Ferry cuts blamed on 'unexpected bad luck'

There are currently no crossings on the Shields Ferry after 18:00 GMT

A decision to scrap evening crossings on the Shields Ferry until at least January has been blamed on a "random series of unexpected bad luck".

Tyne and Wear Metro operator Nexus brought in a reduced timetable on Monday, with the last service leaving South Shields at 17:45 GMT and North Shields at 18:00 across the week, excluding Sunday.

Managing director Cathy Massarella said there had been a "spate of long-term sickness", alongside funding restrictions.

Meanwhile, when pressed on new Metro trains, she said she was "the most positive" she had "ever been" that the first would be running by the end of the year.

Ms Massarella told the Local Democracy Reporting Service transport chiefs had "explored every alternative" to keep the night-time ferry crossings.

"We have been hit by an unprecedented and extremely unexpected series of long-term sickness," she said.

"It is a small team. Funding-wise we cannot afford to block in too much contingency and can't bring in lots of additional staff."

She said reducing the service was "the most robust and guaranteed solution" they could provide, allowing commuters to get across the Tyne at peak times.

The new Metros, pictured in Pelaw, Gateshead, are being tested on the system, alongside existing trains

Meanwhile, Metro passengers have been assured the first of the £362m new fleet will be ready to enter passenger service by the end of the year.

The Swiss-built carriages were meant to start coming into use in summer 2023, but the rollout has suffered a series of delays.

Ms Massarella declined to give a more specific date, but confirmed a new train would be put into the timetable "as soon as it is feasible to do so".

"What I would say is that I am the most positive I have been that we are on a straight trajectory now and it is just about the pieces dropping into place," she said.

"I am not foreseeing any issues."