Richard J. wrote:
Aidan Stanger wrote:
Richard J. wrote:

Brimstone wrote:
I accept that a different design would be needed for commuter
(compared to the current leisure) levels of traffic but why would
they be more difficult to design?

To accommodate tides of 7 metres or more, you would need ramps
totalling 90 - 100 metres long (to limit maximum gradient to the
DfT guideline maximum of 1 in 12), and sufficient of them to cope
with large passenger flows. It's not impossible, but it's a
significant constraint on the design, and may limit potential
capacity just because the piers would take up so much room.

So obviously you just ignore the DfT guideline maximum! 'Tis not a
problem when your vehicles are crew operated...

Are you suggesting the boat crew would assist passengers up, say, 50
metres at 1 in 6?

Not quite that much, but (at the less busy piers) that's the general idea.

That would increase dwell times even more.

Only when the tide is very low.

Anyway,
personal service like that is impracticable for a mass transit system.

It would be if many people needed it, but I doubt that would be the case.