Fleetwood to Knott End ferry to end

[Acathater]

Service ends tomorrow

Historic 180 year-old ferry to UK seaside towns to end as 'no takers' to run it

What a gut punch for locals

www.express.co.uk

Historic 180 year-old ferry to two UK seaside towns to end as 'no takers' to run it​

A 180-year ferry that feels like the quickest way home is about to go silent, and its loss will be felt across the region.​

A historic 10-minute ferry crossing that spares passengers a half-hour commute to two seaside towns is set to shut down - marking the end of its 180 year history. The Fleetwood-to-Knott End-on-Sea ferry service, in Lancashire, connects the two towns on either side of the River Wyre estuary and carries up to 35 people-per-trip.
Despite running since the 1840s, Wyre Council said the service, currently operated by Wyre Marine Services, will end when the contract expires on April 15 because it has no "compliant tenders" to run it yet. The borough authority, which co-funds the ferry with Lancashire County Council, today confirmed that the service is due to end on April 15.

 

[Urban-Savage]

Temporarily saved at 11th hour

 

[Djgr]

Temporarily saved at 11th hour

Great fun. Essential for a round robin trip from Blackpool:

tram, ferry, bus

 

[AndrewE]

Temporarily saved at 11th hour

reference https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm255rvn01yo

The short-term future of an 180-year-old river ferry crossing has been secured after a last minute agreement on the day the service was due to end, a council has revealed.

Wyre Council had said the Fleetwood-Knott End ferry service, which connects the two towns either side of the River Wyre estuary and carries up to 35 people, was due to have its final crossing earlier as no "compliant tenders" to run it had been received.

However, the authority has since said it was "pleased to announce that a way forward has been agreed" to allow the ferry service to continue "following constructive discussions with the current operator".

 

[Peter Mugridge]

However, the authority has since said it was "pleased to announce that a way forward has been agreed" to allow the ferry service to continue "following constructive discussions with the current operator".

Presumably meaning the council has decided to subsidise the losses? ( Not a complaint - it's clearly a service which should operate ).

 

[Gloster]

Presumably meaning the council has decided to subsidise the losses? ( Not a complaint - it's clearly a service which should operate ).

And possibly that the operator has lowered its expectations.

 

[snookertam]

Glad to see the Fleetwood ferry will Knott End.

 

[Chrisbolton]

Ive ran (and planning to do again this year) an ultra marathon from Blackpool Tower to Lancaster Castle, impossible without the ferry (or a would make for a very long run)

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Ive ran (and planning to do again this year) an ultra marathon from Blackpool Tower to Lancaster Castle, impossible without the ferry (or a would make for a very long run)

Couldn't you cross over the River Wyre at Shard Bridge instead?

 

[Chrisbolton]

Potentially, the original route is up the coast to Knott End, then a few trails and the coast to Glasson Dock, then I think a ex railway track to Lancaster

 

[Mikey C]

Glad to see the Fleetwood ferry will Knott End.

 

[AlastairFraser]

Potentially, the original route is up the coast to Knott End, then a few trails and the coast to Glasson Dock, then I think a ex railway track to Lancaster

Yes, the branch closed a long while ago, but the formation was converted into a very pleasant trail.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Glad to see the Fleetwood ferry will Knott End.

Brilliant.

I will make a great effort to use it this summer.

 

[Djgr]

Brilliant.

I will make a great effort to use it this summer.

Without overstating the obvious, check the tide tables before making a special trip, as the hours of (non-)operation of the ferry are highly variable.

 

[snail]

Without overstating the obvious, check the tide tables before making a special trip, as the hours of (non-)operation of the ferry are highly variable.

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