The diesel electric paddlers Italie and Vevey have both been very active this winter and this is set to continue into March with one or other, and sometimes both, continuing to be scheduled to provide weekday ferry connections between Lausanne, Evian and Thonon as well as some weekend trips for the excursion market from Geneva and Lausanne.
Italie is currently scheduled in March for the early morning runs for the Frontaliers on weekdays away from Lausanne at 04.35, 06.25 and 08.25 and then again in the afternoon at 14.25, 16.25, 18.25 and 20.25 up to 20th March after which Vevey takes over.
Vevey is in reserve and in February sometimes took over from the scheduled Italie. For example on Thursday 20th February when I was there Italie was down to run all day but only took the early morning trips to Thonon after which she returned to the shipyard with Vevey coming out to take the afternoon trips instead.
On Sundays up to 2nd March and on Saturdays and Sundays from 9th March Italie and Vevey are scheduled for excursions. Up to 16th March Italie is down to run from Le Bouveret at 10.35 calling at Montreux, Vevey, Cully, Pully and Lutry to arrive at Lausanne 12.20 for a 12.30 departure for St Gingolph and back along the north shore of the lake to Lausanne for 15.50 and then back to Le Bouveret for 17.53. And Vevey is rostered from Geneva Mont Blanc at 12.35 for Versoix, Coppet and Nyon returning to Geneva at 15.05. On Saturdays there are two extra cruises from Geneva at 15.30 and 16.35. From 22nd March, and for the rest of the month, the two ships swap rosters.
The veteran General Guisan, built in 1964, has emerged from a major rebuild with her internal accommodation transformed. She will be out on weekdays running between Lausanne and Evian.
Gone are her old tables and chairs for dining which have been replaced with very comfortable airline style seating making her more suitable for the busy Frontalier ferry services across the lake.
Both of the brand new large sister ferries are now in service but not very much so far anyway. Thonon Les Bains is down to run just two early morning round trips on weekdays away from Lausanne at 05.40 and 07.07 spending the rest of each day in the shipyard until Friday 21st March after which Evian Les Bains is due to take over this roster.
With all this activity and money being spent on the ships Lake Geneva is a little bit of a wonderland for those who like to get afloat, and particularly on a paddler, in winter. Both Italie and Vevey look so very well turned out with both of them having undergone complete rebuilds in 2012/13 and 2015/16 respectively during which they were stripped back to nothing and built up again with replacement steelwork and decks along the way as necessary. They have the feel about them of historic ships rebuilt to modern standards but retaining their characters and Belle Epoque elegance. A trip on either of them, or indeed on any of the Lake Geneva fleet, is a marvellous tonic to banish away any winter blues.
Kingswear Castle returned to service in 2023 after the first part of a major rebuild which is designed to set her up for the next 25 years running on the River Dart. The Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle Trust is now fund raising for the second phase of the rebuild. You can read more about the rebuilds and how you can help if you can here.
John Megoran
