports, and one unusual railway.

Basseterre is the hub for all major roads on the island of St. Kitts. Charlestown is the equivalent hub for Nevis. Driving is on the left.

The speed limit in settled areas is 25 mph, with special caution to be taken around school zones. In rural areas the speed limit is 40 mph.

The grand total of roadways on St. Kitts and Nevis is 320 km. In 1999 it was estimated that 136 km were paved, and 184 km were unpaved [ [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sc.html#Trans www.cia.gov] ] .

Public Buses

The public buses are privately-owned, but government-licensed, vans. They usually have a decorative name on the front, and they all have a "green" license plate where the number starts with the letter "H".

A bus may be flagged down anywhere along its route (not only at bus stop shelters), and the bus will also stop anywhere along its route (on request) to let off a passenger.

All bus fees (in Eastern Caribbean or EC dollars) are $2.50 for a trip of 5 miles or under, $3.00 for a trip of 5 to 10 miles, and $3.75 for a trip over 10 miles. ($1 US = $2.7 EC)

Destinations off of the main route are often possible on request, at the discretion of the driver, on payment of a small extra charge.

t. Kitts

There are 5 main bus routes on St. Kitts:
**Basseterre to Sandy Point traveling west, starting at the Ferry Terminal
**Basseterre to Capesterre traveling west, starting at the Ferry Terminal
**Basseterre to St. Peter's traveling north, starting at College Street Ghaut
**Basseterre to Molyneux traveling east, starting at Baker's Corner
**Basseterre to Saddler's traveling east, starting at Baker's Corner

(No public buses travel southwards to the main resort areas in Frigate Bay and the Southeast Peninsula of St. Kitts.)

Nevis

In Nevis all buses run both ways various distances along the main ring road around the island. They terminate in the capital of Nevis, Charlestown.

Buses traveling north out of Charlestown wait to leave from the southwest end of D. R. Walwyn Plaza. Buses traveling south from Charlestown wait to leave from the northern end of Memorial Square.

Taxis

Taxis are privately owned, but government licensed, vans. These vans usually have a name, and they all have "yellow" license plates where the number starts with the letter "T" or "TA".

The main taxi stand on St. Kitts is in Basseterre, on The Circus, phone number 466 6999.

The main taxi stand on Nevis is in Charlestown, on the west side of D.R. Walwyn Plaza.

A taxi can traverse any accessible area on the islands, including even dirt roads and trails, if the driver agrees. It is a good idea to agree on a price in advance, and be clear about which currency the price is quoted in ($ EC or $ US.)

Harbors and ferries

t. Kitts

Basseterre is the location of all official harboring services on Saint Kitts, though Coast Guard stations exist at Sandy Point Town and Dieppe Bay Town. The Deep Water Harbour at Basseterre is capable of both hosting and berthing of cruise ships or the handling of cargos. It is located to the extreme East of Basseterre Bay.

Port Zante, in the center of Basseterre Bay, is for use of docking cruise ships only. The Port can accommodate the largest cruise ships in the world. It also has a marina facility.

The bay is also home to the popular ferry connection between Basseterre and Charlestown. There are about 4 trips daily [http://www.stkittstourism.kn/DiscoverStKitts/GettingAround_Ferry.asp] . Ferry service between Basseterre and Oranjestad, Statia also exists, but the trips are irregular.

A relatively new car ferry, which can take up to 35 cars and also takes pedestrian passengers, is called the "Sea Bridge" ferry, and is in operation between the two islands. This ferry traverses the narrow, 2-mile wide straight named 'The Narrows' in 15 minutes, from Major's Bay in St. Kitts, to Cades Bay in Nevis. Cars can also be ferried by some of the ferry boats that operate out of Basseterre.

Nevis

Charlestown is the harbor for the government ferries which run between Charlestown and Basseterre on St. Kitts [http://www.stkittstourism.kn/DiscoverStKitts/GettingAround_Ferry.asp] . There is a deep water port on the southern coast of Nevis for cargo ships.

The "Sea Bridge" ferry, which takes cars (and also pedestrians), docks in the northwest part of Nevis at Cades Bay, and runs between there and Major's Bay on St. Kitts. The Sea Bridge ferry runs six times a day in each direction [http://www.seabridgeskn.com/schedule.cfm] .

Airports

t. Kitts

The Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport (IATA airport code SKB/TKPK) serves the city of Basseterre, and by extension the island of Saint Kitts. The airport is located in the south of the parish of Saint Peter Basseterre on the north-eastern periphery of the city of Basseterre. The 8001-foot runway airport has direct flights to London, New York and Miami, and seasonal flights to Charlotte, NC, and Philadelphia, PA, in addition to other major cities in the U.S.A. and Canada during the tourist season.

Nevis

The Vance W. Amory International Airport (IATA airport code NEV/TKPN) serves the island of Nevis. The airport runway is 4002 feet in length. Many flights connect from here to other Caribbean islands, including Puerto Rico.

Railway

St. Kitts has 58km of narrow (0.762m) gauge railway, which centers in Basseterre, and circles the island. The railway line was originally built to transport sugar cane to the central sugar factory in Basseterre [http://www.stkittsscenicrailway.com/ourstory.html] . The railway is now used as a tourist attraction. The "St. Kitts Scenic Railway" train currently runs from Sandy Point to Basseterre, traveling east.

References

* [http://www.azworldairports.com/airports/p1326skb.htm St. Kitts airport]
* [http://www.azworldairports.com/airports/p1326nev.htm Nevis airport]

ee also

* Saint Kitts and Nevis