Transdev Brisbane Ferries, formerly Metrolink Queensland and TransdevTSL Brisbane Ferries, was the operator of the CityCat, CityHopper, and Cross River ferry networks on the Brisbane River in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia from November 2003 until November 2020. The network, operated under contract to the Brisbane City Council, formed part of the Translink integrated public transport scheme.
It was succeeded by RiverCity Ferries, who took over operations from 2020.
History In August 1991, River Connections took over the operation of Brisbane City Council's fleet of Cityferries. CityCat services began in November 1996 with six vessels, each capable of carrying 149 passengers, with two further vessels added to the fleet in 1998.Brisbane CityCats BSC Marine In December 1998 services east of Norman Park were withdrawn.Wind of change has no mercy on ferry The Courier Mail 4 December 1998
In November 2003, Metrolink Queensland (a joint venture between Transdev and Transfield Services) was contracted to operate CityCat and Cityferry services for seven years.Our History Transdev
In 2004, when Translink was established, the first second generation CityCat (Beenung-urrung) was introduced and passenger numbers increased by 26%. Late 2004 saw the restructuring of the Cityferry network which included more late night services. In response to the 31% increase in demand for CityCat services in 2005, another second generation CityCat (Tunamun) was introduced.
In January 2007, services were reinstated to Apollo Road.
In 2008, Metrolink Queensland was rebranded as TransdevTSL Brisbane Ferries, to align with the TransdevTSL branding of Transdev and Transfield joint ventures across Australia. Also in 2008, three new CityCats (Meeandah, Wilwinpa and Ya-wa-gara) were launched and the Apollo Road wharf was reopened. In 2009 and 2010, three new CityCats (Mahreel, Kuluwin and Gootcha) were added to the fleet. Early 2010 saw the introduction of three express services during morning peak times. The second and third generation vessels have a capacity of 162 passengers.CityCat Timetable Transdev Brisbane Ferries 15 June 2015
In November 2010, a new contract for 10 years commenced.Transfield Services JV wins 150 million renewal of Brisbane CityCat and CityFerries contract Transfield Services 15 September 2010 In December 2010 the joint venture was dissolved with Transfield Services selling its shares to Transdev.Half Year Report 31 December 2010 Transfield Services
All services were suspended on 10 January 2011 due to severe weather prior to the 2011 Brisbane floods. While the CityCat and ferry fleet escaped damage by mooring downstream at the Rivergate Marina or Manly harbour, much of the infrastructure was damaged or destroyed by the floods, causing services to be cancelled indefinitely. Partial CityCat and CityFerry services recommenced on 14 February 2011, using fifteen repaired wharves. Six of the remaining wharves opened using rescued and repaired pontoons on 18 April 2011.
In 2010, Transfield sold its 50% share in TransdevTSL, and all TransdevTSL operations including Brisbane Ferries became 100% Transdev owned. In March 2011, Transdev merged with Veolia Transport (parent of Veolia Transport Queensland) to form Veolia Transdev.
The upgraded West End was opened at the end of July 2011. A new terminal at Northshore Hamilton opened in October 2011.
In order to revitalise patronage on the inner city ferry route, the council converted it into a free service targeted at tourists in 2012. As part of this change, three of the existing fleet of ferries were painted red to be dedicated to the route, named CityHopper.
In July 2013, Veolia Transdev was renamed back to Transdev (with a different logo). As part of the rebranding, TransdevTSL Brisbane Ferries was rebranded as Transdev Brisbane Ferries, and became a subsidiary of Transdev Australasia.A New Brand for Brisbane Ferries Transdev
All CityHopper and CityFerry services were suspended 25 July 2020, due to safety concerns over the ageing fleet. From 7 August CityCats started servicing Holman St.
Transdev Brisbane Ferries ceased operating on 3 November 2020, with the next contract awarded to RiverCity Ferries.SeaLink Travel Group Onboard As Brisbane's New Ferry Operator Sealink Travel Group 29 June 2020
Services CityCat CityCat services operate from UQ St Lucia to Northshore Hamilton calling at West End, Guyatt Park, Regatta, Milton, North Quay, South Bank, QUT Gardens Point, Riverside, Sydney Street, Mowbray Park, New Farm Park, Hawthorne, Bulimba, Teneriffe, Bretts Wharf and Apollo Road. Not all CityCat services stop all stops, with some peak time express services operating.
CityHopper CityHopper is an inner city service between North Quay and Sydney Street, stopping at South Bank, Maritime Museum, Thornton Street, Eagle Street Pier, Holman Street and Dockside. CityHopper services were suspended in July 2020 due to deterioration in the hulls of the ferries.
Cross River Cross River services operate at three locations. Bulimba Teneriffe New Farm Park Norman Park Holman Street Eagle Street Thornton Street known as the Kangaroo Point Cross River Service.
Cross River services were suspended in July 2020 due to deterioration in the hulls of the ferries. The Bulimba to Teneriffe service resumed 17 August 2020.CityHopper and Cross River ferries suspended TransLink 17 August 2020
Fleet As at December 2018, Transdev Brisbane Ferries's fleet consisted of 22 CityCats, 3 CityHoppers and 6 CityFerries.Fast Facts Transdev Brisbane Ferries The fleet has grown in size to cater for the significant increase in patronage on CityCat ferry services (by 88% in the last six years). Apart from the support vessels, the fleet is owned by Brisbane City Council and operated by Transdev.
CityCat The CityCat vessels are catamarans, and named after the Aboriginal place names for various parts of the Brisbane River and adjacent areas (with the exception of the 19th CityCat, the Spirit of Brisbane, which honours the 2011 flood recovery volunteers). All CityCats are operated by a crew of three - a master, a deck hand and a ticket seller.
On 26 November 2019, Transdev Brisbane Ferries commenced operating the new double-decker CityCat, Yoogera, on behalf of Brisbane City Council. Yoogera is the first of the Fourth Generation CityCats, of which Council plans to introduce 7 by 2023. It is the twenty-second CityCat to be built.
First generation First generation CityCats have a capacity of 149 passengers. NameMMSICall signBuilderLaunchedNamesakeReferenceWrap ThemeImageKurilpa50357530011930QEBrisbane Ship ConstructionsNovember 1996West End Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white Mirbarpa50357560012012QEBrisbane Ship ConstructionsNovember 1996Indooroopilly Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white Barrambin50357550012013QEBrisbane Ship ConstructionsNovember 1996Breakfast Creek Commemoration of 20 Years of CityCat servicesTugulawa50357540012014QEBrisbane Ship ConstructionsNovember 1996Bulimba Brisbane Bandits baseball team Mianjin 50357580012132QEBrisbane Ship ConstructionsDecember 1996Gardens Point Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and whiteBinkinba50357570012133QEBrisbane Ship ConstructionsDecember 1996New FarmBrisbane Bullets basketball teamMooroolbin50357590020481QEBrisbane Ship ConstructionsOctober 1998Hamilton SandbankQueensland Maroons State of Origin team Baneraba50357610020854QEBrisbane Ship ConstructionsDecember 1998Toowong Brisbane Global Rugby Tens tournament
Second generation Second generation CityCats have a capacity of 162 passengers. NameMMSICall signBuilderLaunchedNamesakeReferenceWrap ThemeImageBeenung-urrung50357620026483QENorman R Wright & SonsAugust 2004 (sunk on 1 March 2022 due to collision with a houseboat)Highgate HillBrisbane Lions AFL teamTunamun50357630026579QENorman R Wright & SonsJune 2005Petrie BightBrisbane Roar Football Club (soccer)Meeandah50357640028744QENorman R Wright & SonsFebruary 2008MeeandahINAS Global Games 2019Wilwinpa50357650028744QENorman R Wright & SonsJune 2008Old ObservatoryBrisbane Heat Twenty20 cricket teamYa-wa-gara50357660027885QENorman R Wright & SonsNovember 2008Breakfast CreekATP Cup tennis tournamentMahreel50357670027885QENorman R Wright & SonsApril 2009Spring Hill Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white
Third generation Third generation CityCats have a capacity of 162 passengers. NameMMSICall signBuilderLaunchedNamesakeReferenceWrap ThemeImageKuluwin50357680029438QENorman R Wright & SonsFebruary 2010Wooloowin Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and whiteGootcha50357690029440QENorman R Wright & SonsJuly 2010Toowong Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white Walan50357710029439QENorman R Wright & SonsDecember 2010Herston Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white Mudherri50357720029437QENorman R Wright & SonsJuly 2011Murarrie Queensland Reds rugby union teamSpirit of Brisbane50358620029436QENorman R Wright & SonsOctober 2011Commemorates the city's recovery following the 2011 Brisbane floods.Nar-dha503017210A3K0202Norman R Wright & SonsNovember 2014NudgeeThe 2014 G20 Brisbane summitGilwunpa50302567032038QENorman R Wright & SonsJune 2015NundahQueensland Firebird colours cover Brisbane CityCat ferry to mark 10 straight wins 612 ABC Brisbane 3 June 2015Queensland Firebirds
Fourth generation Two fourth generation CityCats were delivered in 2019/2020. They have a capacity of 170 passengers, including 20 on an open upper deck, plus more space for wheelchairs and bicycles than earlier generations. The vessels which each cost $3.7 million, are being constructed at Murarrie by Aus Ships.
NameMMSICall signBuilderLaunchedNamesakeReferenceWrap ThemeImageYoogera503092890456106Aus Ships GroupOctober 2019Mouth of Breakfast CreekNeville Bonner503102970457882Aus Ships GroupAugust 2020Neville Bonner
CityHopper CityHopper is the inner city ferry service. These are powered by Scania engines, have a maximum speed of and are operated by a crew of one.
NameCall signBuilderLaunchedNamesakePassengersImageMermaid4372QECNorman Park Boat Builders1987HMS Mermaid (1817), ship used by John Oxley who explored the Brisbane River in December 182378Doomba4902QENorman R Wright & Sons1989SS Doomba78Otter4908QENorman R Wright & Sons1989HMQS Otter78
CityFerry CityFerry covers shorter distance and cross-river services. These are powered by Perkins engines, have a maximum speed of and are operated by a crew of one.
NameCall signBuilderLaunchedNamesakePassengersImageBulimbaNorman R Wright & Sons1984Bulimba47Lucinda1185QENorman Park Boat Builders1986Lucinda47Koopa1124QENorman Park Boat Builders1986SS Koopa, the Bribie Island ferry from 1912 to 196347Gayundah1283QENorman Park Boat Builders1986HMQS Gayundah47John Oxley6950QENorman R Wright & Sons1990John Oxley47Kalparrin9570QEQueensland Port Services1993An Aboriginal word meaning "to help carry a load"47
Support vessels TransDev owns two support vessels. NameIDBuilderLaunchedTypeImageTenacityRiver Connections1991Maintenance bargeTenaciousAus Boats1993Fuel barge
Ferry network The wharves are given in geographical order, heading upstream along the Brisbane River.
WharfStopping patternSE = SpeedyCat Express (weekday peak)CC = CityCatCH = CityHopperCF = CityFerry (cross river)Connections SE CC CH CF CF CFNorthshore HamiltonApollo Road Bretts WharfBulimba Teneriffe Blue CityGliderHawthorne New Farm ParkNorman ParkMowbray ParkSydney StreetDocksideHoward Smith WharvesConstruction commences late 2020Holman StreetRiversideEagle Street PierThornton StreetMaritime MuseumSouth Bank 3QUT Gardens PointSouth Bank 1 & 2North QuayMiltonRegattaGuyatt ParkWest End Blue CityGliderUQ St Lucia UQ Lakes busway station
Wharf damage