The Shields Ferry
Our ferries
We run the only customer ferry service on the River Tyne today which connects the local communities of North and South Tyneside.
Our current fleet consists of two vessels, the Pride of the Tyne and the Spirit of the Tyne. Only one ferry is usually used for passenger service, operating a regular 30 minute frequency from each side of the river, seven days a week. The crossing itself only takes 7 minutes.
- The Spirit of the Tyne can carry 200 customers and The Pride of the Tyne can carry 303
- Each boat has twin diesel generators to supply electrical power and a Voith Schneider propeller unit at both ends of each ferry
- The ferries operate diagonally across the river without the need for turning. This saves time so the speed of the ferry can be reduced, saving wear and tear on the machinery and fuel without reducing frequency of the service
A ferry service for the future
Past, present and future
Centuries of cross Tyne Ferry travel
There's been ferries across the Tyne since the 1300s, and we're proud to develop and grow that transport link.
Ferry history
Support for our customers
We're committed to making travel easier and more inclusive, for all our customers.
Our safety and accessibility
A new ferry landing
We're planning on relocating our ferry landing at North Shields to a new landing on the Fish Quay.
A new North Shields ferry landingPlanning a Ferry journey?
For more information about the Ferry, including timetables and ticket prices, visit the Travel North East website.