Severn Link

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]

Severn Link
Founded2010
HeadquartersIlfracombe, Devon, England
Area served
Bristol Channel
Key people
Chris Marrow (Chairman)
Geoff Metcalf (MD)
ServicesPassenger transportation
Websitewww.severnlink.com

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 catamarans had been sold, there were still plans to start a service.[8] In 2018 it was indicated that plans for a ferry service were "still very much on the cards".[9][10] In 2021 a Devon MP called for the proposal to proceed.[11][12]

References
  1. "The Celtic Ocean Guide – Severn Link". Celticocean.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  2. "Severn Link Announce Plans to Create Affordable Ferry From Ilfracombe to Swansea". Bideford People. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  3. "Spring launch for new fast ferry". BBC News. 29 October 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  4. "Channel link ferries are sold". Plymouth Herald. 12 May 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  5. "BBC News – Devon to Wales ferry link gets interest from new backer". Bbc.co.uk. 29 October 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  6. "Ilfracombe ferry will go to Cardiff, too". North Devon Gazette. 24 February 2010. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  7. "Severn ferry plan between south Wales and Devon 'not forgotten'". BBC. 19 February 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  8. Cooper, Joel (17 May 2018). "£25m plans for ferry quay and breakwater which could link Devon to Wales". DevonLive. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  9. Farell-Roig, Estel (22 August 2018). "The things that nearly came to Swansea, but didn't". WalesOnline. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  10. Selaine Saxby (17 November 2021). "Transport Infrastructure". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). United Kingdom: House of Commons.
  11. "Watch: Devon Tory MP calls for 'Barry booze cruise' ferry from England to Wales". Nation Cymru. 18 November 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2022.


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