Ferry service to be shut at least another month

Jason Arunn MurugesuNorth East and Cumbria
News imageBBC The Shields Ferry, a white and blue boat which has Pride of the Tyne written on the back of it. It has an indoor level, with an outdoor level above it. It is coming into one of the landings which is surrounded by a blue and white fence. One person is waiting by the barriers.BBC
The Shields Ferry has not been running since late January due to damage to a landing point

A ferry service which has not been running since late January will remain suspended for at least another month, its operator said.

The Shields Ferry, which runs across the River Tyne between North Shields and South Shields, has been closed since 29 January due to damage to its north landing caused during Storm Chandra.

Operator Nexus's head of customer service operations, John Souter, said repairs on the bolts connecting the landing to the walkway were taking "more time to fix than we first anticipated".

A replacement bus service is running and ferry tickets are also being accepted on Metro services.

Nexus said the landing required "significant ongoing structural repair" following inspections from maritime specialists.

Souter apologised for the inconvenience caused by the service suspension.

"Please be assured our team is working hard on this issue," he said.

After years of warnings and repeated delays in the effort to replace the north landing, a new one at the North Shields Fish Quay is expected to open in 2027 at a cost of £24m.

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