Complex sentence: The alternative was to catch a ferry across the Tamar; the Torpoint Ferry had been running successfully since 1834, and is still in active service, while the Saltash Ferry ran near to the bridge's present location.
Split into simpler sentences: The alternative was to catch a ferry across the Tamar. The Torpoint Ferry had been running successfully since 1834 (and is still in active service) while the Saltash Ferry ran near to the bridge's present location.