Mosman ferry route threatened under Transdev plans Mosman ferry route threatened under Transdev plans
The private operator of Sydney Ferries wants to cut a service to Mosman. This is why Mosman Council is fighting the change.
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Mosman commuters will be left with a longer journey times thanks to changes being pushed by the private operator of Sydney Ferries.
A report has revealed that Transdev knows locals will be impacted by the timetable shake up but still wants to go ahead with it.
The document released by Mosman Council details that Mayor Carolyn Corrigan brought her concerns to Transdev in a meeting.
“Transdev agreed that there would be some disadvantage to Mosman commuters,” the council report said.
“Concern is raised at the apparent disadvantage to Mosman commuters – yet improvement in the frequency of services for tourists visiting Taronga Zoo.”
Under the proposal Mosman will lose a ferry service as Transdev wants to merge the F6 Mosman Bay and the F2 Taronga Zoo routes.
A new loop service will operate anticlockwise in the morning from Circular Quay direct to the zoo and change direction around midday. This means tourists going to the zoo in the morning and coming back in the afternoon enjoy a direct trip across the harbour.
However those going from the Taronga stop in the morning to the city will have to call in at South Mosman, Mosman Bay, Old Cremorne and Cremorne Point before reaching Circular Quay.
On the return journey in the afternoon Taronga Zoo will be the final stop.
There would also be a reduction in the frequency of services during peak periods.
About 300 people at Mosman Bay and another 125 at Taronga Zoo wharf who use the ferry service to commute to work in the morning will be affected.
“These proposed changes will result in less frequent peak hour services to the city and longer travel times and these changes will disadvantage Mosman commuters,” Mayor Carolyn Corrigan told the Mosman Daily.
“I urge all residents, especially commuters, to have their say before the consultation closes on 14 Feb.”
In February last year the state government announced that Transdev had been awarded the Sydney Ferry contract for nine years. Transport Minister Andrew Constance said at the time that the improvements across the ferry network would save taxpayers $40 million and that customers “are really going to be the big winners”.
A Transport for NSW spokeswoman said both it and Transdev are seeking feedback from ferry customers on the proposed merge of the F2 and F6 ferries.
“The vast majority of F2 and F6 customers will benefit from the proposed changes which will mean more frequent services,” she said.
There will be 140 additional trips per week and a 20 minute daytime service frequency.
No final decisions have been made about any changes to the timetables, and submissions from commuters and stakeholders such as Mosman Council will be carefully considered, she added.
The issue will be debated at Mosman Council on Tuesday night.