Ferry trial offers commuter service from Williamstown to Port Melbourne
A ferry trial from Williamstown will get commuters to Port Melbourne in 15 minutes and to Spring St in just over half an hour — but will it be faster and cheap enough to continue long-term?
Inner South
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A ferry trial designed to get commuters into the city in just over 30 minutes, between Williamstown and Port Melbourne, will kick off next month.
The three-week trial by St Kilda Ferry will run every weekday from February 11 to 27, and will be timed to coincide with the arrival of the 109 tram to Spring St.
Tickets will cost $7 each way during the trial.
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It comes after a failed Port Phillip Ferries commuter trial from Docklands to Wyndham Harbour in October 2016, when the idea of a permanent daily commuter service was dumped due to poor patronage.
But operator Rob Egan said he was confident this trial would succeed, as it wasn’t so weather dependent.
He said 15-minute services will run from Williamstown Gem Pier at 7am, 8am, 9am, 4pm and 5pm, and from Port Melbourne Beacon Cove at 7.30am, 8.30am, 9.30am, 4.30pm and 5.30pm.
“We can run this service 98 per cent of the time and people just don’t understand why it’s not already on offer,” Mr Egan said.
The trial ferry will hold up to 48 people, but Mr Egan said if successful, the company would look into getting a bigger vessel to cater for more commuters as well as bikes.
“I’d be disappointed if we didn’t fill the Williamstown to Port Melbourne morning service but even if we have 15 to 20 people, that’s going to be a success,” he said.
“It’s just about bringing more options to commuters.”
On Facebook, dozens of residents threw their support behind the trial, with Mary Doohan saying it would be a lovely way to start day.
“Fabulous and decent price,” she said.
Port Phillip Ferries, owned by business man Paul Little, is also considering offering a permanent Melbourne to Geelong commuter ferry this year, after a successful free trial between the cities in July.
Port Phillip Ferries also offers a twice daily leisure service between Docklands and Portarlington, and recently ran special trips between Geelong and Docklands for Cats games in Melbourne.
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