Bass & Flinders chosen for fast ferry to Manly

1:54 AM Tue 20 Jan 2009 GMT

'Bass & Flinders Catamaran' Bass & Flinders

Cruise company Bass and Flinders has been chosen to operate a fast ferry service to and from Manly, according to the announcement from the NSW government.

The high-speed service will replace the expensive and problem-plagued JetCat which was axed in last year's mini-budget.

NSW Transport Minister David Campbell said the government was now in final negotiations with Bass and Flinders Cruises on wharf access.

He said the company was aiming to start running up to eight services in the morning and afternoon peaks in February, although a firm start date would be announced once negotiations were complete.

'Bass and Flinders will provide services on a fully commercial basis with no government subsidy,' he said. 'They will take responsibility for all risks including fare levels, patronage, reliability, customer information, timetables and ticket sales.'

The wharf access agreement with Bass and Flinders will run through 2010, while the overall reform of Sydney Ferries continues, Campbell added.

The government had promised a replacement service by January 12, and said extra ferry services would be run to compensate for the loss of the JetCat on New Year's Eve.

A Sydney Ferries spokeswoman said there hadn't been any capacity problems since the JetCat was scrapped, despite Manly MP Mike Baird's comments that 'at least 100 people' were forced to stand during peak-hour services.

More at www.bassflinders.com.au

by Jeni Bone

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Bass & Flinders chosen for fast ferry to Manly

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