Saturday Variety

Fredrikstad Electric Ferry Experiment

Central in the above picture is the former moated defensive settlement of Fredrikstad. For those of fbb's readers who are not fully 'au fait' with Norway's geography, Fredrickstad is due south of the Capital, Oslo.

There is excitement on-line as the town has just enjoyed an experimental electric boat on one of its ferry routes. The distinctive red vessels ...

... are a familiar site puttering across the sea inlet that marks the town's waterfront.

Norwegian company Hyke has just wrapped up a 14-month real-world test of its F-15 electric passenger ferry in the city of Fredrikstad, and the results suggest that small, efficient electric ferries could play a much bigger role in urban transportation than we’ve seen so far. 

The Hyke F-15 Shuttle isn’t a massive ferry. It’s a relatively compact, 15-meter (49-foot) vessel designed for short urban crossings, carrying up to 50 passengers at a time. But what it lacks in size, it seems to make up for in efficiency.

Somehow fbb doesn't see .a ferry replacing bridges at Fredrikstad. There aren't any! 

Neither does fbb see many cities demolishing bridges that are free to use and replacing them with ferries which aren't.

The boat has generated (GROAN!) some pretty impressive efficiency numbers, too.

According to Hyke and the municipality’s final report, the electric ferry used up to 88% less energy than comparable diesel vessels – roughly eight times more efficient. Even more surprising, the total energy consumption is so low that the ferry reportedly uses about the same power as five household hair dryers. 

Really? fbb doesn't think five domestic hair dryers could possibly drive a heavy metal ferry and 50 people. Maybe Transport for London should try a hairdryer powered bus?

London Beats Fredrikstad

Already featured in this blog is the ferry served by the above electric vessel.

It runs from Rotherhithe across the Thames to Canary Wharf.

The service is not easy to find but is amazingly frequent. It began life as a courtesy link from hotel to the fleshpots of Canary Wharf but latterly has accepted all comers.

Talking Of Ferries

The long-flying hovercraft service from Southsea to Ryde Isle of Wight is very well known. But its star is somewhat faded these days with service cut-backs, staff reductions and rumours of ' financial challenges'. 

The consequence has materialised in the disposal of a ferry.

True, it did carry the largest number of passengers, but ...

Extreme operating conditions? Tell that to Vectensians who often see their 'commute' cancelled when a biggish wind blows; or the sea is a bit lumpy.

The Caspian Sea is the Island's loss, but Hovertravel joins Redk Funnel in wuahtching its ja8ssets go overseas!

A Model Bus : But Of What?

It was a picture that popped up on fbb's  screen a few days ago.

It looked like a London Transport RF, but in blue? It had roof boards like an older style Green Line coach. 

It even showed a possible Green Line 7xx route number!

Was there ever a 746? Apparently 727 was the highest in "the good old days".

What about the bus itself?

it wasn't blue!

it probably did run Green Line services before being demoted to bus use. Eagle-eyed readers will have spotted the operator ...

... but maybe not the brand!

Fortunately Wikipedia helps.

In the summers of 1994 and 1995, Metrobus operated their 'Wealdsman' service, numbered 746, to complement the Surrey Hills weekend leisure bus network. Metrobus used a specially painted blue and yellow AEC Regal IV (RF-class) vehicle for the long service between Bromley and Tunbridge Wells, connecting with other leisure services at Westerham.

Bromley is top left on the map extract below; Tunbridge Wells is bottom right, with Westerham west of Sevenoaks.

It seems that the bus was in the hands of a preservationist and was loaned to Metrobus for this lengthy Summer Sunday (and Bank Holiday) route.

It has recently been fully restored but still carries Metrobus blue and all the trimmings.

Nice!

  Next Variety blog ; Sunday 26th April 

Preservation Problems

Hassle At Havenstreet?

You have to be impressed with the steady development of the HQ on the fringes of a village between Ryde and Newport. The above is the sum total of rail infrastructure at Havenstreet in the very early days. Below is what you would find there today!

The station building is the red root structure near the crossing bottom right.

The USP of the line is that it tries to use rolling stock that would have been used on the line in the past. If actual stock is no longer available, something very similar is restored.

Here is loco Calbourne with a train of compartment coaches which lived on the line up until closure.

The Terrier Is hauling rake of beautifully curated four wheelers.

Work is now under way on even older coaches.

A recent project was the full restoration of a Ryde Pier petrol fuelled tram.

The railway also has one of the Island's ex Underground two car units on display.

There are no plans to electrify the line or, indeed, to tun heritage journeys on the National Rail line.

The latest infrastructure project has been to buy the former Ashey station building long since a private dwelling.

The idea is to restore the passenger facilities and convert the station master's residence area into holiday letting rooms.

Obviouly a very noble idea, but a very expensive one.

This project has caused some unease amongst members. Why, they ask, has the Railway taken out a hefty mortgage when the latest published accounts show a 'bank' balance of over one million pounds, enough to buy TWO Ashey stations for cash.

fbb has looked at the most recently published accounts c/o Companies House and, like so many instances in the corporate world, you need the brain of a doctorate in thermonuclear physics to understand what the numbers actually mean.

But the unease in the ranks seems to go deeper, with 'concerned' letters on matters of policy appearing in the Railway's magazine.

So much so that the chairman has seen fit to issue a 'statement' to members.

fbb (not a member, but a concerned bystander), has been provided with a copy. Herewith some extracts.

So there are finahncial challenges!

Although "all is well", a qualified and independent 'outsider' was asked to review the accounts for the last ten years and offer his professional conclusions.

Essentially the above paragraph outlines the problem, but it is a problem that all charities have, notably those that engage in trade; namely selling to the public.

A prudent approach is to only spend what you receive after trading expenses have been met. Legacies and donations should be set aside for development projects which may be speculative in the short term.

In a difficult cost of living environment, donations, legacies and grants are a always likely to be unpredictable.

The report goes on to admit that the Railway is making losses on its core activities, namely running trains and all the associated special events,

The chairman should not use the word "profit". In business terms, profit is what is paid to sharefolders and the Railway has no shareholders. It is a compamy 'limited by guarantee' (look it up!). The trustees ...

... can earn no dividends. Any surplus of income over expenses must, by law, be used to support the work of the charity.

If a corporate business needs more investment it can create and sell more shares. The Railway only has its trading surpluses and its donations etc.

So the Isle of Wight Railway, it IS living beyond its means.

That is not yet a crisis, but neither is it sustainable.

Havenstreet, we have a problem!

fbb also understands that the Chief Executive ...

... is not too high in the popularity stakes, especially amonst the volunteers on whom day to day operation depends.

Indeed, fbb understands that a vote of 'no confidence' in the CEO at a forthcoming General Meeting is being discussed round the back of the bike sheds.

It seems inevitable that as a charity grows, it appoints more paid staff and the essential volunteers can easily be left out and feel aggrieved.

There are tensions for the paid staff as well. fbb worked for a charity for nearly ten years. One year he was expected to deliver a surplus to fund long term development; then the next year he was expected to give discounts to 'members' and cover the loss of revenue by higher trading prices elsewhere.

Then developments were off the agenda completely!

incidentally, fbb's job title was 'Development Manager'!

It would be a sad day if the Railway's development and preservation projects were hampered or even cancelled because of poor financial management.

There are more big opportunities. 

It would be sad to see Havenstreet Humpty falling off his wall.

Humpty below is much more stable and was a more solid feature down the road at Blackgang Chine.

From memory, the Blackgang Humpty used to rock backwards and forwards, terrifying the kiddies, whilst the rhyme was sung in a tinny and near-tuneless dirge.

What fun!

  Next Variety blog : Saturday 25 April 

Stansted Surve Part 2

An apology from fbb

As this blog was being composed, something weird happened. A chunk of text copied from the Easybus web site managed to find itself floating on top of the raw blog. It simply would not be deleted and sat over about one third of the viewing area. 

fbb could not risk publishing the blog in that corrupted state.

Eventually, using his minimalist skills at wurgling, he managed to extract the text from the mayhem. Then rebuilt the blog!

It should be OK but may be a bit scruffy in formatting here and there.

=================

Airport Bus Express ...

... was incorrectly referred to s "Airport Express" in yesterday's blog. Put that down to fbb's ARMD eyesight deterioration 'macular' (that has stopped deteriorating so far) whereby he saw the word "bus", in the livery below, as a decorative 'flourish'.

An earlier livery would have been easier to 'read'.

This is a UK company and part of the Autostradale Group, a major Italian bus and coach operator founded in Milan in 1924.

Originally a bus operator, we've transitioned to providing a one-stop booking service for travellers who want a fast, efficient and cheap ticket booking service for airport bus transfers to Stansted, London Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton airports.

Our partners are some of the biggest bus operators in the business, with outstanding reputations for reliability and customer-focused quality service. Airport Bus Express Ltd is part of the Autostradale Group, a major Italian bus and coach operator founded in Milan in 1924.

... and you can book journeys on the Airport Bus Express web site.

BUt, also like Terravision, the journeys are actually National Express trips. so it would appear that National Express had a monopoly of coach services to Stansted.

EasyBus Express ...

... lays claim to "our routes".

But they aren't

Again it is a National Express vehicle that you will board. The future is no longer orange!

Stansted Express

We need to be reminded, however, that Greater Anglia run their Stansted Express train service every 15 minutes. But do not attempt, foolish train traveller, to find a timetable on their dedicated Stansted Express web site.

Such a minor aid to travel planning was "not accessible" when fbb first looked! It did reappear later in the day.

A timetable was continuously available on Anglia's main web site ...

... which shows the Stansted trains shaded in grey.

So back to the traditional operator ...

National Express

There is a very helpful diagram on-line if the FOUR services available to a wide range of London destinations.

It is very clear and easy to understand. It is also out of date and thus WRONG.

Currently THREE route numbers are used ...

A6

A8

A9

Without doubt National Express is, and always has been, the dominant operator.

Flibco "Express"?

So in 2025 Flibco arrives with just one service. this ran from Liverpool Street every 30 mins ...

... but via alternate routes one of which calls at Redbridge.

The above timetable style is decidedly unhelpful involving two directional scrolling! Now there's a novelty to make things easy for the potential customer!

A second service has just been added ...

... serving more London suburbs, as here for example at Wood Green.

fbb also noticed that the fare changes according to time of day ...

... and that this new route runs at an entirely forgettable every 45 minutes.

The web site is messy and difficult to fathom.

It would be easier to follow with a proper timetable like Nat Ex. also, with variable fares, a direct comparison of prices is difficult.

(A few maps would be helpful (from Nat Ex as well!)

Even Easybus can manage a map ...

... even if it lets other companies run the coaches.

The bright green Flibco livery is far more eye catching than its competitor ...

... from all angles!

The fascination of this business is that Flibco does not operate any coaches from London to Stansted! The actual work is subcontracted to The Coach Travel Group, a UK company.

Or is it?

These coach operators are all part of The Group!

So which of these actually runs the Flibco branded coaches?

And to add to the Corporate Conglomeration of Confusion, Luxembourg's Sales Lenz Group has recently sold Flibco to Flixbus!

But then we don't really know who actually operates the A6, A8 and A9 forvNational Express, do we?

P. S. (Express?)

Intriguingly, if you do choose National Express, you might ride on an all electric coach!

There's lovely!

  Next Preservation Problems blog : Fri 24 Apr