The Isle of Wight might lose its ‘Only scheduled passenger hovercraft service in the World’ status if plans that have just emerged come to fruition.
The North-West Evening Mail is reporting that a company called Hovercraft Services UK has proposed running a service across Morecambe Bay, specifically between Barrow-in-Furness and Fleetwood.
The report says that the AP1-88/100S hovercraft – the older craft that Hovertravel run between the Island and the Mainland – would be used.
70% reduction in journey time
The journey would be roughly twice the distance as the Island/Mainland trip, with the report estimating a 70% reduction in journey time. By road the same journey can take up to two hours.
There’s also a mention of a proposed service to run from Fleetwood and the Isle of Man. That hover journey would take one hour 40 minutes, against the three and a half hours it currently takes by ferry.
Seeking approval from Government
The report says Hovercraft Services, which is a subsidiary of Preston-based coach firm Walton’s Coach Hire, have also written to the Prime Minister about the plans.
The Griffon Hoverwork recently moved its manufacturing off the Island to Merlin Quay, Woolston on the Mainland.
Image: Mean As Custard under CC BY 2.0
