Shields Ferry back in action soon
Shields Ferry back on tomorrow after almost three months out of action due to storm damage
The Shields Ferry will be back in action tomorrow – after almost three months without running.
Transport bosses have confirmed that the ferry service between North and South Shields will resume from Monday, April 27.
It has been off since January 29 because of damage to its north landing caused by Storm Chandra.
Bosses at operator Nexus confirmed that repairs have now been completed and that the first service will leave South Shields at 6.45am on Monday morning.
Cathy Massarella, managing director of Nexus, said: “I’m very pleased to confirm that the Shields Ferry will be returning to service next week. This will come into effect from Monday at 6.45am at our South Shields landing. A normal timetable will be in place.
“As always, safety is our top priority and we’re confident we’re in a place to welcome back the public. However, the landing remains an aged asset. The work we’ve carried out prolongs its use, but people can be reassured we are keeping a very close eye on the structure using this monitoring equipment.
“My thanks go to our customers and the wider community that the Ferry serves for their patience during the service suspension. The Shields Ferry is a vital local transport link. It’s great to restore the service in time for the bank holiday weekend and the summer. We’re looking forward to welcoming customers back on board.”
The ferry’s North Shields landing at Smiths Dock was left in need of “significant” structural repair work following the storm, which damaged bolts connecting the landing to a walkway.
Nexus confirmed that new monitoring equipment has been installed to “observe any noticeable movement and will identify if any future temporary suspensions of the service need to happen”.
The state of the landing, which was modernised in 2004, has been a major concern for some time.
After repeated warnings that its deteriorating condition left the ferry service at risk of permanent closure, funding was eventually secured for a replacement to be built closer to the North Shields Fish Quay.
That project, which will cost £24 million, is expected to be completed in 2027. It suffered repeated setbacks that caused the vision to be delayed by several years, during which time its price tag dramatically increased from just £8.8 million quoted in 2020.
A grant for £5.6 million awarded to Nexus from the Government’s Getting Building Fund was lost because it was tied to “strict” timescales requiring construction to be finished by spring 2022, while the new landing was also part of an unsuccessful Levelling Up Fund bid from North Tyneside Council before North East mayor Kim McGuinness stepped in with cash to deliver the scheme.
The cost of the repairs at the current landing is yet to be confirmed.