Ferry suspension extended until at least mid-April
NexusThe earliest a ferry service could be reinstated following storm damage is now mid-April, its operator has said.
The Shields Ferry, which runs across the River Tyne between North Shields and South Shields, has been suspended since 29 January after Storm Chandra damaged its north landing.
Operator Nexus had already extended its estimate of when it would be repaired, initially saying it would take until the end of February, and then until the end of March.
It said the suspension would be extended to allow for "further essential monitoring and analysis". A replacement bus is running and ferry tickets are also being accepted on the Tyne and Wear Metro.
Nexus said the repairs on the landing were "largely complete", but movement monitoring systems still needed to be fitted.
"Depending on this analysis, the earliest the ferry landing could reopen is mid-April," it said.
Head of customer service operations John Souter apologised for the ongoing disruption.
"Having monitoring in place is hugely important and is a key element in safely bringing the landing back into operation," he said.
Separately, a long awaited new north landing at North Shields Fish Quay is expected to open in 2027 following years of warnings overs its condition.
