The idea that a water bus could operate on the River Trent was first suggested publicly during a presentation by local East Midlands leaders at the UK Real Estate, Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiFF) in Leeds on 20 May.
East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward and Rushcliffe Borough Council leader Neil Clarke spoke about plans to market the area surrounding the City Ground and Trent Bridge Cricket Ground in Nottingham, along with the surrounding areas, as the ‘Trent Sports District’.
It was suggested that part of this proposal could be the implementation of a ferry service between Queen’s Drive Park & Ride, near Clifton, and Colwick Park & Ride, near Colwick. The service would take people to the football ground and back, as well as to other stops, and possibly further along the Trent.
Globally, numerous cities operate water buses, but some have used the introduction of river transport to catalyse regeneration along the waterfront.
Xi’an, China
Xi’an, a city in central China, is built within a historic city wall.
Built in the 1300s to protect the city from attack, it features a moat running around its outer perimeter, which has been put to modern use.
A fully self-driving, autonomous boat—with a driver who only needs to intervene if there is an issue—takes tourists around the wall, one of the area’s main attractions.
Made from lightweight aluminium, the electric boats are solar-powered, with snacks and tea offered on board. Tickets cost around £13.
Brisbane, Australia
Brisbane City Council operates a ferry service along the Brisbane River, with 22 stops across approximately 10 miles of water between Hamilton and the popular suburb of West End.
The city is built around the river, much like London, so a ferry service makes sense. The iconic South Bank area, with its large parks, lagoon, shops, botanic gardens and popular nightlife, is all located along the riverbanks, often beneath the city’s impressive bridges.
Brisbane’s ferry service began operating in 1996, but massive floods in 2011 destroyed seven terminals.
These were redesigned to withstand extreme flooding and were completed in 2015.
Locals can hop on and off and combine ferry journeys with buses and trains as part of a single trip.
Even better, public transport in Queensland costs a flat fee of 50 cents per journey—equivalent to about 26p in the UK—and this includes ferry travel.
Hamburg, Germany
Hamburg, Germany’s second-largest city after Berlin, sits on the River Elbe, and ferries are widely used by commuters, with 20 stops along the route.
The city’s official website states that around nine million passengers use the ferry every year, describing it as “not only important for managing everyday urban traffic but also an inexpensive way to experience the port”.
Hamburg is also home to HafenCity, described as “Europe’s largest inner-city urban development project”.
Designated in 2008, the area has been developed with shopping, dining and leisure facilities, alongside attractions such as the International Maritime Museum and the Elbphilharmonie concert hall.
There is also an alternative way to experience the river in Hamburg: the HafenCity RiverBus.
It is an amphibious bus that looks like a conventional bus but can drive straight into the water and float.
New York City
New York City is known as the concrete jungle and is famous for its skyscrapers and infrastructure, but it is also surrounded by water, including the Hudson River, East River, Upper Bay, Lower Bay and Long Island Sound, all of which connect to the Atlantic Ocean.
It therefore makes sense that water travel plays a significant role in daily life.
Commuters travel from New Jersey and Staten Island into Manhattan by crossing the water, while Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx are also connected by the NYC Ferry.
The service provides maps and live status updates, much like the London Underground or local bus services.
Sightseers can use this service or choose the New York Water Taxi, which stops at many famous attractions and allows passengers to hop on and off throughout the day.
London, England
Closer to home, the UK’s capital has one of the world’s best-established river taxi services.
The Thames Clippers service was founded in 1999 and became better known as Uber Boat after the taxi company partnered with it in 2020.
As with buses and the Underground in London, passengers can tap in and out using an Oyster card.
The Uber Boat fleet consists of 23 vessels serving 24 stops, from Putney in the west to Barking in the east.
Stops include Battersea Power Station, the London Eye, Westminster, Embankment, London Bridge, the Tower of London and Canary Wharf.
“When I was born, the Thames Clippers didn’t exist, and over the course of two decades they’ve expanded from zero to 24 ferry terminals,” said Matthew Drewitt. “It started in the East End with the regeneration of the Docklands, Canary Wharf and Greenwich.”
What does Nottingham have?
Nottingham already has a publicly accessible boat service: the Nottingham Princess, operated by Princess River Cruises.
However, it is strictly a tourist and events boat and must be booked in advance.
Currently, the banks of the River Trent—particularly Victoria Embankment and the riverside footpaths—are popular with runners and walkers because of their peaceful atmosphere and river views.
The Meadows Recreation Ground on the north side and similar green spaces on the south side are also close to the river.
There are several pubs around the Trent Bridge area, including The Waterside Bar, along with the stadiums and a number of residential apartment blocks.
Further east, beyond Lady Bay Bridge, the Trent Basin area is being redeveloped from a former industrial estate into a residential neighbourhood.
This area also benefits from the recently opened Waterside Bridge, the first purpose-built crossing over the River Trent in the city since 1958. Its opening perhaps demonstrates the ambition to make the river a more central part of life in Nottingham.
For now, however, that is all there is to offer.
Most workers and residents are based in the city centre.
By Joseph Connolly, Local Democracy Reporter