New Water Taxis in service Monday; one way fare goes from $15 to $20

Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner on Friday commissioned four new Water Taxis that will go into service on Monday.

The Calypso Sprinter, Trini Flash, Paria Bullet and the Carnival Runner will replace two second-hand vessels which the previous Manning government bought to launch the service in December 2008. The old vessels will be sold in a public auction.

In an address at the commissioning ceremony, Warner announced that the one-way fare between San Fernando and Port-of-Spain would increase by five dollars - to $20. He also announced that the service will be extended in a few months to La Brea in the south and make a stop at Chaguanas.

The government decided not to extend the service to Point Fortin because the Trinmar port is unsafe for the vessels due to the gas and other fuel lines there.

The four new ferries were built by Austal Ships PTY of Australia at a cost of about $400 million. They can carry 405 passengers at a speed of 37.5 knots, travelling from Port-of-Spain to San Fernando in about 45 minutes. The service will move about 7,000 passengers daily.