(16 Jul 2023, 3:14 pm)Adrian wrote I'm not convinced. Having used the Thames Clipper in London, I'd be surprised if, other than tourism, it's used for any more than odd journeys. 

When I was last down there, we did Battersea to Canary Wharf, which took just over an hour. The same journey on the Tube is half the time, even taking into account the change from Northern to Jubilee. The journey was also around £9, as oppose to the £2.80 off-peak fare on the Underground, which is part of capping.

Having a look at the timetable for the Clipper, it takes 1:14 from Barking Riverside to Embankment. A similar distance from Newburn to Shields, as suggested above. It's already slightly quicker using Bus and Metro. 

There's also the question of how well used it'd be. Newburn isn't exactly a huge, with a population of less than 10k. It already has a 10 minute frequency on the Stagecoach 22, takes just over 15 minutes into town, and which stops in more convenient places oppose to where a ferry landing would need to be. Even if you look at other places likely to be served to/from Newcastle; Blaydon (15 min (infrequent) by train, 20 by bus), Metrocentre (9 minutes by train, 18 by bus), Dunston (15 minutes by bus). The road is King here.

On the East of Newcastle, they've had bus links along the river via the Quaylink and Stagecoach 18, but they're really not that well used. Even the stretch between the Quayside and St Peters basin, where there's loads of housing, it's rare to see more than 1 or 2 board at a time.

You're also not considering the biggest competitor to a river boat/ferry service - bridges. They're almost the sole reason why we don't have ferry crossings along the Tyne and the Wear anymore, with exception of the Shields ferry.

I'm all for trying new things, but the cost of delivering this would far outweigh any benefit delivered.

I've done the O2 to Embankment before. Purely from a tourist perspective and you're right, there are many quicker journeys.
However, other than peak, I don't think there's any/many express services. 

However, I think you're comparing apples and pears. 
London has a fantastic public transport system compared to what we have up here. 
There are many alternatives, depending on need. 

However, they've also got bridges. 
They've also got high levels of pollution and are expanding the public transport offering, along with emissions/congestion charging. 

The bridges you mention across the Tyne, are struggling to cope with traffic. 
Buses are getting stuck. Cars are getting stuck. 
One of them is so knackered - they made it one way and removed the ability to cross it going north. 
They're also consistently appearing in the lists of pollution hot-spots. 

I've lost count how much money has been chucked at bus priority measures.
I've lost count how many times we've seen roads narrowed and bus lanes squeezed in. 

I doubt many will be travelling from Blaydon to South Shields. 
I do reckon there will be many doing short-hops, maybe two or three landing stations and probably passing a 10 stuck in traffic around the Metrocentre or crawling over the Redheugh Bridge though.
Maybe even going to places on one riverbus, that would take 2 or 3 buses.

I'd also hazard a guess that all those people living in the new houses on Smiths Dock, are getting stuck in the tunnel or going the long-way round on the way to work too.
East of Gateshead, you're looking at potential landing spots not far (short walk or a quick bus ride) from several metro stations (Bill Quay/Pelaw, St Peters Basin/Byker, Hebburn, Wallsend, Jarrow, Willington Quay... 

The Tyne is sitting there totally underutilised, whilst everything alongside it, under it or over it is struggling.

When it comes to public transport and infrastructure, I look at some of the European cities and am constantly amazed at how far ahead they are of us. Toto on the Amsterdam trams for example. It's been in place for donkeys years. 
Then look at the Dutch and how they're using their waterways successfully. Making the most of the resource that's there and not finding the long way around or over it like we do here.