Call it the little boat that could.
After a decade of political bickering over build quality and delivery times, Sydney’s latest public transport river rat has been imported from Tasmania to gently ply Sydney’s Paramatta River and dutifully challenge its epic tides — that even rowers dread.
The run, carved through what ordinarily would be a mangrove swamp that has challenged most boats, will now be serviced by “the first new Australian-built Parramatta River Class ferry” that just ploughed its way across Bass Strait.
The Parramatta ferry run is emblematic of Sydney’s persistent struggle between utilitarian access to beauty, and functionalism. It’s a transport mode that lifts and shifts people, like a train vs a slow boat from the river to town.
What few, aside from Parramatta’s residents, realise is that a fast ferry from the last stop on the river can be quite a swift service into town if it’s limited to a few stops. Unlike trains or metro lines, the corridor is there: you’re lucky if a wharf replacement tips $10 million. Chump change compared to rail.
They can move people, and do, and if they can navigate existing infrastructure, they are much more than a cheap tourist ride. Not that there’s anything with that.
“These ferries will be a significant improvement on ferries procured by the former government that did not fit under some bridges with passengers on the top deck, contained asbestos, were a potential fire risk and had wheelhouse windows that made night operations dangerous,” boomed NSW premier Chris Minns and minister for transport Jo Haylen in a joint statement.
“The seven new vessels will replace the RiverCat and SuperCat vessels which will be retired after 30 years of service,” the premier said.
“Each vessel in the new Parramatta River Class fleet will have a 200-person capacity, while using 40 per cent less diesel and are also future-proofed for conversion to electric propulsion when the technology and network infrastructure become available.”
How the rest of Sydney’s harbour fleet goes on electrification is another question. It’s not really the point, though.
Sydney’s Harbour is a natural boundary. The preservation of public transport that traverses it may be symbolic but has now become functional. Being able to take a train, and then a boat can be all it takes to restore peace to an otherwise difficult Sunday.
Just don’t eat the fish.
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Sydney gets new ferries with alfresco top-deck seats removed for safety
