Stagecoach to trial new £700,000 ‘amfibus’

Vehicle to travel on road and water to link communities on the Clyde.

Stagecoach are to trial a £700,000 ‘amfibus’ on the River Clyde which can operate on water and roads.

Stagecoach believes there is potential for a new ‘amfibus’ service linking communities on the Clyde, making use of existing slipways at Renfrew and Yoker.

The ‘amfibus’ would run by road from Braehead to the Renfrew ferry slipway, cross the Clyde to Yoker and then travel on by road to Clydebank and can carry 50 passengers.

Based on a bus chassis, it incorporates a hull to allow the vehicle to float and is fully safety certified for operation on road and water by European transport regulatory authorities. It is built in Holland by  Dutch Amphibious Transport Vehicles BV of Nijmegen.

On the road, the vehicle operates like a standard coach and in the water, it is driven by twin water jets and can achieve a speed of 8 knots.

Brian Souter, Stagecoach Group Chief Executive, said: “Passengers can use the amfibus to travel over road and water without having to leave the comfort of their seat to change from a bus to a ferry.”

"It shows the potential of Scotland’s rivers and estuaries to be links rather than barriers to travel."

Further information:
Stagecoach