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Water taxis and cable cars are Peterborough's future
FANCY cruising to work in a water taxi? Or how about rolling in on a steam train?
FANCY cruising to work in a water taxi? Or how about rolling in on a steam train?According to the new leader of Peterborough City Council, these novel ideas could help turn the city into a tourist mecca, change the face of commuting and boost its green credentials.
Councillor Marco Cereste said the city already has the infrastructure in place to make the alternative forms of transport work, and would be looking to put proposals to the council in the next six months.
He would like a similar water taxi service to the one offered in Spalding, which ferries 25,000 people a year along the River Welland.
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Council leader Cllr Marco Cereste said: "If we have park and ride system nearby, we could have a water taxi with a jetty that transports people into the city. We already have the waterways of the River Nene in place.
"It could be powered by renewable energy.
"It's a wonderful idea, and will enable us to really use our city.
"People don't realise how beautiful the city is."
He is also keen to bring in cable cars so that people can get a sweeping bird's eye view of the city.
He said: "We could use the railways. We already have the infrastructure."
And he is also a fan of the romantic age of steam and would love to see more vintage trains pootling along the tracks.
The Nene Valley Railway offers visitors the chance to sample riding on locomotives from a bygone era, and Cllr Cereste would like to extend the service to commuters.
He said: "How great would it be to come into work on a steam railway? Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Cllr Cereste said he would be discussing his ideas with Environment Agency officials, who are responsible for the waterways, before seeking support from other councillors.
The Environment Agency said they had held talks with the city council about similar plans in the past.
In July 2005, the Spalding Water Taxi service was launched, running from Easter to late October.
It runs from just off Spalding's High Street, upstream along the river, turning onto the Coronation Channel, and going to Springfields Outlet Shopping and Festival Gardens, and back again.
It is mainly used as a recreational tourist attraction, described as "a relaxing 30- minute cruise".
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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