Ageing ferry sees huge reduction in breakdowns
BBCAn ageing ferry that runs across England's largest lake has seen a dramatic reduction in the number of times it has needed to be taken out of service for repairs.
The Mallard, which carries foot passengers and cars across Windermere, Cumbria, was unable to operate for 83 days in the year starting in April 2024.
But in the 10 months to the end of January 2026, it was only out of action for 23 days. Its current closure will bring the last year's total to about 37.
Westmorland and Furness Council, which operates the ferry, spent £849,783 on maintenance and unplanned repairs since April 2024.
The authority referred the BBC to comments made previously in which it said "maintaining the reliability and safety" of the ferry was a "key priority".
The 36-year-old ferry typically takes 10 minutes to make the crossing between Ferry Nab in Bowness and Far Sawrey.
Figures obtained by the BBC through a freedom of information request (FOI) show between April 2024 and April 2025, the ferry was shut for 61 days for planned maintenance and 14 days for breakdowns.
But, between April 2025 and the end of January 2026, this dropped to three days for planned works and two and a half for breakdowns.
There were eight additional days of closures in 2024-25 and 17 in the 10 months from April 2025, but these were mostly due to bad weather.
It is expected to reopen on 9 March.
Westmorland and Furness Council said the current work was taking place at a typically quiet time for the ferry.
Data from the past three years shows August is usually the busiest month, with the ferry carrying upwards of 45,000 foot passengers and 12,000 vehicles.
The most recent February figures from 2024, when there was no maintenance, show more than 21,000 foot passengers and 6,400 vehicles made the crossing.
Between April last year and the end of January 2026, the Mallard carried more than 282,000 foot passengers and more than 85,300 vehicles.
Council lead highways operations manager George Sowerby, who has responsibility for the ferry, said cables were being replaced to address issues with components that drive the vessel's propulsion.
The work would "set us up for the next few months", he said.
"Hopefully we'll have very few if any maintenance problems over the summer months," he said.
During the service suspension, the council is also replacing the ferry's floor and putting in anti-slip surfaces to improve safety for the crew.
In February last year, the Liberal Democrat-led council said it would not move ahead with plans to replace the ferry.
But Sowerby believed in the future the council could "seriously consider" a replacement ferry.
The alternative would be another full refit to give the ferry another five years of service, he said.
Hawkshead gift shop manager Kim Painter said the land route to the village via Ambleside could get "a bit clogged up" at busy times when the ferry was not operating.
"I'm sure if you've got a brand new one, it won't have to be down for maintenance as much, so it would be really good," she said.
