Ferry passengers face further delays

Disruption to Auckland ferry services will continue for most of this week in the absence of five of the region's vessels, which forced hundreds of passengers to travel to work and school yesterday by taxis, buses and car-pooling.

Hundreds of rail commuters were also late for work yesterday when a train broke down in the Britomart tunnel just after 8am, blocking all movements in and out of central Auckland for about half an hour.

Ferry operator Fullers had to call for taxis to bring more than 200 passengers by land from Half Moon Bay yesterday morning, a trip of about 20km which normally costs up to $70 a cab, after an engine blew up on Sunday night on its 500-seater Superflyte vessel - the largest in its nine-strong fleet.

Passengers also had to be transferred by bus from Stanley Bay to Devonport to catch ferries there, after smaller vessels were diverted to the Waiheke Island commuter run normally serviced by the Superflyte.

Buses will be used again this morning, when ferry sailings from Devonport to Auckland will be halved to one every half an hour between 7am and 8.30am.

The 7.30am ferry from Half Moon Bay to Auckland will also be replaced by buses, as will four afternoon return sailings, two of which had already been cancelled because of low tides.

Fullers general manager Michael Fitchett said although there would be less disruption today than there was yesterday, full services were unlikely to be restored until Friday, when the company hopes to get its 400-seater Quickcat ferry back to sea.

The Quickcat is awaiting survey clearance after a major refit. The company is also without three other vessels, including the Jetraider, which is waiting for clutch parts from overseas.

Mr Fitchett said the company replaced the Superflyte with vessels used on other runs, but the setback came too late for buses to be arranged in time for Half Moon Bay commuters.