St Kilda Ferry commuter trial disappoints in first week of trial
It’s meant to help commuters living in the west get off the roads and into work quicker, but a new commuter ferry trial has had a disappointing intake in its first week — and the state government says it won’t step in to help.
Inner South
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A new commuter ferry designed to get people to work quicker has suffered a blow, after only five people jumped on board the first trial run.
The St Kilda Ferry service is designed to get western commuters into the city in just over 30 minutes, and is running between Williamstown and Port Melbourne every weekday from February 11 to 27.
When Leader caught the ferry this week, there were only five other passengers for the combined 7am and 8am service, most of whom said they wouldn’t use it regularly because it was too expensive.
But the operator is adamant passenger numbers will grow.
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Tickets cost $7 each way during the trial, and the 15-minute ferry ride is timed to coincide with the 109 tram to Spring St so city commuters still have to use their Myki.
It comes after a failed Port Phillip Ferries commuter trial from Docklands to Wyndham Harbour in 2016, when the idea of a permanent service was dumped due to poor patronage.
Passengers on this week’s St Kilda Ferry service said while it was a beautiful way to get to work and featured sweeping views of the city, it was probably not a long-term option for commuters.
“It’s absolutely beautiful and I would use it once a week if it continued, but I’m not sure about using it every day,” a Williamstown resident said.
“It’s an extra ($14 a day) and costs would add up over a week.”
Another woman said she loved the idea of it, but wasn’t sure if she’d use it regularly because of cost and convenience.
Operator Rob Egan said he’d been surprised by the low numbers, but said it wasn’t because people weren’t interested.
He said the second day had stronger numbers, with about 20 people hopping aboard the morning runs despite windy weather, as well as three people booking seats for the whole week.
“I thought we’d be booked out but I don’t think people are turned off, we just made a mistake about posting it (on Facebook) too early and they’ve forgotten it’s happening,” Mr Egan said.
“We’ll just keep at it and are still confident this is doable.”
The ferry holds up to 48 people, but Mr Egan said the company was looking into getting a bigger vessel to cater for more commuters and bikes.
Mr Egan also welcomed outside support to make it a reality, but despite increasingly-clogged roads and a greater need for commuting options in the west, a spokesman for Transport Minister Jacinta Allan ruled out financially supporting the private service.
Spokesman Jordy Jeffrey-Bailey said the government was already supporting many projects for the people living in the area.
“Whether it’s the West Gate Tunnel, Metro Tunnel or the $1 billion Western Roads Package, the Labor Government is getting on with delivering the projects the people of the west need,” he said.
“We understand a private operator is carrying out a trial ferry service (and) encourage passengers in those areas to try it out.”
On weekdays, the 15-minute service 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.
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