IT WAS all aboard Alvechurch’s new electric day boat on Thursday morning (August 29) when Bromsgrove MP Bradley Thomas set sail on its maiden voyage.
The recently elected MP was invited to unveil ABC Boat Hire’s new environmentally friendly 36ft ‘Fun Day’ narrowboat with a short trip along the Worcester and Birmingham Canal, leaving from Alvechurch Marina.
Bradley Thomas said: “As well as being an important place for wildlife, the Worcester & Birmingham Canal makes an important contribution to the local economy, generating tourism, canalside and boating businesses and jobs.
“It was interesting to learn nationally there are now more boats on Britain’s canal network than during the Industrial Revolution, including over 1,000 boats for holiday and day hire.
“I’m delighted to be invited to see this exciting new electrically powered boat that will be available for both local people and visitors to the area – helping to boost our local economy and tourism sector.”
The boat uses lithium batteries and a 10Kw motor engine which are very quiet and allow passengers to experience the sounds of the countryside. There are two bookable trips.
The first includes a journey through the Worcestershire countryside to King’s Norton junction and back. The route passes the canalside Hopwood House Inn and the Bittell Reservoirs and the return journey takes about 4.5 hours.
There are no locks along the route, but the journey includes passing through the 2,726 yard long Wast Hill Tunnel.
And the second route will take passengers through the remains of the Forest of Arden to the top of the Tardebigge Flight of locks and back. Again the journey has no locks but will take passengers through two tunnels, the 613-yard long Shortwood Tunnel and the 518-yard Tardebigge Tunnel.
The boat has a toilet, indoor and outdoor seating and a kitchen area with induction hob, sink and microwave. So day boaters can pack a picnic afloat, or stop off at a canalside pub for lunch.
Haley Hadley, ABC Leisure Group’s marketing & sales director, added: “Britain’s beautiful network of inland waterways is important for biodiversity, and the wildlife that you can see is one of the things that makes holidays and days out on the canals so appealing.
“We’re committed to reducing the carbon footprint of our holidays and ‘Fun Day’ is the fifth electric day boat to be added to our fleet.”
Trips accomodate up to 10 people. Prices start at £99.
