Hovertravel

For information on hovercraft in general, see hovercraft.

Hovertravel

Industry	Passenger transportation
Founded	1965
Headquarters	Southsea, United Kingdom
Area served	Solent
Parent	Bland Group
Website	www.hovertravel.co.uk

Freedom 90 at Ryde

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.

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. However, the inconvenient site of the Portsmouth terminal means this is not reflected for through journeys.

Southsea

The "Hoverbus" at the Southsea terminal.

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 Stagecoach, which runs between the Southsea Terminal and Portsmouth & Southsea Station and Portsmouth city centre, it also now serves The Hard Interchange. It is timed to connect with all hovers on the basic 30-minute timetable.

The terminal refurbishment was completed in April 2009 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.

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.

Littlehampton & Bognor Regis

Hovertravel announced that on the 10th & 24th August 2011 that it will be doing day trips between Littlehampton & Bognor Regis landing on the Beach at Banjo Road in Littlehampton & the east end of the Esplanande in Bognor Regis, with journey time being 15mins giving passengers time to explore the pleasures of Hover Travel.

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 buses can take you to Ventnor. 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.

Incidents

1972 accident

On 4 March 1972 Hovertravel's SR-N6 012 overturned off Southsea with a loss of five lives, including one person missing presumed drowned. This was the world's first fatal accident involving a commercially operated hovercraft, and the first fatal accident involving a hovercraft in the United Kingdom.

The craft en-route from Ryde to Southsea was hit by a very large freak wave, after a strong beam wind against an adverse tide combined to produce a dangerous beam sea. The hovercraft overturned about quarter of a mile (400 metres) offshore. After rescuing all visible survivors, the hovercraft was towed ashore at Southsea.

Service suspension

Hovertravel suspend the timetable when the wind reaches gale 8 and above. The service was suspended on 18 November 2011 after an incident on 30 October 2011 in which the hovercraft Solent Express suffered a propeller failure. Services resumed with one craft on the afternoon of 21 November 2011.

Fleet

The Past and current fleet

Current

• AP1-88 - Freedom 90 (1990- )
• AP1-88 - Island Express (2002- )
• BHT130 - Solent Express (2007- )

Past

• SRN6-025 (1968–1980)
• SRN6-026 (1966)
• SRN6-130 (1965–1980)
• Freedom (19??-1983)
• Sea King (19??–198?)
• Gravity (1983–198?)
• Tenacity (1983–1990)
• Resolution (1983–1987)
• Perseverance (1985–1988)
• Double-O-Seven (1989–2003)
• Courier (19??-2000)
• Idun Viking (1998–2002)

Image gallery

• 

  Hovercraft at Ryde Hoverport.

• 

  The Solent Express leaving Ryde.

• 

  The Hovertravel fleet at Ryde.

Scotland

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). Also, 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.

External links

• Hovertravels official website
• History and current details of Hovertravel and hovercraft used
• Account and pictures of the 1972 accident