Shields Ferry off for longer as Nexus confirms suspension to continue
The Shields Ferry will be out of action for at least another month.
Transport bosses were forced to suspend the ferry service, between North and South Shields, on January 29 because of damage suffered to bolts at its north landing during Storm Chandra.
And operator Nexus has now confirmed that the closure will need to continue until the end of March at the earliest.
Officials say that the North Shields landing at Smiths Dock is in need of “significant ongoing structural repair work” following more detailed inspections and that they are “working hard to get the landing back into use as soon as possible”.
A new landing next to the North Shields Fish Quay to replace the existing one is due to open in 2027, at a cost of £24 million.
There had long been warnings that the ferry link was at risk of being lost forever without that new landing, with the project running into years of delays and escalating costs as transport chiefs and local politicians tried to secure the funding needed to build it.
While that work is now going ahead, the more immediate operation of the ferry remains shrouded in uncertainty.
A bus replacement service via the Tyne Tunnel is running while the ferry is off, but is considerably slower than the seven-minute boat journey.
John Souter, head of customer service operations at Nexus, said: “Unfortunately, the temporary closure of the Shields Ferry will continue until at least the end of March due to the extensive storm damage on the north landing.
“We appreciate that this is frustrating for our customers and we’re sorry for the inconvenience caused. Please be assured our team is working hard on this issue.
“The repair work on the bolts which connect the landing to the walkway is significant, and this is taking more time to fix than we first anticipated, following detailed inspections by our own engineers and independent consultants.
“The closure is a safety precaution and this is our top priority while we undertake these works.
“The Shields Ferry is a vital local transport link and we are determined to get it back up and running for our customers and the communities that it serves as soon as possible.”
Cyclists trying to cross the river are being told to use the Tyne Pedestrian Tunnel instead, as bikes are not allowed on the replacement buses, but that is further up river between Jarrow and Howdon.