Parramatta. Cancellation of RiverCats

The NSW Government is forking out $4 million to deliver a new peak-hour commuter ferry service to Parramatta despite admitting it will be riddled with cancellations because of tidal restrictions, according to The Daily Telegraph. More than 50 RiverCat runs are cancelled each month due to tidal restrictions. Sydney Ferries has already cancelled 54 Parramatta services for the month of October, blaming low tides. Angry private operators have blasted Premier Nathan Rees' decision to scrap a proposal to use smaller vessels to avoid problems caused by low tides, and opt instead for an "unviable and unreliable" RiverCat service. The government-run Sydney Ferries is now aiming to start up the new service by the end of the year, to deliver commuters during peak periods on express routes between the CBD and Parramatta. Adding to the farcical situation, Sydney Ferries is today releasing its own expression of interest document asking for private sector charter boats to run services along the river in a bid to free up its RiverCat for the Parramatta express.