Martin Clark wrote: > 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).
...as opposed the the 10 odd "contract crew" who were got in during the summer to do the convoys? I expect existing staff will do the "self steer" operations. Will they let small plastic boats through? :-) Now all they have to do is repair Cooper Bridge Weir...how is this coming on? -- Neil Arlidge NB Earnest - Out of it. Wildernii Mini Me - Now back to being wheely good fun. Follow the travels of TNC, now in Ireland http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/tour.html
