News / Bristol Ferry Boats
New ferry service from Netham Lock to continue through summer
After a second trial to test the feasibility of offering services between Netham Lock and City Centre, Bristol Community Ferry Boats has confirmed the extension of the service throughout summer.
The Bristol Harbour Office has supported extending the Netham trial service till the end of September 2024.
The new route from Netham Lock to the City Centre via Temple Meads will run weekend mornings at 10 am and weekdays at 8 am returning to Netham at 6 pm. The Temple Meads stop is available both ways.
The service is the result of two trials conducted over the last 6 months that received overwhelming support from local people in Brislington and St Annes.
From Netham Lock, the boats travel along the Feeder Canal, before joining the Floating Harbour and arriving at Cascade Steps in the city centre in 50 minutes.
The Bristol Harbour Office has supported extending the Netham trial service till the end of September 2024 – photo: Martin Booth
One customer said: “I really hope this becomes regular. It did wonders for my well-being yesterday after taking a boat to and from work yesterday”.
Bristol Community Ferry Boats is one of Bristol’s largest Community Businesses. A publicly owned Co-Operative, with services to serve Bristol’s transport, leisure, and education needs on the water.
Roisin Tobin-Brooke, co-director of Bristol Community Ferry Boats, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to serve residents in St Ann’s and Brislington and St George – offering them a scenic, relaxing commute into the City Centre either for work or leisure. As a not-for-profit community-owned business, we are endeavouring to make this service a sustainable and viable transport link by subsidising the weekday commuter service (£3 each way) with the weekend service, where prices are in line with our day ferry service around the harbour (£8 for a 40-minute journey). “
Tim Rippington, Labour Councillor for Brislington East, Bristol said “I am delighted to hear that the recent ferry trial between St Annes and the City Centre was a success and will now be extended until September. There has been some great feedback from users of the service and I would encourage people to give it a go if they live locally and need to get to Temple Meads, Castle Park or the City Centre for their work.”
“I’ll be asking for the Council to look at the possibility of infrastructure improvements at Netham Lock if this is to become a more permanent service.”
This service commences on Monday June 3, and tickets will be available online.
Main photo: Charlie Watts
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