What's Faster? The Woolwich Ferry or Foot Tunnel
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ย. 2024
- Woolwich has two ways of crossing the river - the Ferry (which is free to use for vehicles and pedestrians) and the foot tunnel for pedestrians. But which is the faster way across? Daniela and Geoff went out at the same time to find out ...
Read more here: londonist.com/2...
... as not everyone thinks the Ferry should free, or even exist at all if it's replaced by a bridge!
101 steps, probably equivalent to a 15 story building
Hopefully some of you will get this.
got it :-)
The Nerd
Whooooosh!
🤣
got it🤣🤣
But 126 coming out, probably 15 story too.
And No step count on the ferry?
I think Daniella was pleased she didn't have to suffocate in another tunnel 😂 You guys have the best London videos 🎉
techfan42 Lol ikr and in her first week 😂
As a child (born in West Ham) in the 60s,my Dad used to regularly drive us on to the ferry which was then steam driven. The highlight of the trip was going to view the beam engines through the large viewing windows - the smell of them is quite unique! We'd spend some time at the Charlton park and then enjoy the ferry back to the other side!
There is an old black and white movie here on youtube where some sea monster attacks and overturns the old Woolwich steam ferry. It is a long sequence showing the ferry. It really brought back memories:-)
My Grandfather retired from the Royal Navy in 1921, after 20+ years of service, he worked on the Woolwich Ferry, as he still wanted to have something to do with boats. He was a Naval Gunner and sailed the world. Thanks for the video guys!
Its crazy, when i used to go through that tunnel in the early 90's, it was SO different. It didn't have the painted tile, it was the old original almost dark yellow color tile and the lighting wasn't the LED type lights it was actualy very dark in comparison, it really looked freaky, it basically looked like a tunnel you'd imagine from 20's or something. Untouched. They'd painted everything white and added better lighting now though.
The lift was mad, as it was a PROPER old ass lift, with carpet in it, a gate you had to open etc, and there was a black dude in there in a uniform sitting on a seat on the wall bringing people up and down... Also, a 19 year old guy who worked on that Ernest Bevin ferry was killed in an accident caused by something that happened on that boat
Used to live down that way, a few minutes from the south side. One xmas day I walked the full loop, woolwich tunnel, canary wharf, greenwich tunnel and back to woolwich - legs sure felt that one! But usually the ferry just because I enjoy it.
Never counted the stairs before though, despite always using them!
Used to go through that tunnel all the time as a child... No real reason. Just seemed fun. There was also lift operators in the lifts a few times..
Geoff & Daniela made a wonderful and interesting video. The execution of the shooting is fresh and entertaining as well. Great job Geoff!
I came through the foot tunnel back from London City Airport when I lived in Woolwich in 2008.
It is quite scary and isolating late at night
This was my daily commute both on foot and on a bicycle (wheeling it through the tunnel) for many years. Always empty. Many times it is used as a film location substitute for Underground Stations. For the record, the lift operators made sure you didn't cycle through the tunnel and then try and catch the lift; through the power of CCTV, they would always make those who'd cycled carry their bikes up the stairs.
Carry bikes up stairs? I would never take my bike then i guess!
She has a pleasant smile :)
Bit too plastic looking tbh.
It's the plastered on, "I'm trying too hard" smile. How can you trust such a disingenuous face.
That lady is all teeth.
I think her teeth should have their own TH-cam channel.
This is my post lockdown day out , going by clipper, back by DLR
I'm shocked Geoff that you weren't aware of the Tunnel..
paintedpilgrim be fair it hasn't got a tube train in it 😉
Does Geoff just count the steps of every stair he walks down?
even in peoples homes?
XD
adam2011 40.41.42.43... Aha. My sisters rainy day fund. (Cracks Hole Into Wall). That explained it.
Only the tunnels. He does it partly for curiosity (to know roughly how deep they are) and also because on the tube sometimes it says '58 steps' and there's actually 61
ZarZDodge yes.
I've used the Woolwich ferry any number of times, but never knew there was a tunnel! It needs to be better advertised so people can use it more.
what isn't mentioned is that it's sort of "hidden" by the nearby Leisure Centre
Can not believe Geoff never knew about the Woolwich tunnel. I've often been through here and kids have been using it as a roller skate track because of the gradient. I do know of another tunnel under the Thames but it probably won't be safe enough to gain access to. It was an old steam tunnel between Battersea Power Station and a housing estate on the other side in Pimlico. Would be great to hear the history about that one even if you can't get access...
Great Video Geoff & Daniela. Done both the Ferry & Tunnel at some time in my life. Geoff, can we have more of Daniela doing films with you. What a lady! Really brighten by day watching Daniela being so bubbly. More More of Daniela PLEASE! Regards TONY
I think there is certainly a web series in looking at the Secrets of London's River Crossings. could start with Hammertons Ferry and Richmond Bridge and end up with the QE2 bridge and the Tilbury Gravesend Ferry.
Tilbury - Gravesend Ferry costs £2.50 one-way, the same with the Dartford Crossing. But did you know that there was going to be a tunnel built between the two sides? They started it, but never finished it!
Chris Cockram yeah
Note: The foot tunnel has only just finished its renovation, measured in chains, (22 yards) which is unusual. The lifts used to be manned many years ago ( 1980-82) on the Greenwich foot tunnel, maybe Woolwich as well. Also one of the Ferries was named after Nye Bevan which always brings a tear to my eye as most British people are very proud of the NHS that he founded ( with the 1945-51 Labour Party). Great cafe near the King George V DLR station for a great fry up, full of local workers and residents of a very run down area, that is struggling...Tough area. South Woolwich seems to be coming up in the world...Strange, but true fact..North Woolwich up until the 1960's was officially part of Kent... even though its North of the river....long story....
Done Greenwich (when I was 12), done Wollwich Ferry many times, never the tunnel, didn't know it was there. Keep up the good work! :)
Daniela has a nice smile and not bad looking. Thanks Geoff for introducing us to her.
I remember when the old boy was a lift operator used to call him captain and the lifts was all wooden inside with a gate style doors
It was a beautiful lift with wooden Panelling dating from the original opening of tunnel.
I have lived in North Woolwich ("The other side") since 1981. You video was very good.
I used to use that a lot back in the 60's. Amazing that the ferry is still FREE
Do you remember the old steam ferry?
@@tjm3900 Can't say I was that interested to notice back them
I can't believe this.
Do you mean that you actually managed to find a day when the tide wasn't too high for the ferry?
Or they didn't have technical issues?
Or staffing issues?
Or they weren't training someone?
Or were waiting for repairs?
Or were waiting for parts?
Or they had only one ferry working but had to stop it for operational reasons?
Used the ferry quite a lot when i have been down that way, makes a change from using the Dartford crossing to get north or south of the river, but always wanted to walk through the tunnel but couldn't as there is nowhere to park the truck, and now i've seen down there, I don't have to thanks to you both.
Oh and I've known about the foot tunnel for 20 odd years and I live in Yorkshire lol.
wow! I just love this hidden stuff. I'm not a Londoner but you keep giving me more stuff to do every time I'm down that way!!! thank you
I'm surprised that Geoff did not know about the Woolwich Foot Tunnel. Previously you did a video about walks round London. The foot tunnel is on both the Jubilee Greenway walk and the Capital Ring.
I went through the tunnel once, back in the days of silverlink and the North London Line going through to Woolwich. Now of course the DLR goes to Woolwich Arsenel which is already the other side of the river!
"It's a tunnel, oh nice" - lol.
Another nice little vid. Cheers.
I used the ferry or tunnel every day when I was at Thames Polytechnic for three years and agree with your conclusion re tunnel vs ferry. If the ferry was there waiting take it....
Mike Gomm big up Thames Poly!
Interesting. For safety reasons as a lone traveller I'd probably take the ferry but it would be fun to do the tunnel if there were plenty of other people around.
We were there the other week! My main concern regarding both the Woolwich and the Greenwich foot tunnels are the speeding cyclists who flout the rules.
Finally. A video that answers the question which I, someone who doesn’t even live in England, needed answered.
Fact is ( at May 2022) - the Woolich tunnel is always open 24/7 and lifts are regularly maintained, the ferry now runs with one boat only ( half-hour service ) and is closed at nights, weekends and bank holidays.
Really enjoying these newer videos. I subscribed for the underground but stayed for content like this :)
It is my daily commute and I take the tunnel, even when the blasted lifts are out of service. That climb gets the blood pumping, especially when you're doing it with gritted teeth thanks to the 'gifts' others have left in the stairwell...
As always, a really good video.
I must say that Daniela is really superb. I love her big bright smile.
Been using that tunnel off and on for 35 years.
That mile wide smile though. Adorable.
I took the Greenwich foot tunnel last September. I'd only take the ferry if the lifts break down. I love to walk across the river in a pedestrian tube!
This needs updating, now it's a no-brainer since they got the new boats with all their computer controlled automatic self-docking technology.
You could crawl through the tunnel quicker while those buggers take absolutely FOREVER to get in and out!!
Daniela always looks extremely happy :-)
I like her smile...makes me happy. Nice vid guys.
I'd love to see more race videos like this. Where I live in Harrow to where I work in near Paddington there's about 5 or 6 different routes that are all within 10 minutes of each other. I'd love to see these compared.
Surprised you didn't mention the old North Woolwich Station which is just across the road from the tunnel! It's in a sad state now..
Thanks to crossrail
I never knew about that tunnel! Good video the both of u 👍
how about you two going to Chislehurst caves, which was excavated by druids. and even today they haven't found all the caves
They filmed an episode of the professionals on the wool which ferry, I have parked my truck for a break in the car park and ridden on the ferry by foot (it passed the time)
Great videos! Secrets of the tunnels coming up I hope.. :)
London needs more foot tunnels.
"Pulling in"? That must be a new nautical term that I've never heard in all my years afloat. Joking aside, I do like these videos, sometimes a bit daft, but often gives some really useful information.
That is so weird! I have known for a long time about the woolwich tunnel, but had NO IDEA there was a similar one at Grenwich. Is that weird that I have only heard of and been to that one? Also, matching camcorders, good taste.
good fun also.
I would take the tunnel or the ferry away from Woolwich, and never return.
to North Woolwich? LMAO
Oh god that camera switching at the beginning made me dizzy.
You sound like my dad commenting on a music video in the 80's...
could Daniela's smile be any bigger. one seriously happy person
This tunnel was closed for half of 2010 and the entire of 2011. At the same time, the Greenwich foot tunnel was closed at nights for repairs, and the Woolwich ferry didn't run at night. It was very very frustrating as a pedestrian who likes to go running in the evenings. I hope they never do that again.
The foot tunnel entrance is almost 200 meters from the ferry, and the foot tunnel itself only 500 metres long. So this is closer to Woolwich Ferry vs half the foot tunnel.
Great video
You should try out another tunnel which is the Greenwich foot tunnel. This one you can race with the DLR trains. :)
U can race the DLR trains at woolwich between WAL and KGV
I was in Woolwich late 1979 up at the road a bit and did the tunnel and ferry alot just because we could
I bet Daniela edited the video together. The editing style matches her quirky personality.
Geoff edited the video.
Londonist Ltd it's good editing
I've carried my bike and Snowie my Bichon Frise doggy pal up and down those stairs when the tunnel was undergoing repairs and the lift wasn't working it nearly killed me 😀. The old lift that was replaced by that horrid metal one about 10 years ago was a beautiful period Art Deco one,and was operated by a lift attendant usually a disabled person its such a shame it was replaced.
Looking back at this, Woolwich has new ferries you should check out. Designed and built in Poland
Geoff can you please do the Greenwich tunnel. I've been down it before and it's amazing
the answer is: it depends how fit you are.
Wow, stunned by that woman's smile.
The Thames barrier has a foot tunnel, although not open to the public.
My first job was to do a street survey for Serco to negotiate their settlement to run the DLR, where we had to ask people on the Woolwich Ferry.
Surprised Geoff didn't know about the existence of the Woolwich Foot Tunnel.
I am from abroad and knew about both...this is crazy.
When they are together please just use one camera. It feels like two people standing right next to each other were talking with mobiles to each other.
vicki looked different in this one!!
I never knew there was a Woolwich foot tunnel !
There's also the Greenwich foot tunnel. I remember my lit prof took us down it one day.
Your comment was exactly what I was looking for as I scrolled down. I was sure someone must have mentioned it by now.
you can technically go down the Dartford tunnel if you have a bike
THIS (they load it on a minibus and drive you through)
Interesting video
Geoff. I can't believe you didn't know about the Woolwich foot tunnel. I guess even 'king geeks' so they are mortal from time to time ;-).
Shame to think Geoff was so close to the North Woolwich Old Station Museum but out by about 10 years.....
…now that’s funny! sometimes the best videos are the simplest ones created from funny anecdotes
Don't forget the Greenwich foot tunnel. From Cutty Sark to Isle of Dogs.
I remember cycling from Dagenham Heathway to Woolwich when I was a child
There are the canal tunnels (the ones with towpaths).
Wished they replaced the quaint curiosity that is the Woolwich Ferry with a bridge as was proposed prior to WW2, though admittingly it would not really be an alternative to the more useful Gallions Reach Crossing.
We all know Geoff took the stairs so he could count them, but if you're going for speed should you wait for the lift or take the stairs?
Yay my hometown :)
I live super close to Woolwich Ferry :)
Foot Tunnel!? No thanks. I’ll cross on the ferry and if I’ve just missed one then I’ll wait.
I’d genuinely rather swim across than go in that foot tunnel.
It's funny I lived in London all my life and in knew about Woolwich all that time. But I didn't know there was a Greenwich one.
I've a feeling there may have been a foot tunnel near the Tower of London, but not open. Seems like I saw a building like the steps entrance to the Woolwich and Greenwich tunnels? Maybe not?
Went through there this summer during a visit to London when we did "things normal tourists don't do".
Many times I went through that tunnel 100 steps 2 at a time up them
I'm going to spend a day riding Woolwich ferry back and forth.
I didn't know there was a tunnel or a ferry...
You need to do this again, now that there is a new ferry, the new ferry might be faster than the old one.
The 156steps in the tunnel is the same as 15storeys
Daniela joined Londonist, despite not knowing much about London...
Eh, I wish her luck!
On the older ferries you used to be able to look into the engine room
Great video 👍 what were the lights in the tunnel on the ceiling that turn from green to red & back for?
Mike Beevers They're always on. They illuminate the area when the bright lights are switched off, not that they would be in regular service
Cutty sark to island gardens which is quicker DLR or the Greenwich foot tunnel
I'd say DLR as I think Island Gardens is slightly further to walk to since it was "sent" underground... that's assuming you don't miss one....
I've heard cycling through blackwall is fun. Also I was hoping for some facts about North Woolwich station from Geoff.
It's a video about what's faster - the Ferry or the Foot Tunnel, not North Woolwich station.
***** yeah... but you can see it from the tunnel entrance. Thought something might have been slipped in.
Londonist Ltd did Daniela get in to a bit of trouble by not siting while the ferry was moving
The cruise liner to Silvertown. It sounds more exotic.
Is this the inspiration for the Hamburg alten Elptunnel?
If you are driving, it's quicker to drive to the Blackwall tunnel and back!
Kimball Johnson Try that at 8 in the morning.
+1 for that!!!
Yeah that's if you're driving at midnight when there's no traffic.
I've done that just for the sake of it: One way over Tower Bridge, the other way through the Blackwall Tunnel at 2AM on a bank holiday Monday. :)
@@reggiewac on a motorbike it's just as quick at 8, I'd imagine it's only slightly longer by bicycle. 2 wheeled transport in london is so underrated.