Transdev Brisbane Ferries

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. In December 1998 services east of Norman Park were withdrawn.
In November 2003, Metrolink Queensland was contracted to operate CityCat and Cityferry services for seven years.
In 2004, when Translink was established, the first second generation CityCat 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 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 were launched and the Apollo Road wharf was reopened. In 2009 and 2010, three new CityCats 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.
In November 2010, a new contract for 10 years commenced. In December 2010 the joint venture was dissolved with Transfield Services selling its shares to Transdev.
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 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. As part of the rebranding, TransdevTSL Brisbane Ferries was rebranded as Transdev Brisbane Ferries, and became a subsidiary of Transdev Australasia.
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.

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.

Fleet

As at December 2018, Transdev Brisbane Ferries's fleet consisted of 22 CityCats, 3 CityHoppers and 6 CityFerries. The fleet has grown in size to cater for the significant increase in patronage on CityCat ferry services. 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. 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.

Name	MMSI	Call sign	Builder	Launched	Namesake	Reference	Wrap Theme	Image
Kurilpa	503575300	11930QE	Brisbane Ship Constructions	November 1996	West End		Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white
Mirbarpa	503575600	12012QE	Brisbane Ship Constructions	November 1996	Indooroopilly		Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white
Barrambin	503575500	12013QE	Brisbane Ship Constructions	November 1996	Breakfast Creek		Commemoration of 20 Years of CityCat services
Tugulawa	503575400	12014QE	Brisbane Ship Constructions	November 1996	Bulimba		Brisbane Bandits baseball team
Mianjin	503575800	12132QE	Brisbane Ship Constructions	December 1996	Gardens Point		Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white
Binkinba	503575700	12133QE	Brisbane Ship Constructions	December 1996	New Farm		Brisbane Bullets basketball team
Mooroolbin	503575900	20481QE	Brisbane Ship Constructions	October 1998	Hamilton Sandbank		Queensland Maroons State of Origin team
Baneraba	503576100	20854QE	Brisbane Ship Constructions	December 1998	Toowong		Brisbane Global Rugby Tens tournament

Second generation

Second generation CityCats have a capacity of 162 passengers.

Name	MMSI	Call sign	Builder	Launched	Namesake	Reference	Wrap Theme	Image
Beenung-urrung	503576200	26483QE	Norman R Wright & Sons	August 2004	Highgate Hill		Brisbane Lions AFL team
Tunamun	503576300	26579QE	Norman R Wright & Sons	June 2005	Petrie Bight		Brisbane Roar Football Club
Meeandah	503576400	28744QE	Norman R Wright & Sons	February 2008	Meeandah		INAS Global Games 2019
Wilwinpa	503576500	28744QE	Norman R Wright & Sons	June 2008	Old Observatory		Brisbane Heat Twenty20 cricket team
Ya-wa-gara	503576600	27885QE	Norman R Wright & Sons	November 2008	Breakfast Creek		ATP Cup tennis tournament
Mahreel	503576700	27885QE	Norman R Wright & Sons	April 2009	Spring Hill		Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white

Third generation

Third generation CityCats have a capacity of 162 passengers.

Name	MMSI	Call sign	Builder	Launched	Namesake	Reference	Wrap Theme	Image
Kuluwin	503576800	29438QE	Norman R Wright & Sons	February 2010	Wooloowin		Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white
Gootcha	503576900	29440QE	Norman R Wright & Sons	July 2010	Toowong		Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white
Walan	503577100	29439QE	Norman R Wright & Sons	December 2010	Herston		Brisbane City Council's corporate colours of blue, yellow and white
Mudherri	503577200	29437QE	Norman R Wright & Sons	July 2011	Murarrie		Queensland Reds rugby union team
Spirit of Brisbane	503586200	29436QE	Norman R Wright & Sons	October 2011			Commemorates the city's recovery following the 2011 Brisbane floods.
Nar-dha	503017210	A3K0202	Norman R Wright & Sons	November 2014	Nudgee		The 2014 G20 Brisbane summit
Gilwunpa	503025670	32038QE	Norman R Wright & Sons	June 2015	Nundah		Queensland Firebirds