What's It For?
We have all heard of the Ferry Cross the Mersey (have we?) courtesy of Gerry and the Pacemakers.
A variety of vessels ran to and from from in amcient times. ...
Basically the busy routes were from Liverpool Pier to Birkenhead with two piers at Seacombe and Woodside. Ferries were frequent, carrying workers from Liverpool to the docks at Birkenhead and from Birkenhead to the docks at Liverpool.
In the very early days this was the only way to cross the river. But in 1886 came the railway.
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The two boats above were requisitioned for wartime use.
The Mersey tunnel did not abstract much from the ferries as bus routes through the tunnel were restricted to night services for many years.
Other ferry routes took holidaymakers to the Wirral seaside resorts. In the 1950s they were very popular indeed.
In the 1960s, the present boats arrived and have been in use ever since.
But with bus services through the tunnel and the terminal decline of the docks, the ferries usage declined dramatically.
What was left were peak hour journeys between Pier Head Liverpool and Birkenhead at Monday to Friday works hours; and a circular triangle service mainly for tourists running Pier Head, Woodside, Seacombe, Pier Head. This route is seen on the map above.
Other cruises are operated, but none like this one, sadly.
Things have got slightly worse with Woodside Pier being closed for repair. So today we have a peak service as below ...
The triangle service remains but currentlydoes not call at Woodside as in the graphic below.
It is the long way round to Secombe thrn direct (ish) back to Pier Head.
The timetable is not well presented. It refers to a "One Way" service and gives times between Pier Head and Seacombe only.
But boats do come back "in service" to the Pier offering a 50 minute round trip.
Woodside Pier us being r0furbished.
In August 2012, it was announced that Merseytravel were initiating a review into cost saving on Mersey Ferries operations after the service is running at a £1 million annual loss. As a result of this review, the ferry Royal Daffodil was withdrawn from service in January 2013.
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Another threat to the ferries' future is the cost of replacing the current ferries, the oldest ever to ply the river, when required._in_dazzle_colours_approaching_Woodside.jpg)
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In December 2015 Merseytravel announced a 20-year plan for the ferries s.
The Mersey Ferries Long Term Strategy, whilst currently subject to approval, anticipates that a naval architect will be appointed with the intention of having a new vessel ready for service in 2020–21. The vessel will be used as the main day to day vessel with Snowdrop used as a secondary vessel.
Nothing happened!
In January 2018, the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram announced that plans had been drawn up for a new vessel.
At last this new ferry has been ordered.
The new vessel does not look paticularly revolutionary, but time will tell.
As a ferry, the Mersey Crossiing will never return to its historic heyday; but it is good that the experience, however touristy, can be enjoyed further into the future.
John's funeral went very well with a congregation of 80 persons. Tributes were paid by fbb, sons Mark and Matthew; then Iain on behalf of the church; where John volunteered as a server.
The fbbs are travelling back to Seaton Devon today.
Next undecided blog : Friday 31st January
And, on the subject of Seacombe and Church the URC, at Seacombe, has a stunning community outreach ministry in distributing almost 3,000 family food packs during the school summer holidays. Seacombe is the 23rd most deprived community in the country and "holiday hunger" is a huge issue.
ReplyDeleteThe church is planning works to improve facilities and develop work still further. As some one who started his working life at Mere Green (in the Midland Bank) I observe that the two communities are miles apart in terms of wealth yet have a commitment to serve The Lord.