TransdevTSL Brisbane Ferries

TransdevTSL Brisbane Ferries

Type	joint venture
Industry	public transport
Founded	2003
Headquarters	Brisbane, Australia
Area served	Brisbane River
Services	ferry transport
Parent	Transdev Transfield Services
Website	brisbaneferries.com.au

TransdevTSL Brisbane Ferries (formerly Metrolink Queensland) is the operator of the Brisbane City Council's ferry network under the TransLink integrated public transport scheme in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia.

Prior to 2003, Brisbane City Council contracted River Connections to provide CityCat and Cityferry services in Brisbane. In 2003, Brisbane City Council contracted TransdevTSL Brisbane Ferries (a joint venture between Transdev and Transfield Services) to operate and maintain CityCat and Cityferry services in Brisbane for at least seven years.^[1]

TransdevTSL Brisbane Ferries operates Cityferry and CityCat services between the University of Queensland St Lucia campus and Bulimba on the Brisbane River.^[2] TransdevTSL Brisbane Ferries's fleet currently consists of CityCats and CityFerries.^[3]

History

In 1991, River Connections took over the operation of Brisbane City Council's fleet of Cityferries. CityCat services began in 1996 with 6 vessels, each capable of carrying 149 passengers, with two further vessels added to the fleet in 1998. In 2003, Brisbane City Council contracted Metrolink Queensland (a joint venture between Transdev and Transfield Services) to operate and maintain CityCat and Cityferry services for at least seven years.^[1][3]

In 2004, when Translink was established, the first "second generation" CityCat (Beenung-urrung) was introduced and passenger numbers increased by 26%. Late 2004 saw the restructuring of the Cityferry network which included more late night services. In response to the 31% increase in demand for CityCat services in 2005, another "second generation" CityCat (Tunamun) was introduced. November 2006 marked the 10th anniversary of the commencement of CityCat services.

In 2008, Transfield Services and Transdev re-branded Metrolink Queensland to TransdevTSL Brisbane Ferries. Also in 2008, three new CityCats (Meeandah, Wilwinpa and Ya-wa-gara) were launched and the Apollo Road terminal was reopened. In 2009 and 2010, three new CityCats (Mahreel, Kuluwin and Gootcha) were added to the fleet. Early 2010 saw the introduction of three express services during morning peak times. The second and third generation vessels have a capacity of 162 passengers.^[1][2][3]

All services were suspended on 10 January 2011 due to severe weather prior to the 2011 Brisbane Floods.^[4] While the CityCat and ferry fleet escaped damage by mooring downstream at the Rivergate Marina or Manly harbour, much of the infrastructure was damaged or destroyed by the floods, causing services to be cancelled indefinitely.^[5] Partial CityCat and CityFerry services recommenced on 14 February 2011, using fifteen repaired wharves.^[6] Six of the remaining wharves opened using rescued and repaired pontoons on 18 April 2011. ^[7][8]

Services

Main article: TransLink (South East Queensland)

TransdevTSL Brisbane Ferries operates Cityferry and CityCat services between the University of Queensland St Lucia campus and Bulimba on the Brisbane River. The CityCat operates between the University of Queensland and Apollo Road, Bulimba, the CityCat doesn't stop at all stops. The CityFerry operates two different services, Inner City Ferries services the inner city and Cross River Ferry services have less than 3 stops.^[2]

Fleet

TransdevTSL Brisbane Ferries's fleet currently consists of 19 CityCats and 9 CityFerries.^[3] The fleet has grown in size to cater for the significant increase in patronage on CityCat ferry services (by 88% in the last six years).^[9]

CityCat

The CityCat vessels are catamarans, and named after the Aboriginal place names for various parts of the Brisbane River and adjacent areas (with the exception of the 19th CityCat, the Spirit of Brisbane, which honours the 2011 flood recovery volunteers^[10]). The English name is given in brackets, with the launch date. The entire CityCat fleet has been fitted with WiFi which can be accessed while on board.^[3][11]

First generation

First Generation CityCat catamaran

• Kurilpa (West End) — launched November 1996
• Mirbarpa (Indooroopilly) — launched November 1996
• Barrambin (Breakfast Creek) — launched November 1996
• Tugulawa (Brisbane River at Bulimba) — launched November 1996
• Mianjin (Gardens Point) — launched December 1996
• Binkinba (New Farm) — launched December 1996
• Mooroolbin (Hamilton Sandbank) — launched October 1998
• Baneraba (Toowong) — launched December 1998

Second generation

Second Generation CityCat catamaran

• Beenung-urrung (Highgate Hill) — launched August 2004
• Tunamun (Petrie Bight) — launched June 2005
• Meeandah (this suburb is next to Eagle Farm and Pinkenba) — launched February 2008
• Wilwinpa (Observatory) — launched June 2008
• Ya-wa-gara (Breakfast Creek) — launched November 2008
• Mahreel (Spring Hill) — launched April 2009

Third generation

Third Generation CityCat catamaran

• Kuluwin (Wooloowin) — launched February 2010
• Gootcha (Toowong) — launched July 2010
• Walan (Herston) — launched Dec 2010
• Mudherri (Murarrie) — launched July 2011
• Spirit of Brisbane — launched October 2011

CityFerry

CityFerry with upper deck

CityFerry covers a smaller area than the CityCat ferry service with stops spaced closer together, and is operated with monohull ferries, varying slightly in appearance.^[3]

• Bulimba
• Lucinda
• Koopa
• Otter
• Mermaid
• Doomba
• Gayundah
• Kalparrin
• John Oxley

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "TransdevTSL Brisbane Ferries History". http://www.brisbaneferries.com.au/history. Retrieved 24 March 2010. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "CityCat Timetable". pp. 6–7. http://download.translink.com.au/timetables/100222_citycat.pdf. Retrieved 24 March 2010. ^{[dead link]}
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f} "TransdevTSL Brisbane Ferries Fleet". http://www.brisbaneferries.com.au/fleet. Retrieved 24 March 2010. 
4. ^ O'Loan, James (11 January 2011). "CityCat and ferry services still suspended on Brisbane River". The Courier-Mail. Archived from the original on 14 January 2011. http://webcitation.org/1295004553266877. Retrieved 14 January 2011. 
5. ^ "CityCats: Long wait for restart". The Courier-Mail: p. 11. 14 January 2011. Archived from the original on 14 January 2011. http://webcitation.org/1295005428304390. Retrieved 14 January 2011. 
6. ^ "January 2011 flood event - CityCat and CityFerry services". Brisbane City Council. http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/traffic-transport/public-transport/citycat-ferry-services/index.htm. Retrieved 14 February 2011. 
7. ^ Sarah Vogler (18 April 2011). "All CityCat terminals except West End get back on deck". The Courier-Mail: p. 8. Archived from the original on 18 April 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5y2C9sZ8R. Retrieved 18 April 2011. 
8. ^ "More CityCat terminals opening soon". Spencer Howson, Melanie Arnost. Breakfast. 612 ABC Brisbane. 14 April 2011. Retrieved on 18 April 2011.
9. ^ "CityCat Terminal Expansion Project". Brisbane City Council. http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/traffic-transport/plans-projects/citycat-terminal-expansion-project/index.htm. Retrieved 15 December 2010. 
10. ^ "New CityCat honours Brisbane's flood heroes". Brisbane Times. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/new-citycat-honours-brisbanes-flood-heroes-20111003-1l57n.html. Retrieved 4 October 2011. 
11. ^ "CityCat and ferry services". http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:BASE::pc=PC_1231. Retrieved 1 June 2010. 

External links

• TransdevTSL Brisbane Ferries