On the Ferries

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/HSWharves/status/1059987662524706816

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Brisbane to get new inner-city ferry terminal


The location of the Howard Smith Wharves ferry terminal to open in 2020. Credit:Brisbane City Council

A new CityCat terminal will be built at the $100 million Howard Smith Wharves development in what will bet Brisbane's 26th terminal.

The $12 million terminal will be jointly funded by Brisbane City Council and the Howard Smith Wharves Consortium.

The council will spend $9 million while Howard Smith Wharves will contribute $3 million.

While a majority of the city's terminals were built solely by the council, a joint funding arrangement was also carried out for the recent construction of the terminal at Milton.

Deputy mayor Adrian Schrinner ruled out joint funding agreements with private developers as the only way new terminals would be built but said it kept costs down.

"We're obviously keen when private entities want to invest money into our public transport system ... it reduces the cost to ratepayers," he said.

"We're open to future terminals that are contributed to by private interests."

The terminal is expected to be open in 2020.

Howard Smith Wharves will be a staged opening with the first stage to open to the public on Tuesday.

[achiruel]

Ah, so the CityCats get even slower; great. 

AND it's easily walkable (700m) from Riverside.

[Cazza]

The CityCats only run at crawling pace along this stretch of the river anyway (something to do with the mangroves I think). And 700m is a solid 10 min walk. I'm sure some people wouldn't be up for that after a nice night out at a restaurant, judging by the outfits some choose to put on. People don't generally dress up to go out with "activewear" on. Although, this video says otherwise...



Anyway, back to my point, I support the move. Encourages PT use (to an area that is fairly inaccessible by any means of transport for that manner) and is a beautiful ferry trip after a night out. Plus, I believe some sort of hotel is in the plans too. The ferry is a big hit with tourists.

It will only really increase journey times by 2 mins tops. Anyone travelling from further downstream should use one of the all new SpeedyCats

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Angry Brisbane ferry drivers to walk off on Thursday over pay, security

Brisbane ferry drivers will strike for two days this week in a move that will create chaos for thousands of commuters.

Ferry drivers will walk off the job early on Thursday, staging a 48-hour strike to express their anger over a lack of job security and low wages.

They also accuse ferry operator Transdev of eroding maintenance and safety standards under the contract it holds to run CityCat and CityFerry services for the Brisbane City Council.

It was understood the strike would involve more than 130 people who work on the city's ferry network, with the action to begin at 4am on Thursday.

"These workers have had enough after almost a year of bargaining and bully-like tactics from multinational corporation Transdev," Jason Miners from the Maritime Union of Australia said on Tuesday.

He said many workers were being paid under award rates, and many had no sense of job security because they were employed on casual contracts.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/TransLinkSEQ/status/1069784611633405952

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Brisbane ferry drivers to hold two-day strike over job security and low wages

Brisbane ferry drivers will strike for two days this week in a move that will create chaos for thousands of commuters.

Ferry drivers will walk off the job early on Thursday, staging a 48-hour strike to express their anger over a lack of job security and low wages. They also accuse ferry operator Transdev of eroding maintenance and safety standards under the contract it holds to run CityCat and CityFerry services for the Brisbane City Council.

Transdev holds the Brisbane City Council contract to provide CityCat services on the Brisbane River.

It's understood the strike will involve more than 130 people who work on the city's ferry network, with the action to begin at 4am on Thursday.

"These workers have had enough after almost a year of bargaining and bully-like tactics from multinational corporation Transdev," Jason Miners from the Maritime Union of Australia said on Tuesday.

He said many workers were being paid under award rates, and many had no sense of job security because they were employed on casual contracts.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said it was the employees' right to take industrial action and said the contractor Transdev needed to continue to negotiate with them.

When pressed on the union's concerns about safety and eroding maintenance standards, Cr Quirk said "that's a matter for the company, for the contractor".

"But I have not been made aware of any decline in safety standards," he said.

"There's contingency plans that are being put in place and they will be announced later this afternoon."

A Brisbane City Council spokesman said the council understood Transdev was in discussions with the Maritime Union of Australia as part of EBA negotiations.

"Although this is a matter entirely between Transdev ant its employees, the Lord Mayor has indicated his willingness to meet with union officials on Wednesday to discuss their concerns," the council spokesman said.

"Council expects details of the contingency plans will be made available later today."

It is understood the strike will begin around 4am and it has been reported it will go for 48 hours, although the authorities are yet to confirm this.

The Maritime Union of Australia and Transdev have been contacted for comment.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1075111666772107264

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/TransLinkSEQ/status/1075148219435356163

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/brisbanecityqld/status/1075669670940827650

[SurfRail]

BCC's Facebook page was spruiking these, and when people started asking questions about why they had gone down this route due to overcrowding on the all-stops ones, the answer is "talk to TransLink, nothing to do with us".

[#Metro]

It's BCC that holds the contract with the private ferry operator.

BCC is only responsible when it suits them.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> CityCat crashes into pontoon, leaving passengers bruised and stranded


The damaged CityCat after hitting the Riverside Centre pontoon.

A CityCat has crashed into a pontoon and been forced out of action, leaving passengers stranded.

The ferry service crashed at the Riverside Centre on Eagle Street on Friday morning.

A passenger, who wished to remain anonymous, said there were between 50 and 60 people on board and claimed several passengers were injured.

"I thought he [the captain] was coming in too fast and then we slammed into the end of the pontoon," they said.

"The captain came down and said there had been a mechanical failure.

"I think people had braced themselves for it [the collision] because everyone was standing up and ready to get off onto the pontoon.

"We stopped there and everyone had to get it off ... the only people remaining onboard were the injured passengers."

A spokeswoman for the ferry operator, Transdev, said the watercraft was hit by a strong incoming tide as it approached and was pushed into the pontoon.

She said the starboard bow was damaged, but the water integrity of the vessel was not affected.

The spokeswoman said three passengers suffered bruising, but did not require medical treatment.

She said while the crashed CityCat cancelled the rest its trips, there were no other delays and a thorough investigation would be undertaken.

The Queensland Ambulance Service had no record of paramedics attending the scene.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/eastTMoore/status/1087245917340626944

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Second CityCat crash in a fortnight raises safety questions

A CityCat crashed into an inner-Brisbane passenger wharf on Monday morning, in at least the second crash this month.

This time, two staff members were taken to hospital and the City Cat, Yarragarra, "smashed in" its front hull when it struck the New Farm Sydney Street terminal.

A regular daily passenger, who asked not be named, said two people had been taken to hospital after the CityCat ploughed in to the Sydney Street wharf.

"It was coming upstream about 11.09am," the passenger said.

"It was coming in to Sydney Street there at New Farm.

"Something happened to it and it just ploughed into the wharf. That's twice in a fortnight. It makes you wonder if they are safe to travel on."

The Queensland Ambulance Service confirmed it took a patient from the Sydney Street City Cat wharf to St Andrews War Memorial Hospital at 11.16am.

"That was after a fall and the patient is in a stable condition," the QAS spokeswoman said.

The passenger said he was waiting to catch a ferry travelling in the opposite direction. He said he believed two staff members were taken to hospital.

"The ambulance came along and they took the ticket-seller off to hospital by ambulance and the deckhand, he was also hurt," he said.

"They took him away but I'm not sure if they took him away in a private car. He didn't go by ambulance but they took him away (to hospital) as well."

The QAS said it did not take a second person to hospital and did not know if a second person was admitted privately.

Comment has been sought from the council over whether Monday's CityCat accident would have any impact on evening services.

On January 4, CityCat commuters were "shaken and bruised" when the boat collided with the Riverside Centre terminal at Eagle Point.

The CityCat fleet is run by the company, TransDev, for the council.

Transdev has also been contacted for comment.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Passengers abandoning CityCats, ferries as millions spent on upgrades

BRISBANE residents are abandoning the CityCats and ferries despite the council spending tens of millions of dollars on flashy upgrades.

The Sunday Mail can reveal there were about 48,500 fewer passenger trips on Brisbane ferries in 2018, while CityCat patronage flatlined with a drop of nearly 14,000 trips.

Labor opposition councillors fear the figures will continue to fall, and have floated the idea of a new free cross-river ferry service to boost ­patronage numbers.

Describing it as a "no-brainer", Labor councillor Kara Cook said her proposal for a free cross-river service between Bulimba and Teneriffe would help improve the figures.

She said there potentially should be more free cross-river services into the future, arguing they were much cheaper than constructing a bridge.

"If we're seeing a decline in ferry users, this would be in my mind a logical way of encouraging people back onto the boats," she said.

"Instead of travelling the round trip, (commuters) could immediately cross the river for free.

"I think we need to encourage people onto public transport services and encourage them off the roads."

The drop in river commuters comes at a time when the council plans to spend more than $50 million during this term of office on service upgrades, including an express SpeedyCat service and a new double-decker SuperCat.

Money has also been spent on new ferry terminals, as well as upgrades to existing facilities.

The LNP council administration has blamed State Government and TransLink fare hikes for the dwindling numbers, claiming they were also affected by industrial action.

Council's public and active transport chairman Adrian Schrinner claimed TransLink's customer research consistently showed affordability was the biggest concern for public transport users.

"If we want to see more ­people using public transport, including ferries, the State Government needs to stop increasing TransLink fares," he said.

There were close to 5.36 million passenger trips on Brisbane ferries in 2018, down from 5.4 million the year before, and about 3.54 million trips on CityCats. down from 3.55 million.

[achiruel]

Sounds ridiculous to me. Say if you're crossing the river from Bulimba to Tenerrife, and then transferring to a CityGlider, it won't cost any more anyway. I wonder if the majority of travellers are aware of this, though? Maybe that's the kind of thing that needs some kind of advertising/awareness campaign?

[SurfRail]

2 issues with Bulimba:

- If a majority of cross-river passengers were actually transferring to buses there might be some case for getting rid of the fare because they are still paying TransLink the same sum under the normal business rules.  If that is not the case there would be a lot of free riders being paid for by Council while that money is not being put to better use elsewhere, like improving bus services around Bulimba.

- I suspect most of the Teneriffe-Bulimba patronage might actually now be carried on CityCats, meaning there is no way to make the trips fully free unless you rewrite the business rules for go card between specific stops and try to catch all the loopholes that causes.

[#Metro]

Rather have upgraded buses connecting to ferry than discounted rotten apples.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/eastTMoore/status/1093027314961592320

[achiruel]

Rather have upgraded buses connecting to ferry than discounted rotten apples.

Indeed. Connections on the Tenriffe side (199/Glider) are pretty good, but on the Bulimba side are garbage. There needs to be a decent bus service that connects the majority of Bulimba, Balmoral & Hawthorne to either Bulimba or Hawthorne ferry terminals. Bulimba is a better choice because road access to Hawthorne is awkward.

[ozbob]

Couriermail 16th February 2019 page 14

Cat fight over missing stops

[Cazza]

I'm not a big fan of the idea. I've said it before but if they really wanted to run express services, a tiered stopping pattern would work fine.

CityCat 1: Northshore Hamilton to UQ stopping at AR, BW, Ten, Bul, HSW, RS, QUT, SB, NQ then all terminals to UQ.
CityCat 2: Tenerife to North Quay stopping at all terminals.

[James]

I agree with the article, but god the figures they've used are dumb.

Eagle St Pier is served by the ferries, while Riverside is served by the CityCats. The two are, for all practical purposes, the same stop, why should the Eagle St Pier be served by any CityCats at all? South Bank 3, likewise, is also a CityFerry stop. They should compare South Bank 1&2 instead.

If you wanted improvements, I think there'd be more benefit from increasing the frequency of CityCats, even if just along core sections. CityCats get VERY busy UQ - West End during semester, and Guyatt Park could be a good relief valve for the 412.

[James]

A-frames have been rolled out along Coronation Drive to Toowong (and possibly further along the 412 BUZ Route) promoting the new SpeedyCat and CotyCat services. Clearly they mustn't be doing too well as I haven't seen a promo like this in a long time.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1117922417131704320

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1118762029332832256

[verbatim9]

Brisbane's newest fast ferry (Double Decker CAT) under construction and will be ready to hit the water soon

https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/status/1136549299934785538

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Resident, MP call for Murarrie ferry stop to fight traffic woes

There are calls for a new CityCat stop to be added to Brisbane's ferry network in a bid to help frustrated commuters on the city's southside, and an advocate says there's one standout option for where the next passenger terminal should go.

THERE have been calls for an extra ferry stop to be built along the Brisbane River to help southside commuters battling the traffic.

Wynnum resident Dale Inglis wrote to TransLink earlier this month, requesting the State Government consider adding a ferry terminal stop at the CityCat headquarters in Murarrie.

Like many commuters, Ms Inglis currently drives 25 minutes to get to Apollo Rd stop at Bulimba, the most south easterly stop on the ferry network, to take a CityCat to her work at Tenerife.

"I feel a CityCat stop at Rivergate Marina would immensely benefit the bayside Wynnum area," she said.

Ms Inglis said TransLink told her Rivergate Marina was unsuitable because it did not meet disability access requirements and there was "no room for commuter parking".

She said she felt that was a "moot point" because many other stops relied on street parking.

A spokesman for Brisbane City Council, who own the ferries and contracts the operation to Transdev, said the council is "not currently considering" extending the CityCat or City Hopper services beyond Northshore, Hamilton or the University of Queensland, St Lucia.

"The existing Rivergate Marina at Murarrie is unsuitable for public transport use as it does not meet public transport accessibility requirements," the council spokesman said.

State Labor MP for Lytton Joan Pease has previously inquired about expanding the network as far east as Fort Lytton, but to no avail.

Ms Pease said she fully supported Ms Inglis' push for a terminal at Murrarie.

"I think connecting the river city with the bayside would be sensational," Ms Pease said.

"The commute can be quite lengthy for people in the area. It would also be quite a trip for tourists and quite a lovely way to see our city."

More than 3.5 million people travel on CityCats every year, with about 1000 services available each week across a 22km network.

There are currently 21 CityCats and nine ferries that service 25 terminals along the Brisbane River.

The next expansion to the network will be a new terminal at Howard Smith Wharves.

By 2020, the Murarrie Recreation Hub at Metroplex Ave is expected to be completed which will provide a space for recreation watercraft, including kayaks, canoes and paddleboards to moor.

[timh]

This sounds like an awesome long term idea. That whole area is probably due for some urban renewal in the next 10-20 years. A city cat stop there definitely will help eastern suburbs commuters. Who's also up for a spur line from Murrarie to Rivergate along the old Gibson island line to negate the need for parking?   

[brissypete]

This sounds like an awesome long term idea. That whole area is probably due for some urban renewal in the next 10-20 years. A city cat stop there definitely will help eastern suburbs commuters. Who's also up for a spur line from Murrarie to Rivergate along the old Gibson island line to negate the need for parking?   

Go better with the train build it over the river connect to old Pinkenba line create a loop line. Fat chance I know.

Back on topic the citycat extension is a great idea, if it's not currently suitable make it so and stop making excuses.

Sent from my G8141 using Tapatalk

[James]

This sounds like an awesome long term idea. That whole area is probably due for some urban renewal in the next 10-20 years. A city cat stop there definitely will help eastern suburbs commuters. Who's also up for a spur line from Murrarie to Rivergate along the old Gibson island line to negate the need for parking?   

Hate to say it, the whole area has just been filled in with relatively new warehouses / industry. Given it is right next to the Gateway & directly under the final approach path for Brisbane Airport, I can't really see this location being very conducive to future residential development.

To make matters worse, the nearest house is 1.3km away - it is otherwise an area with zero trip generation, and very few attractors. The additional CityCat travel time would negate any time savings created by parking at Murrarie vs. Apollo Road.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Cat's out of the bag: First look inside Brisbane's double-decker CityCat

A double-decker CityCat - the first of a fleet of seven - will be on the Brisbane River this year.CREDIT:BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL

The first of a seven-strong fleet of double-decker CityCats will ply the Brisbane River before Christmas.

Lord mayor Adrian Schrinner allocated $30 million over the next four years to begin the construction of Brisbane's next generation of CityCats.

The first, now being built at Murarrie by Brisbane shipbuilder Aus Ships for a cool $3.7 million, will include "almost ceiling-to-floor" glass windows on the ground floor, a viewing area at the front for inside passengers and an open-air upper deck.

Brisbane councillors were told on Tuesday the CityCat would be in service before Christmas.

Cr Schrinner said the double-decker CityCats would take "river transport in the city to the next level".

"CityCats are an icon of the city, just like double-decker buses are an icon of London," he said.

"It won't be just one [double-decker]. One of them is under construction now and we have six more being ordered."

Brisbane has 21 CityCats: eight were built under former lord mayor Jim Soorley between 1996 and 1998, six between 2004 and 2009 and seven between 2010 and 2015.

Deputy mayor Krista Adams said travel website TripAdvisor rated catching a CityCat along the Brisbane River as the city's third most-popular attraction.

CityCat No.22 is the same length as the previous vessels - 27.2 metres - with a stairway at the rear to allow passengers to go to an upstairs deck, where there are 16 seats.

The ground-floor layout has been modified to include six wheelchair spaces including two spaces with outside access.

The view from downstairs will not be interrupted by the skipper's wheelhouse, which sits on the top level.

The downstairs level includes a lounge area at the front and a "kiosk" at the rear, where staff will check and sell tickets.

Bathrooms on the vessels have been enlarged.

The CityCat's frame is finished, outfitting has started and the motor has been added. Other electrical work, gearboxes, CCTV equipment, Go Card facilities and the seating are being finalised.

Sea trials and training will be held before the vehicle is put into service.

Councillor Jonathan Sri asked about the feasibility of upstairs access for wheelchairs, but acknowledged significant improvements had been made for wheelchair access in the design.

Cr Adams said the design team had to include the need to be able to provide safe access from the CityCat in the case of an emergency, which made upstairs access complex.

She said that was one reason more glass was included downstairs, why a lower-level viewing area was installed and why dedicated wheelchair access points were being included.


The ground floor of the new CityCat has near floor-to-ceiling glass in the central section.

[ozbob]

Cat's out of the bag: First look inside Brisbane's double-decker CityCat https://t.co/j2cWxroJAe via @brisbanetimes #qldpol #bnepol
Nice vessels.
Let's hope the windows are not blocked with ad wrap! Ping @Schrinner

— ozbob13 (@ozbob13) August 20, 2019

[ozbob]

Lunch with a side of spies: CityCat crews protest cameras in meal room https://t.co/1QhB4RfXgo via @brisbanetimes #bnepol #qldpol

— ozbob13 (@ozbob13) August 23, 2019

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Brisbane ferry contract up for renewal

Brisbane's popular CityCat and CityHopper ferries could be operated by a new company next year after the current contract with Transdev expires.

Transdev has operated the ferries under agreement with Brisbane City Council since 2010, but that contract will come to an end in November next year.

Approval for the council's new contracting plan was voted in at Tuesday's council meeting.

Documents submitted to council for the contracting plan show several "high" risk ratings, including maintenance risks to ferries, major infrastructure maintenance, and the risk of services degrading during handover from Transdev to a potential new operator.

The council expects several companies including Transdev, Transit Systems, SeaLink Travel Group, NRMA and Skybus to express interest in signing a new contract.

Thirty ferries are currently operated around the city, to and from 25 ferry terminals, and the new contract will be for the crewing, operation and scheduling of all ferry services.

The new operator will also be responsible for cleaning and minor maintenance of ferry terminals, and collecting fares on behalf of state transport division TransLink.

"We know that more than 5 million trips have been taken on our ferries each year and this is a significant and important contract for our city," lord mayor Adrian Schrinner said.

Cr Schrinner said market research had shown contracts for major public transport operations nationally typically operated on a contract of between seven to 15 years.

The council decided to offer the new contract on a five-year initial term, with two options to extend based on performance.

Opposition leader Peter Cumming questioned why the council wouldn't operate the ferries itself, given council operates the city's bus network under agreement with TransLink.

"We can't see why council couldn't operate ferry services and we call upon the administration to include this as an option," he said.

Tenders will be opened on Thursday, closing on November 27.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> South Bank ferry terminals to get major upgrade


A concept design for the new Southbank Ferry Terminal. Picture: Supplied

ONE of Brisbane's busiest ferry terminals will be given a major overhaul as part of the council's $70 million plan to upgrade the city's ferry and CityCat infrastructure.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner will today announced that the council has finalised its new design for the South Bank 1 and 2 ferry terminals, with a development application to be lodged this week.

Under the new design, the ferry terminals — which are currently across two pontoons — will be merged into one large pontoon with a large waiting area.

Cr Schrinner said the new terminal would transform the river's edge.

"South Bank is one of Brisbane's premier tourist destinations and this design will ensure river views are not impeded, while accessibility will be enhanced," he said.

"The current terminal has been operational since 1996, while the proposed new dual berth terminal will cater for future CityCat and CityHopper services."

The new terminal will also be accessible to those with a wheelchair or pram.

A time frame for delivery or the estimated cost of the new terminal is yet to be determined.

It comes off the back of upgrades to the Guyatt Park terminal, as well as maintenance work at the South Bank 3 ferry terminal.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1173982858936897542

[achiruel]

So if Southbank 1&2 are to be used for CityHopper services, what is the future for Southbank 3? Surely services won't use both!

[SurfRail]

^ I hope they just close it.  The main South Bank stop and the Museum stop are plenty good enough.