River Link

River Link is a ferry, cruise boat, and bus operator, based in Devon, England. The company is owned by Dart Valley Railway plc, who also own and operate the Dartmouth Steam Railway.[1][2]

MV Cardiff Castle on a river cruise at Totnes
MV Dartmouth Princess operating on the Dartmouth Passenger Ferry; three sister ships in the River Link fleet can be seen moored to the right
An ECW bodied Bristol VRT/SL3 seen near the Steamer Quay in Totnes

Services

River Link operates the Dartmouth Passenger Ferry, which connects the terminus of the steam railway at Kingswear station to the waterfront at Dartmouth, on the opposite bank of River Dart. It also operates river and coastal cruises from Dartmouth, including a cruise the length of the tidal Dart to the Steamer Quay in Totnes.[3][4]

The railway between Paignton and Kingswear, the ferry from Kingswear to Dartmouth, and the river cruise from Dartmouth to Totnes form three segments of a heavily promoted round-trip known as the Round Robin. In order to close the loop, River Link operates a bus service, often using open top buses, between Totnes and Paignton.[3]

Current Fleet

Dart Pleasure Craft currently operates a fleet of nine major vessels, as well as three smaller 12-passenger boats.

  • Cardiff Castle
The largest vessel in the fleet carrying 400 passengers. Built in 1964 for the River Dart Steamboat Company, she was operated for the Millbrook Steamboat and Trading Company out of Plymouth from 1977. In 1985, she returned to the Dart, and has operated for Dart Pleasure Craft ever since. Presently mainly used on the Totnes service.[5]
  • Dart Explorer
A modern catamaran, carrying 300 passengers and built for the company in 1991 as Devonair Belle. She is mainly used on the 1 hour harbour cruise, and also operates most of the charters and evening disco cruises.[6]
  • Dartmouth Castle
Built in 1947 by Philip & Son Ship Builders and Engineers, she was previously operated by the Milbrook Steamboat and Trading Company. Although she was originally intended to be built as a paddle steamer, she was fitted with twin diesel engines just before completion. She now operates on the River Dart mainly used as the second Totnes service vessel.
  • Dart Venturer
Originally built as Plymouth Venturer for Plymouth Boat Cruises in 1982, this 300 passenger vessel ran for them until 2002, when it was "swapped" with Dart Pleasure Craft's smaller Plymouth Belle. Used on all of the services.[7]
  • Dittisham Princess
Built as the Flagship of G.H. Riddalls and Sons' fleet in 1995, this 181 passenger vessel was taken over in 2000. Despite being the newest member of the fleet, she appears to see little service.[8]
  • Dartmouth Princess
Built as the Devon Belle II in 1990, she joined the G.H Riddalls fleet in 1995. Since being taken over by Dart Pleasure craft in 2000, she has become the main ferry on the short Dartmouth-Kingswear route.[9]
  • Kingswear Belle
Originally built in 1972 for service in the Channel Islands as Herm Trident II, she was bought by Dart Pleasure Craft in 1989 for use on the Kingswear Ferry, where she can cary 23 passengers. She had a major fire in 2006. Since the purchase of Dartmouth Princess, she sees little use.[10]
  • Kingswear Princess
Built in 1978 at Conyer Marine in Kent, the Kingswear Princess was bought by the Dartmouth Riverboat Company in 2010. She is now used as the winter ferry and the reserve ferry if the Dartmouth Princess is out of service.
  • Edgecumbe Belle
A small ferry with a very long and complex history. One of two sisters built in 1957 for British Rail as Humphrey Gilbert (her sister was Adrian Gilbert), for use on the Dartmouth-Kingswear ferry service. When the Paignton-Kingswear branch line was closed by British Rail, the two ferries passed briefly into local authority ownership, then were sold for use on the Falmouth - St Mawes Ferry. Following a sale back to BR for use on the Gravesend–Tilbury Ferry, they were deemed unsuitable for use on either of these two routes. The Adrian Gilbert returned to the Kingswear ferry in 1977. After a period of inactivity, owned by various companies, the Humphrey Gilbert was sold to Millbrook Steamboat and Trading Company, renamed Edgecumbe Belle and used on their Plymouth - Drake's Island ferry. She returned to the Dart in 1985 and she partnered her sister on the Kingswear Ferry until 1996, when Adrian Gilbert was sold, somewhat ironically to the St Mawes Ferry Company, where she continues to work quite successfully. Edgecumbe Belle on the other hand, remains as the main relief vessel on the Kingswear ferry, and sees a large amount of service. She briefly ran a service to Greenway, but this has now been withdrawn, and Dart Pleasure Craft instead market the former rival service operated by Greenway Ferry Limited.[11]

See also

References
  1. "Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway". Dart Valley Railway plc. Retrieved 18 September 2008.
  2. "About River Link". Dart Pleasure Craft Limited. Archived from the original on 13 October 2008. Retrieved 18 September 2008.
  3. "Time Table 2008" (PDF). Dart Pleasure Craft Limited. Archived from the original (pdf) on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 18 September 2008.
  4. "Dart Harbour : Ferries". The Dart Harbour and Navigation Authority. Archived from the original on 19 October 2008. Retrieved 18 September 2008.
  5. http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/Dart_Pleasure_Craft.html#anchor830700
  6. http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/Dart_Pleasure_Craft.html#anchor826432
  7. http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/Dart_Pleasure_Craft.html#anchor1014548
  8. http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/Dart_Pleasure_Craft.html#anchor152120
  9. http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/Dart_Pleasure_Craft.html#anchor2307112
  10. http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/Dart_Pleasure_Craft.html#anchor660349
  11. http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/Dart_Pleasure_Craft.html#anchor739086
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