Severn Link
 | |
 Fast ferry Rapparee at Marchwood. | |
| Locale | Devon and Wales |
|---|---|
| Waterway | Bristol Channel |
| Transit type | Passenger ferry |
| No. of lines | 1 (proposed) |
| No. of vessels | 2 |
| No. of terminals | 2 |
| Website | Official website |
Severn Link was a ferry operating company founded in 2010 that intended to provide ferry services across the Bristol Channel in England and Wales. The route was to have been served by two ex-Wightlink 40 metre "Fastcat" passenger ferries capable of running at 34 knots and carrying up to 360 seated passengers. The journey by ferry was expected to take around 50 minutes,[1] compared to 3.5 hours by road.[2]
The first route was planned to be a passenger service between Ilfracombe and Swansea, to start at Easter 2010,[3] but a major investor who held the mortgages on the two catamarans pulled out,[4] and talks to find a new investor were still ongoing in autumn 2010 with launch said to be delayed until 2011.[5]
Later plans were for a ferry service linking Ilfracombe with Cardiff, docking at Penarth. Severn Link were planning on a more direct link whereby the ferry would dock in Cardiff,[6] and the company said that it was considering other ferry services between Penarth and Minehead, and between Porthcawl and Ilfracombe.[7]
In 2012 the company confirmed that although the withdrawal of an investor and problems with landing facilities had led to delays, and the two
References
- ^ "The Celtic Ocean Guide – Severn Link". Celticocean.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ "Severn Link Announce Plans to Create Affordable Ferry From Ilfracombe to Swansea". Bideford People. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ "Spring launch for new fast ferry". BBC News. 29 October 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ "Channel link ferries are sold". Plymouth Herald. 12 May 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
- ^ "BBC News – Devon to Wales ferry link gets interest from new backer". Bbc.co.uk. 29 October 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ "Ilfracombe ferry will go to Cardiff, too". North Devon Gazette. 24 February 2010. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- ^ Western Mail. "New ferry service to link Swansea with Devon". Wales Online. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ "Severn ferry plan between south Wales and Devon 'not forgotten'". BBC. 19 February 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
- ^ Cooper, Joel (17 May 2018). "£25m plans for ferry quay and breakwater which could link Devon to Wales". DevonLive. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
- ^ Farell-Roig, Estel (22 August 2018). "The things that nearly came to Swansea, but didn't". WalesOnline. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
- ^ Selaine Saxby (17 November 2021). "Transport Infrastructure". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). United Kingdom: House of Commons.
- ^ "Watch: Devon Tory MP calls for 'Barry booze cruise' ferry from England to Wales". Nation Cymru. 18 November 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2022.