The Mersey Ferries (rightly or wrongly) are only kept in existence by tourism. The ferries are about to be replaced, some of the proposals are to replace them with a modern design that looks nothing like the traditional design of the ferries or even a boat.

I can't see how the tourism element of its survival will fare if the ferry design is substantially changed to an angular glass block on water, its not going to be the "Ferry Cross The Mersey" that fans of the Beatles nor the Gerry and the Pacemakers song expect. It is a world-wide image that is about to be washed down the plughole.

This is your last chance to have your say, one of the questions on the Merseytravel survey specifically asks if the new design should be in-keeping with the traditional look. Please use your opportunity to have your say.

https://smartsurvey.co.uk/s/MerseyFerries2018 Ends at midnight tonight.

Done. I do wonder who is providing the finance for these boats. Mersey Ferries don't have any, never have and probably never will.

I also find it alarming that such survey's are done online and few people will know about it. Particularly if they come from out of the area to the World Famous Mersey Ferries which was at one time , posted all over the London tubes.

Thanks for posting that, I had not seen it before. As Granny says people from all over mention the ferries. All our visitors always want to see and take a trip on the Mersey.

I filled it in a while ago, I don't often do these surveys because the questions are usually rigged so that you can't express your desired opinion, in this case I was amazed to find that crucial question I wanted.

Back in January there were statements about architects having drawn up plans, I'm sure there were concept pictures of a complete monstrosity and I thought it was done and dusted. I was surprised to find this consultation in August.

I can't find the concept pictures now, either they are well buried or have been deleted (forever hopefully).

Like the inflated tunnel prices and mismanaged rail guard dispute , it all comes from merseytravel after the dutch shareholders have been paid off . Its a tourist business and as such should be self funded . If its not economical should people from the outer regions pay for it.

Done survey. I strongly disagree with changing the look of the ferries. With it would go all the memories, nostalgia and love most people hold for the ferries. I commented on this the other day when we discussed the Little woods fire, new is not always best ...I do think the prices should come down ( fat chance) but think lots more would use them. I always think of the Star ferries of Hong Kong. Virtually the same as ours but cost very little and they are always full going back and forth. Don't wipe everything old away just for new characterless vessels, I think it would be such a mistake and loss....

Only Merseyrail surely?

As Merseyrail is a franchise its the other way round, the money to Merseytravel is of higher precedence than the shareholders of the franchise operator.

Done. Thanks for flagging that up. Made the point about styling - mentioned the VW Beetle, which has been modernised but is still recognisably a Beetle. A Mersey ferry that didn't look like a Mersey ferry would just be any old ship.

Done with emphasis on retaining the original image .

Completed - the old ferry styling. Apart from anything else, in bad weather and strong tides it needs a tough boat to make the landing stages several times a day.

I used to love getting the ferry across to Liverpool at weekends.

I stopped because my ferry ticket included a visit to the submarine, and it whacked up the price - whether I wanted to go or not.

Look at their website:

https://www.merseyferries.co.uk/cruises/river-explorer-cruise/Pages/Ticket-Prices.aspx

The only £2 odd single fare has gone.

Exactly, Moonstar.

Cheapest way now is an all-zone saveaway but its off-peak only at £5.30 which is a good price if you want bus and rail all around Merseytravel as well.

Peak times you are stuck with £9 online or £10 at terminal.

Merseytravel shot themselves in the foot when they stopped running proper ferry service, Ok they run the trains, but not everyone ones to travel on a train, i know i hate them, often crowded its nice to sail across the Mersey be it Summer or Winter, the added bonus of seeing other ships on the water etc But i can remember coming out from work around 1976- 78 walking down to catch the ferry, and yes those day they were very crowded sailing across the river and getting off at Seacombe to be met by dozens of buses waiting to take us home, that day died when the moved the bus stop to Arygle street, then the people saw there was no buses to carry them home they got a car or took the train thus killing off the ferry. I can't remember when i last took a ferry over to Liverpool every time i want to do this the price is for a cruise, I think in the long run its better if they get rid of them once and for all, the boat tied up over by Duke street Bridge just looks so sorry, rusting away like that, its such a shame, but you can thank Mersytravel for all the troubles they have, be it train, ferries, buses even the tunnels?

I agree that taking the bus terminals away from the ferry terminals was a disastrous mistake, it impacted the buses, ferries and areas of businesses, I should imagine that Hamilton Square railway station was impacted as well.

Another question never been sufficiently answered IMO. In fact it was never given any reason for the buses to finish down there.
There were plans to develop, hence the Woodside Hotel went up in flames !

However, do we know that Mersey Rail is part of the Serco-Abellio. Abellio is owned by the Dutch .

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serco-Abellio

To make it a viable proposition, the Northern Rail Network would have to be profitable.
I don't know who owns/runs the bus companies on Wirral but I wouldn't be surprised if there is a connection between them and foreign companies.
I thought Arriva were Dutch at one time, but it would appear they are now German owned.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arriva

Arriva is a multinational public transport company headquartered in Sunderland, England[1] It was established in 1938 as T Cowie and through a number of mergers and acquisitions was rebranded Arriva in 1997 and became a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn in 2010. Arriva operates bus, coach, train, tram and waterbus services in 14 countries across Europe. As of September 2018, it employed 61,845 people and operated 2.4 billion passenger journeys annually.[2] It operates as three divisions: UK Bus, UK Rail and Mainland Europe.[3]

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Wheels within wheels. It was also mentioned many years ago that Peel would be the eventual operators of the Ferries. How true that is I don't know, but if that cat was let out of the bag, imagine the uproar. Maybe they are waiting for all the old guys and nostalgia to die off before the next move ! Everything has been pre-planned and we sit and wait , watching Birkenhead disintegrate under our noses.