Transport in Guernsey
Guernsey is the second largest of the Channel Islands. It is part of the Common Travel Area, allowing passport-free travel to and from the United Kingdom.
Air
Guernsey Airport is located 3 miles south-west of St Peter Port, the island’s capital. Airlines operating scheduled services to and from Guernsey are Aurigny Air Services (owned by the States of Guernsey), Blue Islands who from May 2016 will be operating under FlyBe colours and FlyBe itself. They fly to a number of destinations.
Alderney Airport has limited scheduled flights available to Southampton and Guernsey operated by Aurigny Air Services
Both airports have private aircraft facilities and annual air rallies.
- External links
Buses
Bus services are operated by CT Plus Guernsey on behalf of the Environment Department of the States of Guernsey (the island’s government).
All bus fares have a fixed price of £1 per journey, irrespective of distance travelled. Passes covering unlimited travel for a day or more and family travel passes are available.
Private hire coaches and coach tours are available from Intransit, Island Coachways and Island Taxis
- External links
- Bus timetable
- States of Guernsey website: bus services
- Island Coachways: bus services
- Intransit
- Island Taxis
Taxis
Guernsey has a regulated, licensed taxi service based at three ranks in central St Peter Port, St Sampson (on The Bridge) and at Guernsey Airport. Taxis can also be called or phoned.
Accessible taxis capable of transporting a wheelchair passenger and with improved lighting to assist people who may have a visual impairment are available.
Visit Guernsey website has a list of taxi operators.
- External links
Cycling
Cycling is encouraged in Guernsey although there are currently few cycle lanes on main roads, the creation of Ruettes Tranquilles provides safer and more pleasant cycle friendly roads.
The States of Guernsey provide details of cycling laws and recommendations for safety as well as details of cycle hire businesses.
Sark is a popular cycle friendly island.
- External links
Roads
Traffic in Guernsey drives on the left. Roads are generally narrow, with speed limits of 25 miles per hour in urban areas and 35 miles per hour elsewhere. Motor tax was abolished in Guernsey from 1 January 2008. There are six taxi ranks in St Peter Port. Vehicle registration plates in Guernsey normally carry five numerals only; the international identification sticker/plate is "GBG". Those in Alderney have "GBA". The registration plate has the letter A prefixing a number.
Most road markings are the same as the UK, with the exception of:
- A yellow line across the exit of a minor road means stop and give way to traffic on the major road. A yellow arrow painted on the road gives warning of a yellow stop line ahead.
- Junctions marked Filter in Turn. Approach these with care! At these junctions all directions have equal priority.
- Yellow no stopping lines are single lines and mean you must not stop for any reason, other than to avoid an accident.
- External links
Sea
Condor Ferries operate services to Poole and Portsmouth in England, St Malo in France, and to Jersey. Condor Ferries became the main operator to the UK following the closure of British Channel Island Ferries in 1994. Previously Sealink (and its railway ferries predecessors) had been the main operator for many decades. Freight goes on a traditional ferry via Portsmouth.
The French company Manche Îles Express operates a summer passenger-only ferry service between Guernsey and three small ports in Normandy, France: Barneville-Carteret, Diélette and Granville. Not every port is served daily.
The Isle of Sark Shipping Company operates small ferries to Sark. The service takes 45 minutes for the 9-mile crossing.
Bumblebee offers seasonal transfers from Guernsey to Alderney.
Travel Trident provides small ferries for the 20 minute ride to Herm.
Alderney Shipping operates freight routes between Poole, Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney.
- External links
- Condor Ferries
- Manches Îles Express
- Isle of Sark Shipping Company
- Guernsey Harbours Authority
- Bumblebee
- Alderney Shipping
- Travel Trident
Railways
- Alderney
The Alderney Railway provides a rail link of approximately two miles, with a regular timetabled service during the summer months and at seasonal festivals including Easter and Christmas. It is now the only working railway on the Channel Islands to provide a public transport link. It is also one of the oldest railways in the British Isles, dating from 1847, and carried Queen Victoria and Prince Albert as the first 'official' passengers in 1857.[1]
There is also a 7 1⁄4 in (184 mm) gauge miniature railway on Alderney, which operates during the summer months.[2]
- Guernsey
There are currently no railway services on Guernsey. The Guernsey Railway, which was virtually an electric tramway, and which began working on 20 February 1892, was abandoned on 9 June 1934. It replaced an earlier transport system which was worked by steam, and was named the Guernsey Steam Tramway. The latter began service on 6 June 1879 with six locomotives.[3]
See also
References
- ↑ See references at the Island tourist website.
- ↑ See miniature railway webpage here.
- ↑ Notes on the Railway taken from The Railway Magazine, September 1934 edition
External links
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