Paddle Steamer Resources by Tramscape : Paddle Steamer Magazine

Lake Geneva in June 2007

It was with some optimism that both the CGN, operators of the paddle steamers, and enthusiast groups approached the 2007 summer season.

The CGN had recently reported on a successful year in 2006, with increased revenue, increased patronage and increased ship milage leading to a slightly improved financial result, with revenue now covering 78% of costs, up from 77% the year previously and 76.4% in 2004. The increase in passengers to 1.6 million compared with 1.53 million was attributed in part to the sucessof the new timetable, which took into account new regulations limiting the length of the working day, and which concentrated on cruises of approximately 3 hours duration rather than the full day cruises which had previously been offered from both ends of the lake. With MPV Italie withdrawn from service after the 2005 season, the long cruises from the Upper Lake were withdrawn, with La Suisse running from Geneva as far as Vevey only, and missing out the French coast with the exception of Yvoire. With the new timetable being retained for 2007, the GCN were looking towards further progress, especially with the two new motor vessels Lavaux and Morges bedded into service and the first new "Navibus", motor ship Coppet opening up the first new high-speed "public transport" services from Geneva to Nyon and Yvoire.

For preservationists, the gloom of 2005, when Italie's withdrawal was confirmed and her motor paddler partner Vevey's retirement planned for the end of the 2006 season, has now lifted somewhat. 2006 saw successful new capital subscriptions to the CGN, in which the ABVL (the main paddle steamer supporters' group) took a substantial shareholding leading to the appointment of former ABVL president Yves de Siebenthal to the board of the CGN. The close cooperation between the CGN and the ABVL which really established itself when emergency funds were raised for the repair of Simplon's exploded boiler in 2004 has taken a further step forward and the success of the capital subscription has allowed the CGN to progress not only its plans for new "public transport" links on the lake, but also to secure not only the full refit of the paddle steamer La Suisse (between 2007 and 2009), but the continued operation of Vevey until she follows La Suisse into the dockyard for an overhaul which secures her medium term future. This year marks Vevey's 100th anniversary. The situation has changed to the extent that the CGN officially noted in its Annual Report for 2006 that it was not inconceivable that in the longer term, MPV Italie would also be receiving the work which would ensure her future as well. The ABVL, which has the objective of saving all eight "Belle-Epoche" paddlers is now less pessimistic that the paddler Helvetie, laid up since 2002, can also be saved, although she requires complete re-motoring, or possibly the reintroduction of a steam engine. Because of her large size, there remains the problem of finding a role for her in any future timetable, but if passenger numbers continue to grow, her ultimate reintroduction cannot be ruled out.