THE Govan Ferry has been axed less than two years after it was relaunched in a blaze of publicity.

Its operator today admitted the historic cross-river service wasn't paying its way – and had suffered whole days without a single paying passengers last year.

Clyde Marine, how-ever, will carry out three crossings a day between Govan and Yorkhill Quay, home of Glasgow's Riverside Museum, this summer as part of the firm's river cruises.

But it has dumped the much-hyped dedicated ferry service, which ran every 20 minutes in the summers of 2011 and 2012.

Hamish Munro, the company's boss, said: "The year after the Riverside Museum opened, passenger numbers collapsed. On several days we had no passengers at all.

"Given the current economic climate and summer weather trends of past years, the service could not be sustained at previous levels."

The much-reduced service is a huge blow to hopes from politicians and tourism bosses that the ferry service could help bring more visitors south of the river.

It is also a blow to the city council, which spent £300,000 to build a new pontoon pier at Govan to facilitate the crossing.

City leader Gordon Matheson took the first ferry across the Clyde back in 2011, saying: "I'm sure that the number of people who want to travel by ferry will ensure that it runs effectively."

Nicola Sturgeon, the local MSP for Govan and deputy first minister, also campaigned for the service.

Local politicians were downbeat today. Fariha Thomas, a Labour councillor who represents Govan, said: "It is very disappointing. The service is expensive – £3 for adults and £2 for children – and infrequent and it is not making money."

A spokesman for the council said: "Ultimately, this is a commercial decision for the operator but, obviously, we would like to see as many people as possible able to enjoy the crossing."

The Govan ferry ran for 230 years until 1966, when it was first scrapped. The nearby Kelvinhaugh ferry made its final river crossing in 1980.

Poor passenger numbers on the ferry reflect falling visitor numbers for the Riverside Museum, Clyde Marine said.

david.leask@ eveningtimes.co.uk