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Transport in Guernsey

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Guernsey is the second largest of the Channel Islands. It is part of the Common Travel Area, allowing passport-free travel to and from the United Kingdom, Jersey, the Isle of Man or Ireland. Travel to the Schengen Area of Europe requires a passport or an EU national identity document and from 2025 entry to the Schengen Area will require compliance with the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) and non EU citizens may need a visa. Entry from the Schengen Area requires a passport, except when a concession is in place for short trips to Guernsey, when an EU ID card is acceptable.

This article includes some references to Alderney, Herm and Sark, which are part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey.

Road transport

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Ruette Tranquille sign

Traffic in Guernsey drives on the left. Roads are generally narrow, with an all-island speed limit of 35 miles per hour (56 km/h), however lower speed limits apply on certain roads. There are seasonal speed limit changes which sees the speed limit of 35 miles per hour reduced to 25 miles per hour (40 km/h) on some coast roads during the summer months.[1] Some smaller roads have a recommended speed of 15 miles per hour (24 km/h), not enforced legally. These roads are designated as Ruette Tranquille [2]

Motor tax was abolished in Guernsey from 1 January 2008. Vehicle registration plates in Guernsey carry between one and five numerals only; the international identification sticker/plate is "GBG".

Most road markings are the same as the UK, with the exception of:

  • A yellow line across the exit of a minor road means stop and give way to traffic on the major road. A yellow arrow painted on the road gives warning of a yellow stop line ahead.
  • Junctions marked filter-in-turn. At these junctions all directions have equal priority.
  • Yellow kerb side no stopping lines are single lines and mean you must not stop for any reason, other than to avoid an accident.

Buses

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CT Plus Guernsey Bus
Former Guernsey bus - now preserved UK

Bus services are operated by CT Plus Guernsey on behalf of the Environment Department of the States of Guernsey (the island's government). CT Plus was acquired by Tower Transit, owned by Kelsian Group, in September 2022 following the administration and subsequent collapse of CT Plus's parent company HCT Group.[3] [4] The service is currently branded as Buses.gg, with all service routes operating to and from the Town Terminus Bus Station in St Peter Port.

Services will soon be operated by Stagecoach from April 2025.[5]

Vehicles used are based on buses used in the UK but with a slightly narrower construction, to allow them to circulate on the island's narrow roads, with the legal limit of 2.31 meters (7' 6¾"). Several narrower (and shorter) StreetVibe buses arrived from May 2017 onwards.[6]

Most bus fares have a fixed price of £1.50 per journey,[7] however fares also alternate depending on service types. Payments can only be made by contactless or by 'Puffin Pass', these passes come in different varieties covering Pay As You Go which is reduced to 75p, unlimited travel for a day or more, student passes for ages 5-16, concession cards for ages 65+ and family travel passes. 1.65m journeys were taken in 2016.[8] Bus usage increased year on year reaching a record high of 2 million journeys in 2019. However, usage subsequently fell due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2023, monthly usage was higher than pre-pandemic levels for the first time.[9]

Private hire coaches and coach tours are available primarily from Island Coachways, and other companies.

Cycling

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Cycling is encouraged in Guernsey and there are various cycle routes and paths on the island including a dedicated cycle route that runs along the island's east coast between Bulwer Avenue in St Sampson and the Weighbridge Roundabout in St Peter Port, with shared pedestrian usage. There are other routes in the north of the island.[10]

Ruettes Tranquilles provide safer and more pleasant cycle-friendly roads. The States of Guernsey provides details of cycling laws and recommendations for safety as well as details of cycle hire businesses.

Cycling is common on Sark due to the island's ban on cars. Bicycles can be hired from local bike hire companies.

Taxis

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Guernsey has a regulated, licensed taxi service based at ranks in central St Peter Port and at Guernsey Airport. Taxis can also be called or phoned.

Accessible taxis capable of transporting a wheelchair passenger and with improved lighting to assist people who may have a visual impairment are available.

Visit Guernsey website has a list of taxi operators.

Carbon output

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With effect from 2030 the sale of new combustion engine cars will be banned, this forms part of the net-zero climate change plan.[11]

Air transport

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Guernsey Airport is located 3 miles (5 km) south-west of St Peter Port, the island's capital. It has direct flights throughout the year to many United Kingdom and International destinations.[12]

Alderney Airport has regular scheduled flights to Southampton and Guernsey

Both airports have private aircraft facilities and annual air rallies.

Maritime transport

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Main article: Maritime history of the Channel Islands

Condor Ferries operate services to Poole and Portsmouth in England, St Malo in France, and to Jersey. Condor Ferries became the main operator to the UK following the closure of British Channel Island Ferries in 1994. Previously Sealink (and its railway ferries predecessors) had been the main operator for many decades. Freight goes on a traditional ferry via Portsmouth.

The French company Manche Îles Express operates a summer passenger-only ferry service between Guernsey and three small ports in Normandy, France: Barneville-Carteret, Diélette and Granville. Not every port is served daily.

The Isle of Sark Shipping Company operates small ferries to Sark. The service takes up to 45 minutes for the 9 miles (14 km) crossing.

The Trident Charter Company operates small ferries to Herm all year round.[13]

The Alderney Ferry Service operates services between Guernsey Alderney and Cherbourg during summer months.[14] The company has announced it will introduce year-round operations, along with a new ferry towards the end of August 2024.[15]

Channel Seaways operates freight routes between Poole, Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney.

Railways

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Alderney

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Main article: Alderney Railway

The Alderney Railway provides a rail link of approximately two miles, with a regular timetabled service during the summer months and at seasonal festivals including Easter and Christmas. It is now the only working railway on the Channel Islands to provide a public transport link. It is also one of the oldest railways in the British Isles, dating from 1847, and carried Queen Victoria and Prince Albert as the first 'official' passengers in 1857.[16]

There is also a 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) gauge miniature railway on Alderney, which operates during the summer months.[17]

Guernsey

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Main article: Rail transport in Guernsey

There are currently no railway services on Guernsey. The Guernsey Railway, which was virtually an electric tramway, and which began working on 20 February 1892, was abandoned on 9 June 1934. It replaced an earlier transport system which was worked by steam, and was named the Guernsey Steam Tramway. The latter began service on 6 June 1879 with six locomotives.[18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Seasonal speed limit and traffic management changes - States of Guernsey".
  2. ^ "Road safety".
  3. ^ "Islands Bus Acquisition Unlocks Growth Potential for Tower Transit". Tower Transit UK -. Tower Transit (Kelsian Group). October 2022.
  4. ^ "HCT Group enters administration". Coach and Bus Week magazine. 4 October 2022.
  5. ^ "Stagecoach to take over as bus operator in April". Guernsey Press. 10 September 2024.
  6. ^ "Narrower buses from May". Guernsey Press. 12 April 2017.
  7. ^ "Bus fare increases to go ahead". BBC UK. 26 September 2023.
  8. ^ "Number of bus passengers reaches record high in 2016". Guernsey Press. 12 January 2017.
  9. ^ "Guernsey monthly bus use increases for first time since pandemic". BBC News. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  10. ^ "Walking & Cycling in Guernsey - States of Guernsey".
  11. ^ "Island follows UK in cutting combustion". Guernsey press. 25 November 2020.
  12. ^ "Destinations". www.airport.gg. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Travel Trident - Daily Service to Herm Island". www.traveltrident.com. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  14. ^ Services, Alderney Ferry. "Alderney Ferry Services". Alderney Ferry Services.
  15. ^ "Island to introduce year-round ferry service". 30 July 2024.
  16. ^ See references at the Island tourist website.
  17. ^ See miniature railway webpage here.
  18. ^ Notes on the Railway taken from The Railway Magazine, September 1934 edition
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