Action for Public Transport (N.S.W.) Inc.

New ticket selling and passenger control arrangements trialled at Circular Quay last weekend should prevent a recurrence of the chaos that confronted ferry passengers last Christmas, according to the consumer group, Action for Public Transport.

A spokesman for APT, Allan Miles, said that additional facilities include fixed and moveable barriers and queuing races as well as large direction signs. These are mainly for people using the more popular Manly and Taronga Zoo ferries. "Manly ferries are also running every 20 minutes to clear the crowds," Mr Miles said.

During the 2003/04 holiday season, huge crowds caused congestion, inconvenience, and public safety issues at the Circular Quay transport interchange. Media coverage was intense, and comments were scathing.

This year, action has been taken to avoid a repeat of the 2003 chaos, Mr Miles said. Among the many authorities involved are CityRail, City of Sydney, Sydney Ferries Corporation (SFC), Sydney Harbour Foreshores Authority, Roads & Traffic Authority and NSW Police. "Co-operation between all of these is essential for good signage and passenger flow," Mr Miles said. "It only takes one person to stop and ponder which direction to take and a hundred other people in the flow behind can be delayed."

Mr Miles said that newspaper and radio ads have also urged people to buy tickets before they get to Circular Quay. "The DayTripper at $15 is a bargain" Mr Miles said. "A return ferry ticket to Manly is now $12, and a DayTripper covers travel on buses, trains and ferries." DayTripper tickets can be bought from bus drivers and railway stations.

Mr Miles said that FerryTen tickets are also useful. "FerryTen tickets give ten trips at a reduced price, and the one ticket can be used by each member of a family or group passing through the turnstiles," he said.

While inspecting the new arrangements last Saturday, APT suggested some further improvements to Sydney Ferries management, Mr Miles said, and he hoped these would be considered.

Meanwhile, at the other end of town, holiday bus travellers at Railway Square are still frustrated by an information booth that keeps office hours, remains shut at weekends, and doesn't sell tickets.

Contact: Allan Miles 9516-1906