CONFIDENTIAL has been excited by the idea of a water taxi service in Manchester and Salford since the idea was mooted several years back. Late last year we broke the news that a service should be up and running by summer 2013 - click here.
Confidential understands there is now a shortlist of operators, and that they are obliged to bid for a service that will be 'commuter' not just 'leisure'.
Here are some 'work in progress' mock-ups of the five pontoon landing stages being proposed. The final layouts may be different and the boat pictured here almost certainly will. But the images help to make the idea real.
The breakdown of the landing stages seems sensible, although there is a big gap between pontoons from The Lowry Hotel to Ordsall. Of course others can be added should the service be successful.
Confidential understands there is now a shortlist of operators, and that they are obliged to bid for a service that will be 'commuter' not just 'leisure' - allthough the service will no doubt prove popular for United fans.
If infrastructure's your thing, it's all tremendously exciting.
Landing stage one - Lowry Hotel
Landing stage two - Ordsall
Landing stage three - Old Trafford
Landing stage four - IWMN
Landing stage five - MediaCityUK
