| 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 Hamilton on the Brisbane River.[2] TransdevTSL Brisbane Ferries's fleet currently consists of CityCats and CityFerries.[3]
Contents |
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]
TransdevTSL Brisbane Ferries operates Cityferry and CityCat services between the University of Queensland St Lucia campus and Hamilton on the Brisbane River. The CityCat operates between the University of Queensland and Northshore, Hamilton. Not all CityCat services stop all stops, with some peak time express services operating. The CityFerry operates two different services, Inner City Ferries services the inner city and Cross River Ferry services have less than 3 stops.[2]
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]
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 is fitted with WiFi allowing access to UQConnect and EduRoam, TransLink timetable information and Brisbane City Council's website.[3][11]
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]
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||