Latest news with #RenfrewtoYoker
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Scotsman
Renfrew Ferry, which has crossed the Clyde for more than 200 years, closes with immediate effect
It is the end of a long era on the River Clyde. Sign up to our History and Heritage newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The historic Renfrew Ferry has crossed the River Clyde for the last time. The ferry , which connected Renfrew on the south bank of the river and Yoker on the northside for more than 200 years, suddenly announced yesterday (Saturday) that it would run no more. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The boat carried pedestrians and cyclists across the 200-metre stretch of the Clyde for a small fare and operated seven days a week without public subsidy. But the opening of the Renfrew Bridge earlier in May led to a sharp fall in demand for the river crossing, making it unsustainable. A statement from operator Clyde Link said its passengers and followers had 'probably been expecting' the news given the arrival of the bridge. It added: 'The ferry is closing effective immediately. Since the bridge opened the passenger numbers have gone down and this past week dropped to a level that it is no longer viable to keep running. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We didn't get funding but only passenger fares kept us going. A huge thank you from us to all of you that used the ferry some of you every day. Many became personal friends.' While the bridge has taken away ferry passengers, it is also closed to traffic when a ship needs to sail through. The statement added: 'Yes the bridge is a real pain when it's unavailable sometimes for hours but that's just swinging bridge life and those of us that live locally will get used to it. 'So goodbye from all the Renfrew to Yoker staff it certainly is the end of an era, we will see you around!' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The ferry has crossed from the slip at Renfrew since 1791, with the route the last one still serviced on the stretch of the Clyde closest to the city. According to Paisley Heritage, the early ferries relied on ropes or chains fixed on either bank, which were pulled by hand. In 1868, steam power was introduced to haul the ferries across the river. Larger boats were added to the fleet in 1897 and 1912 to accommodate the growing demand for transportation. The ferry was primarily used by workers commuting to and from the shipyards and factories located on both sides of the Clyde. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The ferry was passenger-only until the 1950s when the boom in car ownership led to larger ferries being put on the route so that drivers could cross with their vehicles. That ended in the 1980s with the opening of the Clyde Tunnel. One of the car ferries is moored at Broomielaw in the city and is now a nightspot, called the Renfrew Ferry. READ MORE: Jacobite train operator accused of poor customer service and shoddy carriages News of the end of the Renfrew Ferry prompted a strong reaction on social media. One user said: 'An end of an era - you'll be missed .' Another former passenger said: : 'Sorry to hear this. We had a wee hurl on it last year as was always curious about it. It was fab. Glad we did. All the very best.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Another passenger described the loss of the ferry as "another piece of history gone". She added: "My brother sailed often when there was no Erskine Bridge. You guys have been amazing and I hope life treats you all well." Another user said: "Sorry to hear this, but unfortunately expected. Another story of Glasgow's history comes to a close. Been across a couple of times and it was always a delight. Best of luck and thank you." 'Sorry to hear you didn't get funding, thanks for all the journeys for our cycling group over the years. We love the wee ferry. Wishing you all the best.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Operators of the Renfrew Ferry originally pledged the service would keep running, despite the opening of the Renfrew Bridge on May 9, which connects the town with Clydebank. The 184m bridge between Meadowside Street in Renfrew and Dock Street in Clydebank will open for shipping, with traffic halted when a vessel passes. On Saturday (May 31), the bridge was closed for just over an hour from 5.50pm and again at 8.50pm. The bridge was funded by the UK and Scottish governments through the £1.13 billion Glasgow City Region City Deal.
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Daily Record
Famous River Clyde ferry service stops sailing 'with immediate effect'
The Renfrew to Yoker Ferry has announced its closure 'with immediate effect'. A famous ferry service which crossed the River Clyde will no longer be sailing 'with immediate effect'. Staff of the long-standing Renfrew to Yoker Ferry has announced its closure from today, May 31 due to the service being "no longer viable because of a decline in passenger numbers". It is said that the decline of the numbers using the service were caused by the opening of the new Renfrew Bridge this month. A statement published to the Renfrew to Yoker Ferry's social media thanked passengers and branded it an 'end of an era'. It read: 'Hi folks, you have probably been expecting this message. 'The ferry is closing effective immediately. Since the bridge opened, the passenger numbers have gone down, and this past week dropped to a level that it is no longer viable to keep running. 'We didn't get funding, but only passenger fares kept us going. A huge thank you from us to all of you who used the ferry. 'Some of you, every day. Many became personal friends. Yes, the bridge is a real pain when it's unavailable, sometimes for hours, but that's just swinging bridge life, and those of us who live locally will get used to it. 'So goodbye from all the Renfrew to Yoker staff. It is certainly the end of an era. We will see you around.' Tons of people shared their disappointment online. One comment read: "We enjoyed the ferry with our bikes and many memories from my childhood on the big ferry to my grandparents. Wishing you guys the best." A second said: "We should not let the ferry go down without a fight. It is a vital part of the towns history." A third stated: "So sad to read your news and also for you and the crew having to make this decision. You tried hard to compete with that bridge and you will be missed. Ferry was much more reliable than the bridge. My husband who cycles a bit and has used the Ferry often is so sorry to read this. We wish you all the best for the future. Thank you." A fourth said: "I'm so sorry to hear that you wee business needs to end, I never needed to use the service personally however it was a fantastic service which my son used on a daily basis when working in Clydebank. End of an era, so wishing you well in any further ventures." Another added: "A sad day. Have many great memories from when I was a lot younger being on the ferry." Someone else wrote: So sorry to hear this. Part of Renfrew's history." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
