Waterbuses in Novosibirsk
The Novosibirsk waterbus system is a part of the public transport network of Novosibirsk, Russia.
History
In 1910, the municipal authorities bought the steamship "Novonikolayevsk" for the organisation of a ferry between right and left banks of Ob. In 1919, "Novonikolayevsk" was replaced by the steamship "Brat'ya". The ferry was operational until the opening of the Kommunalny Bridge in 1955.In 1950s-1970s, there was a need to provide transport services between city center and dachas located in the Ob river valley within the city limits. This had given a boost to a development of the city waterbus transport system which reached its peak in the mid-1970s. At that time, Novosibirsk passenger fleet replenished with new hydrofoil boats such as Meteor type, Voskhod type, Raketa type and hydroplane pump-jet boats Zarya type.
Further development of the land passenger transport led to a ridership drop and a reduction of the number of routes of waterbus system.
Current status
Routes of Novosibirsk waterbus are operated by the only one private carrier, which is using displacement decked Moskva type ships. This carrier also serves suburban commuter routes to Berdsk and Sedova Zaimka.The Novosibirsk waterbus system includes the following routes:
- Novosibirsk River Passenger Terminal – Beach "Bugrinskaya Roshcha" – Korablik Island
- Novosibirsk River Passenger Terminal – Severo-Chemskoy residential area – Allotment garden community "Smorodinka" – Allotment garden community "Tikhie Zori"
- Novosibirsk River Passenger Terminal – Novosibirsk Waterpark.