MP leads push to bring back direct Manly to Barangaroo peak hour ferries

Fed-up commuters are calling for the direct ferry service between Manly and the booming Barangaroo office hub to be brought back to cut morning travel times.

Commuters are calling for the return of a direct ferry service between Manly and Barangaroo to slash travel times.

Manly state Liberal MP James Griffin said he was being increasingly approached by northern beaches residents saying a direct service between the northern beaches and the growing corporate hub was urgently needed.

He said locals wanted him to lobby for the service as more people return to working on the western side of the CBD in the new high-rise office blocks sprouting up around the Barangaroo urban renewal precinct.

The MP said the area was becoming a major business and tourist hub with many northern beaches’ residents eager for a quicker ferry trip from Manly Wharf.

There has not been a direct ferry connection to Barangaroo, or nearby Darling Harbour, since Covid.

Manly state MP James Griffin believes the new Generation 2 Emerald-class ferries, operated by Transdev for Sydney Ferries, could be used on a proposed return of a direct Manly to Barangaroo peak-hour service. Picture: NSW Government

Passengers now have to travel to Circular Quay and change to ferries servicing Darling Harbour.

Sealink, the operator of Captain Cook Cruises, used to run a direct Manly to Barangaroo route from mid-2017, but discontinued it in September 2019 because of low passenger numbers.

The proposed direct service could drop peak hour northern beaches’ ferry commuters to Barangaroo Wharf. Picture: Monique Harmer

It said at the time the venture was “not viable to continue to operate” even though patronage was slowly increasing.

The Manly Fast Ferry stepped in soon after Sealink dropped out, but only took over the direct Barangaroo service for a short period.

As well as operating ferries to Circular Quay, it had a weekday commuter service between Manly and Darling Harbour, via Milsons Point and Pyrmont Bay.

Sealink used to operate a direct fast ferry service from Manly to Barangaroo. Picture: Adam Yip/ Manly Daily

But Covid sunk that service. NRMA, the owner of Manly Fast Ferry said at the time, the demand for the direct Darling Harbour/Pyrmont commuter had dropped significantly with more people working from home due to Covid-19 restrictions and lockdowns.

Mr Griffin, who worked at Barangaroo before being elected to parliament, said he knew the importance and value of a direct service from Manly.

He said a direct Barangaroo run could now be operated by private French-based transport giant Transdev, which runs Sydney Ferries on behalf of the government.

“More people are commuting back in to the city,’’ he said.

NSW Liberal MP for Manly, James Griffin, says northern beaches’ residents would benefit from a direct Manly to Barangaroo ferry service. Picture: Dylan Robinson

“Barangaroo is maturing as a destination and, over the years, is filling out its office space. It’s a huge hub.”

Mr Griffin pointed out that for the service to be reintroduced, docking “slots” would have to be made available at the Barangaroo Wharf and timetables created that did not clash with departure times from Circular Quay services at Manly Wharf.

“Unfortunately, there are some complexities to it, but that shouldn’t stop us from getting the job done.”

Transport for NSW said it tried to match ferry services to demand.

“Currently there is no plan to introduce a direct Manly to Barangaroo service,” a spokesman said.

“Frequent ferries between Manly and Circular Quay connect to F4 ferries between Circular Quay and Barangaroo.”

Originally published as MP leads push to bring back direct Manly to Barangaroo peak hour ferries