Nelson-Wellington ferry service scuttled

Hopes for a new Nelson-Wellington fast ferry service have been dashed.

Tranz Rail Interisland Line's Thomas Davis says the figures do not stack up. An investigation shows that just 130,000 people and 43,000 vehicles a year are likely to switch to the new service.

That is 2 1/2 times short of what is needed to make the service viable.

Nelson city councillor Eric Davy raised the possibility of introducing the service in February, initially as an alternative to the speed-hampered route to Picton.