Glasgow council to look at restoring pontoons and river buses

Glasgow council to look at restoring  pontoons and river buses

Glasgow City Council is exploring the possibility of reintroducing waterfront pontoons and potentially launching a river bus service in the city. This move aims to revive the use of the River Clyde for passenger transport, a practice that was common in previous decades but has recently declined. The last such service, the Renfrew Ferry, ceased operations just last year.

A city councillor highlighted that the ongoing waterfront regeneration projects, particularly at Custom House Quay and Carlton Place, could create conditions favorable for river travel to reemerge. These projects are focused on revitalizing the local waterfront area, which may pave the way for new transportation options on the river.

Council officials have confirmed that an investigation into a business case for utilizing pontoons has been approved. However, introducing a river bus system would require cooperation with various other authorities to ensure its feasibility and effective operation. At a recent city policy committee meeting on economy, housing, transport, and regeneration, SNP councillor Graham Campbell expressed strong support for the idea. He stated, “I’m very much a champion of getting us back to having a river bus, having river travel and having the river as a transit mechanism and people being able to access it again.”

Further discussions indicated that increasing activity along the riverfront could make the concept of a river bus more practical. Historically, the River Clyde was bustling with passenger vessels; records show that in the 1850s, as many as 11 ferry services operated along the river. The current investigation aims to re-establish this mode of transport as part of Glasgow’s broader efforts to enhance connectivity and leisure opportunities in the city

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