On the Ferries

[ozbob]

https://www.facebook.com/notes/brisbane-city-council/temporary-transport-changes-for-new-farm-park-ferry-terminal-upgrade/1964151116959675/

Temporary transport changes for New Farm Park ferry terminal upgrade

11 April 2018

Brisbane City Council wishes to advise of temporary changes to CityFerry and CityCat services during the New Farm Park ferry terminal upgrade.

The terminal will be closed from Monday 16 April to late 2018 to facilitate upgrade works.

During the closure, no CityCat or cross-river CityFerry services will stop at New Farm Park.

Regular CityCat and cross-river CityFerry users will have a range of alternative transport options available to take them to their destination.
The cross-river CityFerry service from Norman Park to New Farm Park will be diverted to the Sydney Street ferry terminal during the construction period.

The Sydney Street ferry terminal will continue to provide regular CityCat services. The Bus Route 196 has regular services from Brunswick Street (Stop 17) to both the Sydney Street ferry terminal and directly to the CBD.

The New Farm Park ferry terminal upgrade is part of Council's commitment to deliver Australia's most modern public transport network and enhance accessibility for people of all ages and abilities.

For timetable information, please contact TransLink on 13 12 30 or visit www.translink.com.au

For more information on the project, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au or call Council on (07) 3403 8888.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/997032207821619201

[#Metro]

Rocket ferries? 🚀

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1006086065088655360

[achiruel]

Of course we wouldn't need rocket ferries if such a ridiculous number of terminals for the service hadn't been installed in the first place!

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/CrKaraCook/status/1006108333139357697

[James]

Not sure how much of a need there is for 'rocket ferries' from UQ/West End/Guyatt Park to North Quay - you have the 66/412 there for UQ, and West End has the glider which will do the trip quickly too.

Marginal at best for Guyatt Park too - you'd be better off having an express North Quay - Regatta - UQ to take some of the load off the 412 around Toowong and provide a more frequent alternative when Coro Drive poos itself (which seems to be weekly now).

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Council to deliver on election commitment for more CityCat services

Brisbane lord mayor Graham Quirk has allocated money in the 2018-19 council budget to deliver on a 2016 election commitment for new CityCat services.

Cr Quirk announced the "SpeedyCat" services during his 2016 election campaign.

The service promised then was to halve peak-hour CityCat travel times and run between Teneriffe and the city, as well as between the University of Queensland and the city.

On Monday Cr Quirk revealed the services would be funded in the 2018-19 budget, two years after the commitment was made.

The Brisbane City Council budget will be handed down on Wednesday.

Funding, understood to be about $1 million within the council CityCat and ferry operating subsidy, would deliver the 100 new express "SpeedyCat" services a week from September.

The funded services differ slightly from the election commitment and would run from Northshore Hamilton, as opposed to Teneriffe.

Cr Quirk said the service would be part of a $68 million spend over the coming year for new river transport services.

"A further $19.3 million will be dedicated towards upgrading ferry terminals across the city, including a major overhaul of the Guyatt Park ferry terminal and St Lucia," he said.

A further $4.5 million has been budgeted for a new CityCat which would take the current fleet to 22 vessels.

Opposition councillor Kara Cook accused the LNP and Cr Quirk of being arrogant and out of touch following the announcement.

"They have conveniently left Bulimba off the new express CityCat service list," she said on Twitter.

"Is this more punishment for the residents of Morningside for not voting the way they wanted at the recent byelection?"

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> CityCat terminal to be demolished and rebuilt

Services will be temporarily cancelled from a ferry terminal in Brisbane's west so a multi-million dollar upgrade can be completed.

A development application for the upgrade to the 1996-constructed Guyatt Park ferry terminal was lodged on Monday.

Brisbane City Council has been gradually upgrading its terminals to meet disability standards and increase flood resilience following the 2011 floods.

More than 180,000 passengers travel to and from the Guyatt Park terminal every year.

Architect Brendan Cox, who designed the world's first flood-resilient ferry terminals for Brisbane, questioned why the previous terminals failed in a recent TedEx presentation.

"Firstly their profile presented a broad, blunt obstruction to the flood ... incredibly vulnerable to destruction," he said.

"We knew intuitively we couldn't repeat that model, we would have to craft a new terminal that presented the smallest possible target so the next deluge and the next flood would simply go around it."

Engineer Arne Nilsen who co-presented the TedEx talk said previous terminals had pontoons shaped like a brick so they capsized and sank.

"Our solution was deceptively simple, we designed a new pontoon shaped like a boat. Simple and yet it seemed nobody had thought about doing this before," he said.

"When the next flood comes no people should be put in harm's way to protect the ferry terminals. This is a set-and-forget solution."

The existing pontoon, gangway and marine piles at Guyatt Park will be demolished as part of the upgrade to a new dual-berth pontoon, gangway, rest area and fixed walkway can be built.

The existing waiting facilities and pathway will be refurbished.

Council's public and active transport chairman Adrian Schrinner said passengers would get both a terminal upgrade and new SpeedCat services in the coming year.

"Council has been progressively upgrading its ferry terminal network with flood-resilient terminals with dual-berthing capacity and full accessibility for wheelchairs and prams.

The assessment report submitted as part of the development application said the new terminal would not be an identical design to that at Milton and Regatta but was still designed to adequately resist flood waters and debris.

"The new pontoon will be structurally superior with enhanced flood resistance and stability against wave action and vessel wash," the report said.

A CCTV network will also be installed at the terminal as part of the upgrade.

The terminal currently has 34 standard and two accessible car park spaces dedicated to ferry patrons and this number will not change during or after the works.

In the 2018-19 Brisbane City Council budget, $19.3 million was budgeted for the 2018-19 financial year for ferry terminal upgrades followed by $17.1 million in 2019-20 forward estimates, $12.8 million in 2020-21 and $21.6 million in 2021-22.

It is still unclear how much the Guyatt Park upgrade will cost, but work will commence in the 2018-19 financial year.

The $7.5 million upgrade of the New Farm Park ferry terminal is currently under way with the terminal expected to be closed until late 2018.

[ozbob]

^ some excellent sound thinking going on 

[burgo]

Why won't they be using the St Lucia, Regatta etc. design thft uses the "knuckle" that detaches from the shore during a flood? Is there a reason that design has been used where it has? Just curios.

[SurfRail]

My guess would be no NDRRA funds available for this job so it might need to be a bit cheaper.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Schrinner/status/1016960156108668928

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Team_Quirk/status/1034297605252034560

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Free WiFi to be installed at all CityCat and ferry terminals

Free WiFi will soon be accessible at 25 points along the Brisbane River with Brisbane City Council planning to roll out more public WiFi points by the end of 2018.

Deputy mayor Adrian Schrinner said the high-speed network would be installed at 20 terminals by the end of 2018.

"From the furthest stop upstream at UQ St Lucia to the last downstream terminal at Northshore Hamilton, every ferry terminal in Brisbane will be serviced by free public Wi-Fi," he said.

"Our 25 ferry terminals service thousands of residents and visitors every day and the installation of free Wi-Fi means passengers will be able to connect to our wireless service as they wait for CityCats, CityHoppers and cross-river CityFerries."

The free network is already been installed and active at five terminals, including West End, Guyatt Park, Bretts Wharf and the two South Bank terminals.

Cr Schrinner said the WiFi at the ferry terminals would complement the council's 275 hot spots across the city where residents and visitors could access the service including the Queen Street and Valley malls, 33 council libraries and several suburban shopping precincts.

"Council has made a four-year commitment to bring free WiFi into eight local suburban centres with Stones Corner, Sandgate, Wynnum, St Lucia, Moorooka and Sunnybank Hills shopping village precincts already receiving Council's free public WiFi," he said.

WiFi will also be rolled out at Nundah and Spring Hill in the 2018-19 financial year.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Schrinner/status/1034563300107767808

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Schrinner/status/1036795425666215936

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Team_Quirk/status/1039367115029901313

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Timetable changes for Brisbane's CityCat and City Ferry services

The timetables for Brisbane's CityCat and CityFerry services are about to change with 100 new services to be introduced, but speeds slowed near construction sites.

On Tuesday, Brisbane City Council's public and active transport chairman Adrian Schrinner announced the council's 'speedy cat' services would start from Monday, September 24.

"There will be a brand new timetable introduced ... and that will be the start of the new speedy cat services ... more than 100 weekly speedy cat services introduced, more than 20 services a day on weekdays," he said.

The council's speedy cat services were announced in 2016 as part of lord mayor Graham Quirk's election campaign.

The extra 100 services a week were funded in the 2018-19 budget with a two-year commitment of about $1 million made.

Cr Schrinner said every single CityCat and CityFerry service would operate under a new timetable from September 24.

"The major construction works going on at Queen's Wharf and other various locations along the river, but particularly out the front of Queen's Wharf, has required a little bit of an adjustment to all ferry timetables, including City Hoppers," he said.

"Whenever there is a construction on the river there is a slowing required near that construction and a speed limit of six knots."

CityCats usually travel at 15 knots.

About five million people take trips on Brisbane's CityCats and City Ferries every year.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Team_Quirk/status/1039763066093744134

[James]

I do have to worry about the practicality of the SpeedyCats.

Most of them are stopping at Teneriffe, rather than at Bulimba. Teneriffe already has the CityGlider to get them to the CBD quickly, Bulimba doesn't have anything. I think this is an example of the Cr Shayne Sutton Kara Cook effect. The Guyatt Park SpeedyCats are good, but only save three minutes - you'd be better off serving Milton & Regatta and providing a better alternative to Coro Drive congestion. I will be curious to see how successful the SpeedyCats are.

They have also changed the CityHopper to run every 36 minutes instead of every 30 minutes - not terribly user friendly!

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Team_Quirk/status/1044089086468919296

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1050301070893707264

[Cazza]

The western section doesn't actually need to exist. It only saves about 5 mins and every single terminal west of North Quay has a BUZ bus stop within 2 mins walk of it.

There is some merit for the eastern leg, but you're pushing it.

I'm not really an expert with all the time savings and facts and figures, but looking at the data here (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZVP_60SmEQNCqpMww_RJmRqDtpHIZplQJX-U9RsQ1aI/edit#gid=0) and using a bit of common sense, should they turn it into a tiered servicing pattern?

CityCat 1: Northshore Hamilton to UQ stopping at Apollo Rd, Bretts Wharf, Teneriffe, Bulimba, Riverside, QUT, South Bank, North Quay, Milton, Regatta, Guyatt Park, West End and UQ.
City Cat 2: Teneriffe to North Quay stopping at Bulimba, Hawthorne, New Farm Park, Mowbray Park, Sydney St, Riverside, QUT and South Bank.

Or something along those lines anyway?

As mentioned, the current timetabling is confusing and inconsistent

[brissypete]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1050301070893707264

I'm not surprised, saw a so called speedy cat inbound past Milton this morning and it was going slower than the regular one arriving into Milton.

Have also observed UQ bound speedy caught behind regular and following to UQ. It reminds me of the old P88 bus and the 61 which end up just behind the alternative namely 444 and 385 and just ends up being a waste of resources. Would be better to spend the money extending service to Yeronga for example.

Sent from my G8141 using Tapatalk

[#Metro]

I'm not surprised, saw a so called speedy cat inbound past Milton this morning and it was going slower than the regular one arriving into Milton.

Have also observed UQ bound speedy caught behind regular and following to UQ. It reminds me of the old P88 bus and the 61 which end up just behind the alternative namely 444 and 385 and just ends up being a waste of resources. Would be better to spend the money extending service to Yeronga for example.

Sent from my G8141 using Tapatalk

BrizCommuters "Express to my Stationitis" has infected the CityCat network it seems!

It is good that BCC is willing to do experiments - we cannot know everything with certainty beforehand, and trials like this allow us to test out ideas and get real-world experience with them. We cannot get that information any other way.

I suspect the reason why the SpeedyCats are empty is because they are flying past the passengers. Ferries are expensive to operate (three staff on board) so the services need to be well loaded to be economical.

One has to look at whether time savings could be achieved another way, for example, by boosting CityCat frequencies on the all-stops services.

[James]

I would agree - the SpeedyCat service is clumsy. While it is only new and will probably take time to grow patronage, I don't think it will have great success.

From the west, in the AM outbound/PM inbound you have non-stop expresses from North Quay to UQ, taking 15 minutes. The 66 from KGS to UQ takes 20 minutes. Add in the inconvenience of the North Quay stop (it isn't in the best location for walk-up patronage) and it is a pretty marginal exercise for most passengers.

In the AM inbound/PM outbound, it is just nonsensical to catch the ferry from UQ Lakes to North Quay when the 66 exists, likewise at West End with the CityGlider. This leaves Guyatt Park alone to drive patronage. Extending the service to QUT would probably help drive patronage on this service as there are a lot of colleges at UQ which have QUT students (surprisingly).

A boost in frequency would be far more welcome - ideally to every 10 minutes in peak hour, or perhaps a 15-7.5-7.5 cycle. This would make the services more usable for everyone - particularly from the west, where all-stops services provide a way for transit passengers near Guyatt Park, Regatta and Milton to bypass Coro Drive congestion.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1052233548046852097

[brissypete]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1052233548046852097

I don't see the need for a free ferry as I would guess most pax are transferring to buses on either side so would save nothing with a free ferry.

Sent from my G8141 using Tapatalk

[#Metro]

What Bulimba needs is route 230 and 235 amalgamated and Buzzed.

[achiruel]

What Bulimba needs is route 230 and 235 amalgamated and Buzzed.

How would you amalgamate the two routes?

I'd rather see two routes continue to co-exist, but probably move the 230 to Hawthorne Rd rather than Riding Rd, as for most of their length through Hawthorne & Balmoral they're only a few hundred metres apart; moving the 230 to Hawthorne Rd would give better coverage to the area between Hawthorne Rd & the river. Then give Riding Rd proper fully-separated bike lanes for its entire length. Limit parking to one side of the road to achieve this. And scrap the essentially useless 232 while you're at it.

I think both routes could be BUZzed; 230 via Story Bridge and 235 via 'Gabba. Interchange between both routes could still be achieved along Wynnum Rd, Norman Park or at Apollo Rd terminus.

[Paul B]

Maybe you could justify increased 230 if there weren't hundreds of parked cars from Ferry users ?? (wonder where they even drive from?)

[achiruel]

Maybe you could justify increased 230 if there weren't hundreds of parked cars from Ferry users ?? (wonder where they even drive from?)

Easy fix, change to 4 hour limited parking everywhere within ~1km of the ferry terminal, have a resident permit system. Suddenly most of those cars would disappear, and the 230 patronage would miraculously increase (providing it were BUZzed in tandem with the parking restrictions). The 230 BUZ isn't only a bus to the CBD, it is also a CityCat/cross-river ferry feeder. Likewise the 235 a CityCat (Apollo Rd) and train (Morningside) feeder.

[Cazza]

If I lived in the Bulimba area, I would be driving to Bulimba Ferry then either getting an express ferry into the City or one to Teneriffe then the 60 into town. The 230/235 take quite a while (even without the traffic along Wynnum Rd) and the P231/P236 run when they want, not overly frequent or consistent.

I think it's fairly unanimous here that a BUZ route is required through Wynnum Rd/Bulimba. Down what roads, following what routes and whether it should terminate at Morningside Station or Apollo Rd Ferry should be up to the community to decide (obviously with a final revision by BT/BCC).

[achiruel]

The P231/P236 can be scrapped AFAIC. 230 via Story Bridge is effectively the new P231; P236 is barely any faster than Train + 235 and has the benefit of not getting stuck in (as much) traffic, and fortunately Morningside isn't regularly bypassed by the 7:28am ex Manly 

Also, the P231/P236 don't have the same CBD stops as their all-stop counterparts, which is a big no-no IMO.

[#Metro]

If I lived in the Bulimba area, I would be driving to Bulimba Ferry then either getting an express ferry into the City or one to Teneriffe then the 60 into town. The 230/235 take quite a while (even without the traffic along Wynnum Rd) and the P231/P236 run when they want, not overly frequent or consistent.

I think it's fairly unanimous here that a BUZ route is required through Wynnum Rd/Bulimba. Down what roads, following what routes and whether it should terminate at Morningside Station or Apollo Rd Ferry should be up to the community to decide (obviously with a final revision by BT/BCC).

The 2013 bus review revealed that the 230 and 235 were both high patronage and high value for money, so the basis for amalgamation and BUZification is sound IMO.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Brisbane River CityCats set to super-size


An artist's impression of the new CityCat design council will unveil.

BRISBANE'S iconic CityCat will be given a major revamp with future vessels to be given a double-decker design.

The council will unveil the two-storey design today after spending $3.7 million on a new CityCat that will be launched late next year.

The new vessel, dubbed the SuperCat, will carry up to 16 passengers on its second storey and also include table and lounge seating in its main cabin.

Deputy Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the new vessel would increase the council's fleet of CityCats to 22, with construction on the SuperCat already underway.

"The SuperCat is a new generation of CityCat and will be unlike any other vessel, making it a distinctive and dynamic addition to our current fleet," he said. "London is famous for its double-decker buses – what better way to see Brisbane than from our double-decker SuperCat.

"For the first time passengers will be able to enjoy scenic views from the rooftop of a CityCat."

The SuperCat is set to have high-speed capabilities and have the capacity to carry up to 170 passengers – an increase from previous models.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Multimillion-dollar double-decker CityCat to be built

Brisbane's fleet of CityCats is getting a new addition, with a $3.7 million double-decker high-speed catamaran to be delivered in 2019.

On Wednesday, Brisbane City Council will unveil the design for Brisbane's 22nd CityCat – the SuperCat.

The double-decker boat will have an upper-deck with 16 seats while the inside of the boat will have table and lounge seating options, USB charging ports and larger windows.

Deputy mayor Adrian Schrinner likened the new vessel to London's double-decker buses.

"London is famous for its double-decker buses, what better way to see Brisbane than from our double-decker SuperCat," he said.

"The SuperCat is a new generation of CityCat and will be unlike any other vessel, making it a distinctive and dynamic addition to our current fleet."

The tender process to build the double-decker boat has been completed with Murarrie-based Aus Ships selected.

Construction of the SuperCat is under way and it is expected to be operating by late 2019.

Cr Schrinner said that CityCats had been an icon of the river city for more than 20 years, with the fleet growing over time to accommodate additional services.

"Earlier this year Council commenced SpeedyCat services during peak periods, to provide more express services into the inner-city from suburban areas," he said.

"Following the introduction of a new CityCat in 2015, our fleet of 21 CityCats and nine ferries is providing more than 219,000 services a year for approximately 5.4 million passengers."

[ozbob]

^ pax reported correct! From https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=13352.0

Spreadsheet > https://backontrack.org/docs/rti/PTdata/other/bcc_ferries12_13to17_18.ods

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/RuthMcCosker/status/1059978764342493185