Action for Public Transport (N.S.W.) Inc.

Allan Miles, spokesman for Action for Public Transport, was commenting on the new peak hour ferry service on the Parramatta River to commence from 16th January. A private company, Palm Beach Ferry, will run the service.

See http://www.palmbeachferry.com.au.

“While these additional services are welcome,” Mr Miles said, “non-compatible ticket systems and different destinations may cause problems for passengers.”

Mr Miles said that passengers on SFC vessels can use single tickets, FerryTens or TravelPasses. “Palm Beach Ferry company uses different tickets and a different FerryTen,” Mr Miles said. “While the price difference is not significant,” he said, “someone on the wrong ferry with the wrong ticket will have to pay again.”

“This could be avoided,” Mr Miles said, “if the Ministry of Transport took control of the ferry services in the same way as they did for all the bus routes.” “All buses charge the same fare, regardless of ownership,” he said, “and a Sydney-wide TravelTen ticket will soon be available on all buses.”

“Passengers don’t care who owns the buses or what colour the ferries are painted,” he said. “They just want to get to their destination.”

Mr Miles said that the $2.50 Pensioner Excursion Ticket cannot be used on the private company ferry. “This will cause confusion, and perhaps some irritation, at wharves serviced by both organisations’ vessels,” he said.

Mr Miles said that the private ferry will service wharves at Bayview Park, Cabarita, Abbotsford and Chiswick, terminating at Darling Harbour.

“Sydney Ferries Corporation (SFC) full time services also call at Abbotsford and Chiswick,” he said, “and terminate at Circular Quay.” Mr Miles said that some vessels call at Milsons Point on the way, and some call at Darling Harbour.”

“Unless there are proper destinations signs on the vessels and on the wharves,” Mr Miles said, “people will end up at the wrong place.”

Contact: Allan Miles 9516-1906, Graeme Taylor 9909-1260