Brian on Harnser wrote... >David Cragg was thinking very hard : >> 9 boats a week each way - that means they get less than the max 7 a day each >> way they allow down the Monty. I presume the reason is the lack of water - >> just like the Monty. >> >Maybe that is what they judge the demand to be, how many people used it >when it was towed through?
You are spot-on, Brian. For the last couple of years they have operated on only 2 days a week with convoys of up to 4 boats, making a maximum of 8 boats a week in each direction. (Yes, I know that there were occasional convoys of more than 4 boats.) 8 boats a week kept up with demand last year. Of course, some would argue that the towing system put some boaters off and it may be that the new system will attract more demand. I was told this morning that if that proved to be the case then BW would look at the possibility of operating additional days. BW have to try to do it as cost-effectively as possible. This is still going to tie up 5 BW staff members to operate (one on each boat, one in a safety van in the disused railway tunnel and one in the control office - the last two required in case of emergency). -- Martin Clark Pennine Waterways Website http://www.penninewaterways.co.uk
