Batobus
Encyclopedia
The Batobus was a boat service along the River Seine in the Paris region, with eight stops. The name is a trademark of Bateaux Parisiens. In 2006 –2007, it carried 843,000 passengers. In 2007 it was replaced by the Voguéo
of the Syndicat des transports d'Île-de-France (Paris Regional Transport).
In 1997, the contract was renewed for eleven years, for the tourist season, under the commercial name of "Batobus". Six stops were planned, four on the left bank of the Seine (the Rive Gauche)), and two on the right bank (the Rive Droit)). In the end two more were added, at the Jardin des Plantes
and the Eiffel Tower
. In 2001–2002, it had as many as 500,000 passengers.
In 2005, after being steadily extended, the service came to run throughout the year.. In 2007, the Syndicat des transports d'Île-de-France (STIF) bid to run the service, which Batobus won, to create a regular river boat service along the Seine. This service, named Voguéo
, was tried out for thirty-one months, from 1 June 2008 to 31 December 2010.
, Musée d'Orsay
, Saint-Germain-des-Prés
, Notre-Dame
, Jardin des Plantes
, Hôtel de Ville
, Louvre, and Champs-Élysées
.
The service ran from 10.30am until 16.30pm from November to March (5pm during the Christmas holidays) and from 10am to 7pm from March to November. In July and August, the service was extended in the evenings until 9.30pm. In high season, the frequency was increased from 30 to 15 minutes..
The service had eight boats, running at 6 nautical miles (11.1 km) at their fastest, the top speed being limited by the River Authority. Six trimaran
s, with two engines fore and aft, allowed 360° turns, essential to such a service. Boats could carry up to 200 passengers and a dozen bicycles. The boats had an open back, with space for bikes at the front. They had the names Vendôme, Odéon, Rivoli, Trocadéro, Bastille and Dauphine. The Dauphine was launched in July 2005. Two other river boats, with the carrying capacity of 150 passengers, were launched soon after, to complete the fleet.
The Batobus was a commercial service subject to commercial risk, but with controlled fares. Various fare formulae were proposed, for one-day, two-day or five-day tickets. In 2009, the fares changed from €12 to €17 regardless of how many days, with half price for children under sixteen. Even with the introduction of the Voguéo
, the Batobus refused to accept the common Paris travel tickets or the Passe Navigo, but gave discounts for those holding most of the common Paris tickets (the Carte Orange
, the Intégrale, the Imagine'R, the Émeraude and Améthyste and so on) and for students. There was also an annual season ticket, €55 in 2009, €35 euros for children under sixteen.
Most passengers on the Batobus were tourists: passengers living in Paris got a reduced fare, but it was estimated this made up no more than 5% of the total traffic. Traffic continued to increase; tickets were sold in 2007 –2008, for 1.6 million journeys (some tickets being used for more than one journey).
Voguéo
Voguéo was a water taxi service operated on the River Seine and the River Marne in the Île-de-France .The Syndicat des transports d'Île-de-France adopted the service in 2007. It started on 28 June 2008 between the Gare d'Austerlitz in the 13th arrondissement of Paris and the École Vétérinaire de...
of the Syndicat des transports d'Île-de-France (Paris Regional Transport).
History
The service was created by the Secretary of State for Transport in 1989, as part of the bicentennial celebrations of the French Revolution. The Paris Port Authority (Port autonome de Paris), took a biding monopoly contract. Between 1989 and 1996, the service had about 100,000 passengers annually.In 1997, the contract was renewed for eleven years, for the tourist season, under the commercial name of "Batobus". Six stops were planned, four on the left bank of the Seine (the Rive Gauche)), and two on the right bank (the Rive Droit)). In the end two more were added, at the Jardin des Plantes
Jardin des Plantes
The Jardin des Plantes is the main botanical garden in France. It is one of seven departments of the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle. It is situated in the 5ème arrondissement, Paris, on the left bank of the river Seine and covers 28 hectares .- Garden plan :The grounds of the Jardin des...
and the Eiffel Tower
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is a puddle iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. Built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world...
. In 2001–2002, it had as many as 500,000 passengers.
In 2005, after being steadily extended, the service came to run throughout the year.. In 2007, the Syndicat des transports d'Île-de-France (STIF) bid to run the service, which Batobus won, to create a regular river boat service along the Seine. This service, named Voguéo
Voguéo
Voguéo was a water taxi service operated on the River Seine and the River Marne in the Île-de-France .The Syndicat des transports d'Île-de-France adopted the service in 2007. It started on 28 June 2008 between the Gare d'Austerlitz in the 13th arrondissement of Paris and the École Vétérinaire de...
, was tried out for thirty-one months, from 1 June 2008 to 31 December 2010.
Service
The Batobus served the following stops: Eiffel TowerEiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is a puddle iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. Built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world...
, Musée d'Orsay
Musée d'Orsay
The Musée d'Orsay is a museum in Paris, France, on the left bank of the Seine. It is housed in the former Gare d'Orsay, an impressive Beaux-Arts railway station built between 1898 and 1900. The museum holds mainly French art dating from 1848 to 1915, including paintings, sculptures, furniture,...
, Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Saint-Germain-des-Prés is an area of the 6th arrondissement of Paris, France, located around the church of the former Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés....
, Notre-Dame
Notre Dame de Paris
Notre Dame de Paris , also known as Notre Dame Cathedral, is a Gothic, Roman Catholic cathedral on the eastern half of the Île de la Cité in the fourth arrondissement of Paris, France. It is the cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of Paris: that is, it is the church that contains the cathedra of...
, Jardin des Plantes
Jardin des Plantes
The Jardin des Plantes is the main botanical garden in France. It is one of seven departments of the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle. It is situated in the 5ème arrondissement, Paris, on the left bank of the river Seine and covers 28 hectares .- Garden plan :The grounds of the Jardin des...
, Hôtel de Ville
Hôtel de Ville, Paris
The Hôtel de Ville |City Hall]]) in :Paris, France, is the building housing the City of Paris's administration. Standing on the place de l'Hôtel de Ville in the city's IVe arrondissement, it has been the location of the municipality of Paris since 1357...
, Louvre, and Champs-Élysées
Champs-Élysées
The Avenue des Champs-Élysées is a prestigious avenue in Paris, France. With its cinemas, cafés, luxury specialty shops and clipped horse-chestnut trees, the Avenue des Champs-Élysées is one of the most famous streets and one of the most expensive strip of real estate in the world. The name is...
.
The service ran from 10.30am until 16.30pm from November to March (5pm during the Christmas holidays) and from 10am to 7pm from March to November. In July and August, the service was extended in the evenings until 9.30pm. In high season, the frequency was increased from 30 to 15 minutes..
The service had eight boats, running at 6 nautical miles (11.1 km) at their fastest, the top speed being limited by the River Authority. Six trimaran
Trimaran
A trimaran is a multihulled boat consisting of a main hull and two smaller outrigger hulls , attached to the main hull with lateral struts...
s, with two engines fore and aft, allowed 360° turns, essential to such a service. Boats could carry up to 200 passengers and a dozen bicycles. The boats had an open back, with space for bikes at the front. They had the names Vendôme, Odéon, Rivoli, Trocadéro, Bastille and Dauphine. The Dauphine was launched in July 2005. Two other river boats, with the carrying capacity of 150 passengers, were launched soon after, to complete the fleet.
The Batobus was a commercial service subject to commercial risk, but with controlled fares. Various fare formulae were proposed, for one-day, two-day or five-day tickets. In 2009, the fares changed from €12 to €17 regardless of how many days, with half price for children under sixteen. Even with the introduction of the Voguéo
Voguéo
Voguéo was a water taxi service operated on the River Seine and the River Marne in the Île-de-France .The Syndicat des transports d'Île-de-France adopted the service in 2007. It started on 28 June 2008 between the Gare d'Austerlitz in the 13th arrondissement of Paris and the École Vétérinaire de...
, the Batobus refused to accept the common Paris travel tickets or the Passe Navigo, but gave discounts for those holding most of the common Paris tickets (the Carte Orange
Carte orange
The Carte orange was a pass for the public transportation system in Paris and the surrounding Île-de-France region. A holder of the pass is entitled to unlimited use of the public transit system within a given period of time, with Cartes oranges being available for durations of one week or one month...
, the Intégrale, the Imagine'R, the Émeraude and Améthyste and so on) and for students. There was also an annual season ticket, €55 in 2009, €35 euros for children under sixteen.
Most passengers on the Batobus were tourists: passengers living in Paris got a reduced fare, but it was estimated this made up no more than 5% of the total traffic. Traffic continued to increase; tickets were sold in 2007 –2008, for 1.6 million journeys (some tickets being used for more than one journey).