Article: Ghost boats cruise the Brisbane River

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Ghost boats cruise the Brisbane River

Ghost boats cruise the Brisbane River
Katherine Feeney
August 8, 2012 - 5:22AM

More than 6000 'ghost trips' are made by Brisbane's cross-river ferries each year, figures from TransLink reveal.

The monohull ferry servicing New Farm Park and Norman Park crosses the river without passengers about 17 times a day, based on average patronage numbers and timetable information.

According to data supplied to brisbanetimes.com.au from TransLink, average patronage for the ferry, which makes 154 crossings a day, seven days a week, is 50,000 passengers per year, or about 137 passengers per day.

That equates to roughly 6000 more services than passengers annually, or an average of 0.8 passengers per crossing per day.
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Meanwhile patronage on Brisbane's other two-stop ferry, which services Bulimba and Teneriffe, is down on average thanks in part to a January timetable change which saw CityCats introduced to the cross-river service.

Following the change, passenger numbers dropped from about 266,000 in 2010-11 to around 240,000 last financial year, which equates to just under four passengers per service on average based on 168 total daily Bulimba and Teneriffe crossings.

But a TransLink spokeswoman said patronage on the three-stop Kangaroo Point to city cross-river ferry service was up nearly ten per cent on last financial year to a new average of 390,000 passenger trips annually.

In total, an average of 680,000 passenger trips are made across 448 cross-river services a year, about 4.2 people per crossing.

However despite the low passenger numbers, Brisbane City Council public transport chairman Peter Matic said there were no plans to remove the CityFerry services from its $34.7 million ferry operating budget.

While he acknowledged the popularity of CityCats had negatively impacted their monohull cousins, Cr Matic said they were nonetheless a vital part of the city's public transport network.

"That's not to say that we're not always looking to make the best use of our CityFerries and we make changes where necessary, including reinventing them as we have with the popular CityHopper tourist loop," he said.

The $6 million CityHopper service was launched by Lord Mayor Graham Quirk last month in a bid to attract tourists and promote the monohulls to locals.

Cr Quirk justified the expense on the grounds the service would help promote local tourist destinations, reduce traffic congestion and give ferry patronage a "much-needed shot in the arm".

Last year, brisbanetimes.com.au reported the total number of CityCat and ferry passengers had dropped from 470,134 to 406,308 from July 2010 to July 2011, though services were significantly disrupted by floods.

Each CityFerry vessel is staffed by one master. There is one vessel per two-stop cross-river service, two for the three-stop run, and every ferry follows a timetable that does not fluctuate based on demand.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/ghost-boats-cruise-the-brisbane-river-20120802-23h6h.html#ixzz22tKdXMUE

[somebody]

They should have closed the River Plaza ferry stop.  Mater Hill serves that area much better.

I don't see much value in the New Farm Park - Norman Park ferry either, and this seems to confirm that there isn't very much.

[SurfRail]

^ I don't find that surprising in the least.

If it were a bridge it would probably work, but I don't think many people are prepared to pay for the convenience of being dumped at the Norman Park Ferry Reserve where they can do...what exactly?

Story Bridge, Mowbray Park and Hawthorne ferry terminals are all too close and offer better convenience.

[cartoonbirdhaus]

I don't think many people are prepared to pay for the convenience of being dumped at the Norman Park Ferry Reserve where they can do...what exactly?

Wait forever for a grossly unreliable and infrequent bus (230/235, 227, 232)—after finally getting across Wynnum Rd in the case of inbound travel. Riveting stuff.

[somebody]

Comments to this article are highly amusing.  "I'm sure the stats are wrong".  "This service is essential" is the standard of comment.

[somebody]

We weren't approached for a comment on this one?  Mine would have been "Cut!".

[ozbob]

Paint them red, and call them  ummmmmmmmmmmmmm   CityHoppers?  lol

[ozbob]

612 ABC Radio sent a roving reporter to check out the ferry.  Reporter indicated that first trip one pax each way, second trip 4 got off at Norman Park.  Time around 5 to 5.30pm.

One passenger was interviewed off air, reporter indicated that the passenger was pretty keen on keeping the service.  It is a useful link for some.

[#Metro]

612 ABC Radio sent a roving reporter to check out the ferry.  Reporter indicated that first trip one pax each way, second trip 4 got off at Norman Park.  Time around 5 to 5.30pm.

One passenger was interviewed off air, reporter indicated that the passenger was pretty keen on keeping the service.  It is a useful link for some.

I'm sure they love the service - every 5 minutes or so, compared to the RUBBISH the passes for 230 and 235 bus so-called (non-) 'services' in Bulimba!!

[Gazza]

In reality I reckon those short cross river ferries should be free anyway...They certainly aren't worth the fare for the distance involved, and are more about connecting places where bridges don't exist.

[ButFli]

One passenger was interviewed off air, reporter indicated that the passenger was pretty keen on keeping the service.  It is a useful link for some.

A taxi waiting outside my front door to take me straight to work every day would be a useful service for me. I bet the Government won't be subsidising it so I only pay a one zone fare, though!

[kazzac]

612 ABC Radio sent a roving reporter to check out the ferry.  Reporter indicated that first trip one pax each way, second trip 4 got off at Norman Park.  Time around 5 to 5.30pm.

One passenger was interviewed off air, reporter indicated that the passenger was pretty keen on keeping the service.  It is a useful link for some.

I'm sure they love the service - every 5 minutes or so, compared to the RUBBISH the passes for 230 and 235 bus so-called (non-) 'services' in Bulimba!!

Sundays /Public Holidays, 90 minute wait for services!! not happy!

[HappyTrainGuy]

90 minute wait on a Sunday... Lucky bastards.

[SurfRail]

90 minute wait on a Sunday... Lucky bastards.

Looxury.

When I were a lad (and now still), we 'ad to wait 2 hours for Saturday bus to come trundlin' down road and if you missed yon bus, you 'ad 2 hour walk to mill.

[somebody]

And all of that is acceptable in 2012, is it?

[SurfRail]

And all of that is acceptable in 2012, is it?

Lighten up

[Gazza]

90 minute wait on a Sunday... Lucky bastards.

Looxury.

When I were a lad (and now still), we 'ad to wait 2 hours for Saturday bus to come trundlin' down road and if you missed yon bus, you 'ad 2 hour walk to mill.

In the snow, with newspaper on your feet.

[HappyTrainGuy]

90 minute wait on a Sunday... Lucky bastards.

Looxury.

When I were a lad (and now still), we 'ad to wait 2 hours for Saturday bus to come trundlin' down road and if you missed yon bus, you 'ad 2 hour walk to mill.

Not much has changed has it. I'm lucky that I even have a bus that goes past every 2 hours on the weekend. Its usless and I avoid it like the plague but a couple km away in Bracken Ridge the 330 is the only bus that runs on a Sunday. Same with the 336/337 not running on Sundays. And the 311, 312, 313, 314, 315 don't even run at all. Add the 326/327 from Bracken Ridge that don't run it makes travelling anywhere just impossible via PT. Ah well, Viva La Motomobile.

[achiruel]

^ I don't find that surprising in the least.

If it were a bridge it would probably work, but I don't think many people are prepared to pay for the convenience of being dumped at the Norman Park Ferry Reserve where they can do...what exactly?

Story Bridge, Mowbray Park and Hawthorne ferry terminals are all too close and offer better convenience.

I think the interchange opportunities are more on the other side of the river (CityCat, and a *reasonably* short walk to the 196).

I guess you could change to the 230/235 if they ran at any sensible frequency.  It might get a lot more popular with a Wynnum Rd/Bulimba BUZ. And of course the ferry terminal itself is within walking distance of a decent number of dwellings.

I'm not sure that making the ferry free would help, though - I imagine most people using it are already using another mode of transport anyway so it's not as though it would cost any extra.

[Gazza]

^I'm just thinking terms of promoting active transport etc....Bit annoying to pay a fare because there is no ped/cycle bridge.

[somebody]

I think the interchange opportunities are more on the other side of the river (CityCat, and a *reasonably* short walk to the 196).

Which then goes around the houses to reach the CBD.

[aldonius]

90 minute wait on a Sunday... Lucky bastards.

Looxury.

When I were a lad (and now still), we 'ad to wait 2 hours for Saturday bus to come trundlin' down road and if you missed yon bus, you 'ad 2 hour walk to mill.

In the snow, with newspaper on your feet.

Uphill both ways!