Forget being caught in bumper-to-bumper traffic or stuck like a sardine on a train – Wyndham commuters can sail in to Melbourne’s CBD from next Monday when the Port Phillip Ferry service starts its eight-week trial.
Star Weekly got the chance to sail on the 35-metre-long catamaran, dubbed the Wyndham Explorer, along the Yarra River from the Docklands this morning as part of the service’s official launch.
The trial will kick-off next Monday and will set sail from Wyndham Harbour at 6.40am, Monday to Friday, with a return trip from the Docklands at 5.40pm.
A one-way trip is expected to take between 65-71 minutes.
There will also be a weekend service leaving Wyndham Harbour at 8.30am and departing the Docklands at 4pm.
Commuters can expect to pay a discounted rate of $20 during the trial, which includes a return trip and parking at Wyndham Harbour.
Port Phillip Ferries is still finalising the cost following the trial, but it is expected to cost commuters between $25-30.
Little Group chairman Paul Little, the mastermind behind the ferry service, said the project would help commuters working in the city offering an alternative to driving around Port Phillip Bay.
“With growth in local employment unable to keep pace with record population growth, many residents are required to work in and around the CBD,” he said.
“As such, there is a pressing need to explore all transport options and this ferry service proves the most efficient and cost effective.”
Visit the Port Phillip Ferries website for more information.
