The NSW Government plans to better align Sydney's ferry services with bus services as part of a timetable overhaul
May 24, 2013
The New South Wales Government has announced plans to better align Sydney’s ferry services with bus services as part of a public transport timetable overhaul.
NSW Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday announced plans to franchise Sydney Ferries and bring in a new operator to improve customer service.
As part of
the plans, government will restore 140 ferry services and introduce 25 new Parramatta River services.
Berejiklian has promised more than 50 new ferry services per week from October this year and six new ferries to commence operations from 2016.
She says the
initiative will allow better coordination between ferry services and bus services.
“As part of a complete overhaul of public transport timetables in October 2013, ferry services will be better aligned to buses, allowing customers to travel seamlessly around Sydney’s transport network,” Berejiklian says in a statement.
The government’s proposed new timetable includes:
- More
bus connections to make it easier for customers to access ferry services, including 320 new services a week to and from Manly Wharf - Cutting ferries services from low-patronised wharves at Bayview Park and Balmain west to provide more frequent services and shorter journey times for commuters travelling along Parramatta River in peak periods
- More frequent services for demand at Abbotsford, Cabarita, Balmain, Darling Harbour, Cremorne Point, Mosman Bay, Double Bay and Rose Bay
- Simpler stopping patterns and easy to remember departure times
- A shuttle service between Parramatta and Rydalmere in the peak on weekdays, with a connection to an express service to the city for wharves at the western end of the river
- Extra services stopping along the Parramatta River, with more services provided on Sunday
- More frequent services to Cockatoo Island
- More frequent services from eastern suburb wharves, including an increase in Rose Bay commuter peak express services.