As per IOM online today.

STEAM Packet passenger numbers have fallen again, according to Department of Transport figures.

In October 41,160 travellers passed through Douglas harbour, 4 per cent down on the same month last year.

The loss of the Dublin route has been blamed.

So far this year 548,630 passengers have been carried by the ferry company, 6.7 per cent down on the same period in 2004.

More cars and bikes were carried last month than in October 2004, up 2.8 per cent to a record level for the month.

However, the total for the year so far is down 0.8 per cent to 156,122 compared with last year.

Director of harbours Captain Michael Brew said: 'Excluding the Dublin route which did not operate this year, passenger traffic on the core routes remains practically constant.

'The Heysham route shows strong growth at the expense of the Liverpool route.'



Could this mean even more expensive fares next year ???????

The two things that actually jump out of this report

1) "More cars and bikes were carried last month than in October 2004, up 2.8 per cent to a record level for the month. "

Perhaps I'm just an old cynic "what me" but is it surprising that these figures correspond to the FARE REDUCTIONS end of season.

Cut fares 'specially for cars and bikes and Oh! Look we've carried more passengers..... I wonder how that happened ?

...... but the vested interests with cars to hire in the Isle of Man don't want that.

2) "The Heysham route shows strong growth at the expense of the Liverpool route."

As the Seacat can't sail if there is more than a reasonable wave and everyone gets sent to HEYSHAM......Oh! what a shock.

I wonder how many visitors have been switched to Heysham, from either side like this, and have vowed never to go back to the Isle of Man ?

SeaContainers owned the Steam Packet Co. and, surprise surprise, HEYSHAM DOCKS.

Of course they concentrated on developing the Heysham services and it will take 5 years or more to re-develop the Liverpool service, if they can provide a ferry that can sail day in day out, and with freight traffic.

Beware, if you are planning to travel to or from the Island over the next few months. The Steam Packet have published the following timetable for the Douglas - Heysham/Liverpool routes, due to the fact that the Ben cannot now carry out the Douglas-Liverpool crossing because of issues that exist at the Liverpool Jetty. and the fact that the Lady is no longer in service.



Isle of Man <> Liverpool January 10th - March 6th 2006

Isle of Man to Liverpool

0800: Friday-Saturday

1530: Sunday

Liverpool to Isle of Man

1200: Friday
1900: Saturday & Sunday

Vessel: Fastcraft
Crossing Time: 2 hours 40 minutes

Isle of Man <> Liverpool March 7th - March 20th 2006

Isle of Man to Liverpool

0800: Friday-Saturday

1530: Sunday

Liverpool to Isle of Man

1345: Friday
1900: Saturday & Sunday

Vessel: Fastcraft
Crossing Time: 2 hours 40 minutes

Isle of Man <> Liverpool March 21st - March 26th 2006

Isle of Man to Liverpool

0800: Friday-Saturday

1530: Sunday

Liverpool to Isle of Man

1200: Friday
1900: Saturday & Sunday

Vessel: Fastcraft
Crossing Time: 2 hours 40 minutes

________________________________________________________________________

Heysham<>Isle of Man January 10th - March 6th 2006

Isle of Man to Heysham

0845: Daily
1945: Sunday-Friday
2000: Saturday (no 2000 sailing 21 January)

Heysham to Isle of Man

0215: Daily (no 0215 sailing 22 January)
1415: Daily

Vessel: Ben-my-Chree
Crossing time: 3 hours 30 minutes

Heysham<>Isle of Man March 7th - March 20th 2006


Isle of Man to Heysham

0845: Monday-Thursday

Vessel: Fastcraft
Crossing time: 2 hours

Heysham to Isle of Man

0215: 7 March only

Vessel: Ben-my-Chree
Crossing time: 3 hours 30 minutes


1415: Monday-Thursday

Vessel: Fastcraft
Crossing time: 2 hours

Heysham<>Isle of Man March 21st - March 26th 2006


Isle of Man to Heysham

0845: Daily
1945: 23,24

2000: Saturday 25

Heysham to Isle of Man

0215: 23,24,25,26

1415: Daily

Vessel: Ben-my-Chree
Crossing time: 3 hours 30 minutes