ForthFast Hovercraft And Edinburgh Waverly

[JonathonAG]

As some of you may have heard about or seen yourself, for the past two weeks Stagecoach has been trialling a crossing service over the Forth from Kirkcaldy in Fife, to Portobello in East Lothian. Well today was one of the last days you could get on it....and seeing as I had never even seen a Hovercraft for real before, my grandparents thought it would be nice for us to sample this before it finishes. I have four words to sum it up:

1st Word: Awesome
Next 3 Words: Bloomin Long Queues.

The ride was very good, even in the choppy waters we had today due to a lot of wind. However, wind never put anyone off....as the queues were huge....we had to wait an hour an a half to get on!!!!!!
Because of this....we decided that we would use the bus's included in the fare paid for the hovercraft. So we went from Portobello to Waverly in Edinburgh on the bus...where I was able to get about 1/2 hour of photography in before heading home. Have to say.....the station is a lot nicer to take photos in when it's lighter:

The other photos of the Hovercraft, Waverly and one of the ongoing engineering works in South Fife can be seen here : http://jonathonag.fotopic.net/c1334814.html

So, to sum up.....A 20 minute journey from Kirkcaldy to Portobello....then a 15 minute direct bus service to Waverly Bridge. 1/2 Hour At Waverly ( Although if it were my choice, would have been a lot longer ), and then a bus journey from Edinburgh to Kirkcaldy....all for £4.50 per person. Crazy isn't it, all that mileage for so little cost. Judging by the popularity and convenience.....I hope Stagecoach seriously consider something more long-term with the same arrangements.

Hope you like the photographs.

Thanks

Jonathon

 

[Oracle]

There was once a Bovvercraft service from Southampton (Woolston, I think by the floating bridge as was, on the River Itchen)to the Isle of Wight. Nowadays we just have the Southsea (Portsmouth) to Ryde sevice, which takes about 20 minutes if you are unlucky. Sometimes it goes close to the sea wall at Gosport which is fun as against straight out into the Solent. Hovertravel seem to have supplied the Forth 'craft..good job that they are sticking in their with the possibly safest form of travel ever.

 

[Craig]

Interesting shots of the Hovercraft