Ferry Observations 2026

[tonyp]

Is that really a rule?

I read about it here a few years back. Generally, I don't imagine that contractors have the freedom to make decisions that private owner/operators did, because the government has to fork out the extra money for extra services that aren't in the contract. Nowadays, if there's too much of a crowd, they just get left behind until a following service arrives that can fit them on board.

[Glen]

Specifically regarding articulated buses it's worth keeping in mind that not every driver is qualified to drive them.

Also artics are often used on Rail Replacement these days.

[lrvggn]

Two Freshwaters refurbished in case of large crowds perhaps is sensible, good to have some redundancy built in to their operation. Two Freshwaters is plenty for preservation sake as well. With any more back, will we see all of them utilised to their full potential? Doubt it - since they only seem to run outside of peak, and even then is still supplemented by Emeralds and MFF, and I’m not sure the last time I’ve seen a Freshwater at full capacity, nor do I think they will ever reach anywhere close to full capacity with how they are running the Manly service now. Therefore, still a bad use of money in my eyes.

Is it still the case that MV Collaroy is set to be scrapped?

On a side note - on some routes, particularly the F4, 6, 7, 8, 9, I’ve noticed you can expect pretty much any fleet of vessel to run the service. The smaller capacity River class, to the First Fleet, to the larger capacity Emeralds. Is there any sense or pattern to which type of vessel they run at what time, and if so what is it, or is it just running whatever ferry is free at the needed time?

[Linto63]

Wharf 2 at Circular Quay is to close for four months from 2 March. As things stand there are no Opal readers on the replacement wharf 6 from where a reduced service will operate. Surely the cost of installing will be worth it for that long a period. Otherwise it will be free rides as has happened on previous, albeit much shorter, wharf closures.

Service Alert (Manly Fast Ferry)

[Glen]

Wharf 2 at Circular Quay is to close for four months from 2 March.
........
on the replacement wharf 6 from where a reduced service will operate.

That's a big reduction - peak hour frequency halved from 10 to 20 minutes.

[Michael Bamborough]

Are they gonna Confirm what time will the final Rivercat Dave Friaser Service will depart from Circular Quay before its withdrawn for good?

[Glen]

Are they gonna Confirm what time will the final Rivercat Dave Friaser Service will depart from Circular Quay before its withdrawn for good?

That would be interesting to know.

It's back in service after apparently failing last Thursday and being off for a few days.

I read on Facebook that 10 March is a possible last day.

[In Transit]

Is that really a rule?

I read about it here a few years back. Generally, I don't imagine that contractors have the freedom to make decisions that private owner/operators did, because the government has to fork out the extra money for extra services that aren't in the contract. Nowadays, if there's too much of a crowd, they just get left behind until a following service arrives that can fit them on board.

There is no such rule from TfNSW . Operationally, Sydney operators aren’t always so easily set up to do that, given many drivers in depots with artics aren’t qualified to drive them - unlike Perth for instance. There are other issues which make it difficult or unlikely to happen - both contractual and practical - but it’s most definitely not a “rule”.

[tonyp]

There is no such rule from TfNSW . Operationally, Sydney operators aren’t always so easily set up to do that, given many drivers in depots with artics aren’t qualified to drive them - unlike Perth for instance. There are other issues which make it difficult or unlikely to happen - both contractual and practical - but it’s most definitely not a “rule”.

Either way, it's a retrograde situation from the former days of private owner/operators and, I imagine, government operators too to some extent. It's ludicrous when there are large returning crowds from Manly (which should be fully anticipated by the operator due to years of precedence and predictability), but the operator simply sticks to the normal timetable regardless and doesn't add extra services. They're either told to do that, or there's inadequate financial provision in the contract for them to bear the cost of running extra boats/trips, or obtaining the revenue benefit of those extra services to offset the cost of providing them. The same obviously applies for other modes too, judging by their inflexible response to extra loads.

I'm aware of the practical issues, like having crew and vehicles/vessels on standby. Not a problem with metro, but they once managed to do it while having to fire up steamships, so diesel/electric drive should be much easier! There's also free-running - just abandon the timetable and turn around boats as soon as they fill, rather than waiting for timetabled departure. PJMS Co. used that method a lot. Why would that be a problem for a contractor?

[Stu]

The Transport Management Centre (TMC) is responsible for managing emergency bussing events (24/7) and provides all of the operational instructions which includes permission to use an articulated bus. There may not be a written rule, however, there is an operational understanding between the respective bus operators and TfNSW regarding the usage of articulated buses. The cost of using an articulated bus is greater than using a rigid bus.

The TMC always stipulate that articulated buses are to be used when replacing the F1 Manly service whenever possible, sometime this has not occurred due to various reasons. In recent months there has been a small number of occasions when buses have been required due to large sea swells or large crowds late at night due to the hot Summer weather.

There have been some rare occasions when a disruption to a transport network has caused large crowds to congregate at an affected location, this is an exceptional circumstance when articulated buses have been granted permission to be used.

The link is from the TfNSW website. It is a snap shot of the GSBC contract regarding Emergency Bussing and Event Buses.

https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/system ... ies%29.pdf

[tonyp]

Thank you for that Stu.

Re the cost of running an articulated bus, I would have thought that, especially now that they can carry nearly twice the passengers of a standard electric bus while still requiring only one driver, they might offset that extra cost with extra revenue. And can they free-run, without having to observe a working timetable?

What, I wonder, is the view of TfNSW on free-running of ferries to disperse exceptional crowds instead of bureaucratically sticking to a standard timetable?

Trains I understand have the constraint of track occupation, though the metro is far more capable with this.

Trams don't seriously have that issue and are able to run free, but a poor system design will put a constraint on termini, which will then affect the capacity of the whole line. A certain previous system overcame that with looped termini.

[Linto63]

What, I wonder, is the view of TfNSW on free-running of ferries to disperse exceptional crowds instead of bureaucratically sticking to a standard timetable?

Can cause other problems with crews now having maximum hours, minimum rest breaks etc. You could end with crews out of position if they reach these limits causing even more problems.

[Merc1107]

In a free-running scenario, wouldn't the idea be to run as much as you can up to a certain point, but ensure the vehicle is positioned appropriately for the next crew / break?

[Glen]

That adds another level of on the fly supervision of course.

It can get complicated when reliefs are required.

[tonyp]

PJMS Co would have basically done the same - ensuring that the relief crew was at the right wharf at the right time.

[Glen]

That would have been interesting to see, if the boat was at the wrong end at the wrong time.

[Linto63]

PJMS operated in simpler times without the more rigid regulatory environment of today. The ability to flex the rules to achieve an outcome has gone.

[rtt_rules]

In a free-running scenario, wouldn't the idea be to run as much as you can up to a certain point, but ensure the vehicle is positioned appropriately for the next crew / break?

Yes, ferrys operate basically continously with a target to be at port A at time B for crew change and with scheduled breaks if and when required, but this is not a bus with a single driver.

[Glen]

The rumour seems to be strengthening that the last day for the last Rivercat Dawn Fraser will be Tuesday 10 March.

She is still doing full days most days, predominantly on the F3, although today only worked in peak hours.

[Glen]

Sydney's last Rivercat Dawn Fraser ran her final public service tonight on the 21:38 from Sydney Olympic Park to Circular Quay.

[Michael Bamborough]

Sydney's last Rivercat Dawn Fraser ran her final public service tonight on the 21:38 from Sydney Olympic Park to Circular Quay.

Good Thing I Actually caught one back in Feb 27th. I'll miss Seeing those RiverCats.

[lrvggn]

Surprised her retirement has been so quiet. I expected more of an announcement or something. I guess no one cares about the RiverCats. People only care when the Freshwaters get retired

[boronia]

I guess they didn't want thousands of "sentimentalists" turning up for a last ride, to the inconvenience of regular commuters.

[SpanningViaduct]

Wasn't all quiet. Atleast on the following day:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUxfIxTYTNE

[Glen]

I guess they didn't want thousands of "sentimentalists" turning up for a last ride, to the inconvenience of regular commuters.

I have it on good authority there would have been plenty of room.