Roger Mexico Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 23 hours ago, Declan said: It was better before the train line went there. You'd get off the boat and get onto a bus to Lancaster Station. Technically the train line went there from 1904. It's a complicated history though: The station was opened as Heysham Harbour by the Midland Railway on 11 July 1904. It was relocated to an adjacent site on 4 May 1970, and served boat trains for Belfast until the closure of the ferry route in April 1975. The train service was withdrawn on 6 October 1975, but reinstated, and the station renamed Heysham Sea Terminal on 11 May 1987, to provide a rail connection with the daily sailing to Douglas run by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company. The station was renamed Heysham Port on 28 September 1992, under the Regional Railways sector of British Rail. 22 hours ago, Two-lane said: There is a 50% increase in the summer passenger capacity. Some will be with a car, but nevertheless they're goin' to need a bigger bus (or train). That's what always puzzled me about increasing the number of passengers. For most of the time the passenger capacity on the Ben (275 cars, 636 pax) was never reached because car spaces filled up first and after the associated passengers were taken in account there were never enough foot passengers to make up to the maximum. But most of the capacity increase on the Manxman (237 cars, 948 pax) has been in extra pax. There's also space for 75 trailers, some of which could be used for busy periods for extra car space, but it seems an odd priority, unless they're hoping to do much more from Liverpool. And if that's the case it would mean running a separate freight operation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Wright Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 14 hours ago, Roger Mexico said: There's also space for 75 trailers, some of which could be used for busy periods for extra car space, but it seems an odd priority, unless they're hoping to do much more from Liverpool. And if that's the case it would mean running a separate freight operation. Which is why there will be either the Arrow or Ben available as back up. UA says Ben, but she needs too much spent to be brought up to most recent emissions regulations. SPCo want to get rid and use Arrow. Problem with that is that such a move reduces passenger and car capacity resilience 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asitis Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 From reading on here, it does seem to me the new boat , lovely as it is, might be not 100% what our routes needed ! The SPCO is looking like a money pit at the moment ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercenary Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 1 hour ago, John Wright said: Which is why there will be either the Arrow or Ben available as back up. UA says Ben, but she needs too much spent to be brought up to most recent emissions regulations. SPCo want to get rid and use Arrow. Problem with that is that such a move reduces passenger and car capacity resilience Now it's government owned should we be going for N-2 like Manx Utilities? 3 boats just in case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Wright Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 2 minutes ago, Mercenary said: Now it's government owned should we be going for N-2 like Manx Utilities? 3 boats just in case. You forgot Manannan, already? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercenary Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 11 minutes ago, John Wright said: You forgot Manannan, already? No freight, limited winter capability Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Wright Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 56 minutes ago, Mercenary said: No freight, limited winter capability Im well aware, but it fits your first post. Personally I favour Mx, Arrow, and 2 of these. A proven design, 450 pax, 100 cars or mix cars/freight. They could serve Liverpool all year around, Heysham, with Arrow, in winter, and Dublin and Belfast in summer, leaving Mx for summer fair weather sailing. Get rid of Ben and Manannan. CalMac have 4 on order from Turkey There are 6 or 7 serving Turkish routes. They are £30m each. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercenary Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 1 hour ago, John Wright said: Im well aware, but it fits your first post. Personally I favour Mx, Arrow, and 2 of these. A proven design, 450 pax, 100 cars or mix cars/freight. They could serve Liverpool all year around, Heysham, with Arrow, in winter, and Dublin and Belfast in summer, leaving Mx for summer fair weather sailing. Get rid of Ben and Manannan. CalMac have 4 on order from Turkey There are 6 or 7 serving Turkish routes. They are £30m each. "Each New Islay Ferry (NIF) is understood to cost £52.5 million, with a further £17 million being spent on dredging and pier upgrades to accommodate them" https://mullandionaferrycommittee.org/islay-presentation-bias-assumption-and-error/ & 27 crew for each So well over £10m p/a in capital cost for fleet their before any interest Staff costs ££££ Gain? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Onchan Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 I can see the Turkish orders going the same way as Ferguson, over budget and inferior materials. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Wright Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 1 hour ago, Andy Onchan said: I can see the Turkish orders going the same way as Ferguson, over budget and inferior materials. First one will be launched in March and all 4 delivered before end 2025. The total value of the contract for the 4 is £117million. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asitis Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 7 minutes ago, John Wright said: First one will be launched in March and all 4 delivered before end 2025. The total value of the contract for the 4 is £117million. Or roughly four ships for one tin shed ! LOL 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercenary Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 15 minutes ago, John Wright said: First one will be launched in March and all 4 delivered before end 2025. The total value of the contract for the 4 is £117million. Source? Google says £91-109m for 2 of the vessels you quote at '£30m' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Wright Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 39 minutes ago, Mercenary said: Source? Google says £91-109m for 2 of the vessels you quote at '£30m' BBC this week. Herald and Scotsman in September/October 2023. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yibble Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 22 hours ago, Roger Mexico said: That's what always puzzled me about increasing the number of passengers. For most of the time the passenger capacity on the Ben (275 cars, 636 pax) was never reached because car spaces filled up first and after the associated passengers were taken in account there were never enough foot passengers to make up to the maximum. But most of the capacity increase on the Manxman (237 cars, 948 pax) has been in extra pax. There's also space for 75 trailers, some of which could be used for busy periods for extra car space, but it seems an odd priority, unless they're hoping to do much more from Liverpool. And if that's the case it would mean running a separate freight operation. Presumable the pax / vehicle capacity ratios change very significantly at the times of year when the boats are crammed with bikes and bikers, with everything at premium fares? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Wright Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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