On the Ferries

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

CityCat services cancelled again due to storm debris

CityCat services cancelled again due to storm debris
Article from: The Courier-Mail

November 21, 2008 05:35pm

BRISBANE'S CityCats and cross-river ferries have been cancelled for the second time in two days, due to the amount of storm debris in the city's river.

The services will be suspended until Tuesday.

Debris from flooding to the west of Brisbane is expected to float downstream over coming days, causing a potential safety perils for the vessels.

Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said a 30,000-litre tank, along with a number of large logs, had been sighted upstream.

"We also have storms predicted for the next two afternoons and we don't know what effect they're going to have," Mr Newman said on Friday.

"There's going to be a lot of debris, silt and rubbish floating down the Brisbane River over the next few days and it's too much of a risk to navigate those potential hazards."

The final CityCat services will leave Riverside, Brisbane, at 6pm and the University of Queensland at 6.02pm.

Cross-river ferries will also cease operations at 6pm.

They will be replaced by shuttle buses on Friday night and on Monday from 6am to 9am, but will not be available on the weekend.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Flood debris risk shuts down CityCats, ferries

Flood debris risk shuts down CityCats, ferries
Georgia Waters | November 21, 2008 - 4:20PM

CityCats services will be closed over the weekend and won't resume until Tuesday morning, Brisbane City Council announced today.

Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said CityCats and cross-river ferries would be closed from 6pm tonight with the next service being Tuesday morning.

Cr Newman said the service closures were caused by debris from flooding which was expected to flow downstream, possibly posing a safety hazard for the ferries.

"There's going to be a lot of debris, silt and rubbish floating down the Brisbane River over the next few days and it's too much of a risk to navigate those potential hazard," he said.

"There have even been reports of a 30,000 litre tank, along with a number of large logs, sighted upstream.

"You can imagine the damage that could do to a CityCat and, more importantly, to those passengers on board."

The Bremer River is expected to peak tonight and the Lockyer Creek around midday tomorrow, he said. Both flow into the Brisbane River.

"We also have storms predicted for the next two afternoons and we don't know what effect they're going to have," Cr Newman.

He said the situation would be reassessed over the weekend before a final decision to resume services on Tuesday was made.

The final CityCat services will leave the Riverside stop today at 6pm (to Apollo Road) and 6.02pm (to the University of Queensland).

Ferry services will stop at 6pm.

Shuttle buses have been organised to take passengers from Riverside and North Quay to Hawthorne and Bulimba this evening but won't run over the weekend as the bus network has the capacity to meet weekend ferry demand, Cr Newman said.

The shuttle buses will run on Monday from Hawthorne and Bulimba from 6am to 9pm.

[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes click here!

CityCats return for daylight only

CityCats return for daylight only
Tony Moore | November 24, 2008 - 2:51PM

Flood debris continues to delay Brisbane's CityCat services which will not re-start until tomorrow morning, Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said this afternoon.

While daytime CityCat services will start in the morning, evening services remain out of order until further notice. CityCats will stop at 6pm.

Daily CityCat services will slow from 25 knots to 15 knots per hour.

Large amounts of timber, tree debris, aluminium and old water tanks have floated down the Brisbane River since last week's harsh series of summer storms.

Cr Newman told ABC Radio that his advice from the CityCat skippers was it was still too dangerous to run City Cat services at night.

"There was a large water tank - I'm told a 30,000 litre water tank from somewhere - that was fished out early in the weekend," Cr Newman said.

"But the hazard is a very real one."

Cr Newman said the CityCat's light construction and speed in the river made them vulnerable to being struck by objects in the water.

"A CityCat is an aluminium-hulled and fast vessel and normally they run at 25 knots," he explained.

"The real concern is that if you are roaring along the river - whether it is day or night - and you had an object going down the middle between the two hulls and it struck the propeller - you could have that object flung around and slice open a fair bit of that aluminium hull and get a fair bit of water going in and you have a tragedy.

"The decision is that we will re-commence operations tomorrow morning - basically at about first light - and we will continue through tomorrow until 6pm."

The last City Cat services will leave the Riverside ferry terminal at 6pm.

A decision on night time City Cat services will be made later this week.

[GeoffreyHansen]

From Brisbanetimes click here!

Expert eyes CityCats for London

Expert eyes CityCats for London
Tony Moore | September 18, 2008

The Englishman keeping an eye on London's inner-city congestion tax system has fallen in love with Brisbane's CityCats.

John Mason is head of enforcement operations for Transport for London, which runs London's congestion-tax system, which charges motorists to drive into London's CBD.

In Brisbane this week for the Queensland Transport Infrastructure Summit, Mr Mason said London should investigate how to introduce the CityCat scheme for the Thames River.

"I couldn't imagine a better way to go to work than go on a boat," he said.

"And they're very similar when you think about it - London and Brisbane - if you look at the way the river goes through the city centre.

"When I go back to London I will be speaking to people about what we can learn from Brisbane."

Mr Mason said London did not use the Thames effectively for public transport.

"The new (London) mayor, Boris Johnson, has said that he wants to explore using 'up the waterways' more than we do," he said.

"We do have catamarans - but I think we only have one or two and they're all for tourists."

He said most of the ferries and catamarans were expensive and directed to tourists, not to help London's inner-city workers.

He said a tourist-style ferry trip for his family on the Thames of an equivalent distance from South Bank to St Lucia cost ?70 ($157) for four people.

In Brisbane, a return off-peak trip on a CityCat would cost $15.40 for three adults and one child.

Mr Mason said he appreciated there might be overcrowding on the Brisbane's CityCat service during peak times, but said London could learn from the Brisbane example.

"The way that you use the river here, I think is fantastic," he said.

Canberra would do well to immitate Brisbane and introduce a proper commuter ferry service across its lake.

[ozbob]

http://www.transinfo.qld.gov.au/qt/translin.nsf/index/media_alert081126

CityCat and CityFerry services

Due to the debris in the river from last week?s storms, CityCat and CityFerry services will operate during daylight hours only until further notice.

On Monday 1 December 2008, a further inspection of the Brisbane River will be undertaken to determine if ferry services can resume operating safely at night.

CityCat and CityFerry services will be suspended after approximately 6pm with the last upstream CityCat service departing Riverside for UQ at 6.02pm and the last downstream CityCat service departing Riverside for Apollo Road at 6pm.

This is in the interest of passenger and crew safety.

See below for alternative travel options including shuttle buses operating weekdays and normal Brisbane Transport services operating on the weekends.

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Brisbane's CityCats to resume night services

Brisbane's CityCats to resume night services
Article from: The Courier-Mail

By Alison Sandy

December 03, 2008 05:40pm

CITYCATS will resume night-time operations on Thursday but will still operate at a reduced speed after services were hit by storm debris.
Only daily services have been provided for the past week after the entire operation was cancelled almost a fortnight ago because of the storm debris.

Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said the council had been given the green light from Maritime Safety Queensland from ferry operators.

"We have an obligation to our CityCat and ferry passengers to take every precaution necessary if there's a potential for debris in the river," he said.

"We expect the reduced speed to continue until early next week as a precautionary measure," he said.

"Day services will also continue to run at the reduced top speed of 15 knots until further notice."

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

CityCat pilot brought baby to work in backpack

CityCat pilot brought baby to work in backpack
Article from: The Courier-Mail

By Robyn Ironside

December 22, 2008 11:00pm

A CITYCAT pilot who came to work with her baby strapped on her back has sparked a safety investigation after passengers raised their concerns.

They noticed the woman was operating the new-model CityCat yesterday with the infant in a backpack.

A Brisbane City Council spokesman said the company that operated and maintained the fast-moving ferries, TransdevTSL, had been told of the incident.

"TransdevTSL advise that safety is paramount and they assure council that the appropriate action will be taken to ensure this will not happen again," a statement issued by the council said.

The spokesman declined to say if any action would be taken against the pilot.

Queensland Working Women's Service acting director Deidre Morrow said it could be very challenging for working mothers when childcare arrangements fell through at the last minute.

"I can't over-emphasise the need for employers to train and explain their policies so employees know what can be done and what can be accommodated in these situations," Ms Morrow said.

"It can be very difficult for an employee to know what to do when they are needed and expected at work, but for whatever reason, they don't have child care."

She said it was reasonable to expect large employers to anticipate events such as a sudden change in childcare arrangements, and have strategies to deal with them.

"Hopefully this woman is not treated too harshly. That would be our main concern," said Ms Morrow.

"We're happy to talk to her and provide any advice and guidance."

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

'Drunk' boaties charged after Brisbane River accident

'Drunk' boaties charged after Brisbane River accident
Article from: The Courier-Mail

By Robyn Ironside

January 02, 2009 11:20am

A CITYCAT driver had to take evasive action when a vessel allegedly steered towards it on the Brisbane River leading to the arrest of two men.

Water Police at Dockside Marina, Kangaroo Point, intercepted the boat a short time after it allegedly collided with a moored vessel about 9pm on Tuesday.

Two men from the boat were taken into custody after allegedly struggling with police.

A 42-year-old man from Kangaroo Point was charged with dangerous operation of a vessel, failing to provide a breath specimen, unlicensed driving of a vessel and assaulting and obstructing police.

The second man, 49, from Western Australia, was charged with driving a vessel with a blood alcohol concentration, unlicensed driving of a vessel and obstructing and assaulting police.

One man will appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on January 7 and the other on January 21.

[ozbob]

Walked over the Goodwill bridge today.





Photographs R Dow 11th August 2009

[Sunbus610]

Myself and few others sure found out about this one when we went to board CityCat services at the Gardens Point stop this afternoon:- QUT Gardens Point CityCat terminal closed for maintenance. There certainly wasn't too much prior warning on the TRANSLink website a day or two beforehand which in turn caught a few commuters unawares this arvo

[ozbob]

Some photographs from Gardens Point QUT









Photographs R Dow 25th November 2009

[ozbob]

Brisbane Ferry and Terminal at Eagle St





Photographs R Dow 10th December 2009

[ozbob]

Late afternoon on the river









Photographs R Dow 15th December 2009

[Sunbus610]

16th CityCat "Gootcha" launched ~ Brisbane's first CityCat in AOA HERE

[Sunbus610]

A bit too close for comfort perhaps?
Source ~ Near Map view

[Golliwog]

Lol, does everyone just go around nearmap these days looking for where the seams are in their pictures?

[Sunbus610]

Thanks Golliwog, oh dear.....that is embarrassing of me ......BTW, I just happened to stumble across it by accident!!

[Otto]

That's not as bad as the one and a half carraige EMU on the Cleveland line !

[Golliwog]

I remember when that train derailed in Central (last year I think) and I ended up catching a train hom early afternoon before they had got it back on the tracks. What was interesting though was that they had taken away the front 5 cars that were still on the tracks so it just looked kind of bizarre having this one car when you're so used to seeing it as part of a set.

[Sunbus610]

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Wednesday, September 29, 2010

CityCat Terminal development application approved

A new CityCat Terminal in Brisbane's north is one step closer following approval of a development application by the Queensland Government through the Urban Land Development Authority (ULDA).

Premier Anna Bligh said the ULDA and Brisbane City Council (BCC) have been working in partnership to deliver a new CityCat terminal on Macarthur Avenue, within the Northshore Hamilton Urban Development Area (UDA).

Read the full MMS HERE

==============

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Anna Bligh
29/09/2010

CityCat Terminal development application approved

A new CityCat Terminal in Brisbane's north is one step closer following approval of a development application by the Queensland Government through the Urban Land Development Authority (ULDA).

Premier Anna Bligh said the ULDA and Brisbane City Council (BCC) have been working in partnership to deliver a new CityCat terminal on Macarthur Avenue, within the Northshore Hamilton Urban Development Area (UDA).

Ms Bligh said the new $5 million terminal will provide easier access to the city and surrounding riverside suburbs adding even more to the quality of the development for future residents.

"The construction of the terminal is expected to commence in early 2011 and be completed by the end of September 2011 and BCC are expected to provide CityCat services at the new terminal early in 2012," she said.

The new terminal is being funded by State Government through the ULDA and jointly delivered with the BCC. Upon completion it will be handed over to the council.

The Premier said the design of the terminal draws on the history of the site, reflecting the shape of a shipping container while complementing the nearby Riverside Café.

"The early provision of public transport facilities provides even more incentive for developers, industry, residents and businesses to become part of the Northshore Hamilton community," she said.

Features of the new Northshore Hamilton CityCat terminal include:

·a dual-berth pontoon, which will allow two vessels to stop at the terminal at the same time

·equitable access and approximately 24 seats in the onshore waiting area

·a sheltered ramp, waiting area and gangway.

The Premier said the CityCat terminal is an important piece in the Northshore Hamilton UDA jigsaw.

"The addition of the iconic BCC CityCat service will be a significant attractor for residential, retail and commercial development in the UDA," she said.

"The Northshore Hamilton UDA is set to become a hub for Brisbane's north, taking advantage of the UDAs fabulous location on the Brisbane River and the new terminal brings that goal closer."

Declared on 28 March 2008 and located six kilometres from the Brisbane CBD, the Northshore Hamilton UDA covers 304-hectares of land, with a two kilometre river frontage.

In April 2010 the ULDA was handed land assets and obligations within the Northshore Hamilton UDA through transfer of Port of Brisbane.

ULDA CEO Paul Eagles said the Northshore Hamilton UDA includes land between Kingsford Smith Drive and the Brisbane River, extending from Bretts Wharf to the west and the Gateway Motorway to the east.

"The Northshore Hamilton UDA is close to some of Brisbane's most important economic drivers, including the Brisbane Airport and the Australia Trade Coast precinct," he said.

==============================================================

[Emmie]

2 new terminals are good news, as far as they go, but both Teneriffe and Hamilton are on the north bank. To make this extension of the ferry routes truly logical, there really needs tomb a south bank terminal between them, perhaps at Bulimba. I wonder whether the lack of such a stop has anything to do with the fact that this would have to be PAID for, rather than relying on developers to foot the bill?  Not that I'm opposed to developers paying for PT, but it's harder to arrange in an established suburb than in places where land use is changing. 

[#Metro]

With more stops and an already long dwell time, I think the CityCat will become very slow.
Maybe there needs to be two CityCat lines on skip-stop to speed things up.

[Golliwog]

I'm not a fan of skip stop. It makes the asusmption that most people are traveling to and from the City.

[#Metro]

I understand that people might not be fans of skip-stop. Or two separate routes / "sectorised" ferries. While we can't assume that everybody is going to the city (go card data should clear this up) we can't also assume that a significant portion aren't or that everyone is happy with sitting through an already slow service stopping at all stations.

Relative travel time also matters. The ferry is quite slow and dwells at pontoons are lengthy.
Skip stops mean that minor stops are allocated to one service or another. This is one of the reasons why express ferry services
near peak hour have been introduced.

There is already a limited skip stop pattern in the sense CityCat does not stop at the CityFerry stops and Tenneriffe for example.

A new service pattern should be devised IMHO to be faster. There is an opportunity to convert the CityFerry stops into a separate CityCat line and portion off some of the stops to make both services fast.

[ozbob]

Courier Mail --> CityCat smashes into Brett's Wharf  Minor incident.

[ozbob]

From Customs House









Photographs R Dow 5th November 2010

[Golliwog]

Meant to post these up earlier. I took these on ANZAC Day.

This is the first down river service, and is a short timelapse from QUT Gardens Point around to Riverside.

This is later in the morning heading up river from South Bank 1/2 to UQ.

[ozbob]

Presently at New Farm Ferry terminal.  Interesting procession of CityCats and the CityFerry doing the regular crossings.  The cats don't seem overloaded ...  There were two SNOs who got off a downstream service and headed back on the next upstream run ...













Photographs R Dow 18th May 2011

[ozbob]

Moggill Ferry from train near Riverview



Photograph R Dow 12th July 2011

[Golliwog]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1315535623

Northshore Hamilton CityCat terminal opening soon

Brisbane's newest CityCat terminal - Northshore Hamilton - will be open for services from Sunday 2 October.

Services will run regularly over the weekend, and during peak hours, Monday to Friday.

A new timetable will be available soon.

Find out more about the open day event, being held on Sunday 2 October.

Image courtesy of the Urban Land Development Authority.
Affected Services

    CityCat

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/services-and-timetables/event-transport/details/518

Northshore Hamilton CityCat terminal open day


In brief

    Northshore Hamilton ferry station
    Dates:Sunday, 2 October
    Start:10:00am
    Finish:1:00pm

Public transport services to the event

An open day for Brisbane's newest CityCat terminal - Northshore Hamilton - will be held on Sunday 2 October, between 10am and 1pm.

Enjoy a barbeque, children's activities and entertainment in the Northshore Riverside Park on Macarthur Avenue, next to the new terminal.

Use the journey planner to find out which scheduled bus and train services travel to Hamilton.
Public transport services from the event

Use the journey planner to find out which scheduled bus and train services travel from Hamilton.
Other information

Check service updates for current service status and upcoming changes before you travel.

Normal TransLink conditions and fares apply on all scheduled services.

Image courtesy of the Urban Land Development Authority.

[ozbob]

CityCats photographed from Kurilpa bridge











Photographs R Dow 4th October 2011

[ozbob]

Went for a run down the river from UQ to Apollo Road and back to Riverside





































Photographs R Dow 11th October 2011

[ozbob]

The trip down and back on the river cost zero dollars on the go card, as I was on a continuation of travel. Transfer ex 109 bus UQ Lakes.

Educating tourists and others would help in avoiding the traps of paper singles tickets and high costs.  I like Gazza's suggestion of $1 go cards.  The more I think about it the more I am convinced this is the way forward.  I spoke with an American tourist yesterday who said they had been given a go card, and liked using it. But they would have probably baulked at a $10 up front cost.

I was very impressed with the friendly, and professional manner of the crew on the CityCats.

Patronage was light, off peak. 

A run down the river on the CityCat is a must do activity for all tourists.  More work is needed to promote and support.

[SurfRail]

TransLink has released an invitation to offer for research modelling on including various Moreton Bay ferry services into the TransLink network. 

[colinw]

If that was combined with bringing the buses on North Stradbroke Island under TransLink / Go Card (currently QCONNECT) it could be a winner.

[ozbob]

Some random photographs while waiting for the Queen ...













Photographs R Dow 24th October 2011

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail Quest click here!

CityCat crew rush to rescue of boat on fire at Bulimba

CityCat crew rush to rescue of boat on fire at Bulimba

   by: Taryn Davis
   From: Quest Newspapers
   November 14, 2011 10:28AM

There were dramatic scenes on the Brisbane River yesterday when a boat anchored at Bulimba caught fire.

A nearby CityCat crew rushed to the stricken boat to put out the fire but could not find anyone onboard.

Newstead resident Margie Chafin saw all the action from her balcony.

"It was really blazing for a while ... we couldn't see anybody on the boat,'' she said.

"We just saw the fire from our balcony across the river, and (we) were impressed at how quickly the CityCat arrived and provided aid.

"A skiff pulled up while the CityCat was there trying to put out the fire with its extinguisher.

"The skiff used an extinguisher as well and between the two of them they were actually able to get it under control.''

Ms Chafin said the burnt boat was still moored across the river near Bulimba ferry terminal and someone was onboard this morning.

Public and Active Transport Chairman Julian Simmonds confirmed the incident took place yesterday afternoon, and praised the quick work of the CityCat operators.

"A CityCat filled with about 30 passengers passed a moored yacht near Bulimba which was on fire at about 3.30pm yesterday," Cr Simmonds said.

"Officers on board called emergency services and after moving passengers inside, they were able to fight the blaze with onboard fire extinguishers.

"Another CityCat nearby picked up emergency service workers as they arrived on the riverbank, and ferried them over to the yacht where they boarded and continued working to put out the fire.

"I'd like to congratulate everyone involved for their quick thinking in an emergency - it's satisfying to know our passengers are in such safe hands," he said.

[SurfRail]

Took a trip up to Northshore on the weekend.

The cafe there was packed, and plenty of people were using the terminal as an extremely good viewing platform for the departure of the Pacific Dawn around 2:00pm.   Fascinating being on and seeing Citycats navigating in and around a cruise ship.

[Set in train]

Took a trip up to Northshore on the weekend.

The cafe there was packed, and plenty of people were using the terminal as an extremely good viewing platform for the departure of the Pacific Dawn around 2:00pm.   Fascinating being on and seeing Citycats navigating in and around a cruise ship.

Great to read, this is ferry service as it should be.

Frequency of City Cats is wonderful, all we need is more funding for dual berth terminals and paper towels to dry hands in the bathrooms!

[ozbob]

From the Sunday Mail 29th January 2012 page 36

CityCat ferries to sell go cards