By
Cherie Rowlands |
Sydney Ferries is now being privately-run with the first vessels operating under Harbour City Ferries from 28 July, in a contract awarded to the firm by the New South Wales (NSW) Government in Australia.
The seven-year franchise agreement states that NSW Government continues ownership of Sydney Ferries’ existing vessels and Balmain Shipyard, while also retaining control over fares and service levels.
NSW transport minister Gladys Berejiklian said: “I am pleased to welcome the new private operator five months before we promised. It will be business as usual for customers in the short term, but over time Harbour City Ferries will be expected to lift standards of customer service and work with the Government to deliver safer, cleaner and more reliable ferries.”
Harbour City Ferries is a joint partnership between between transport operators Transfield Services and Veolia Transdev Australia.
“Customers can be assured Sydney’s ferries are in the hands of a safe and experienced operator committed for the long term,” Harbour City Ferries CEO Steffen Faurby said. “Harbour City Ferries also has a management team with many decades of experience in transport and customer service operations.”
The service continues to operate under the Sydney Ferries name.