Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - The End of Stopover Trips to Manly: Goodbye JetCat

This is NOT good for those who like going to Manly. Oh well, I guess the state government rather we'd drive.

:mad:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/blowing-the-budget/2008/10/23/1224351449193.html

That's sad.

:(

Why not just get the ferry? It takes 35 minutes instead of 15 minutes, and is a much more leisurely way to travel. (I prefer the ferry to the JetCat any day!)

Dave

I would say this is more a blow for residents of Manly/Northern Beaches than tourists. Tourists are better off taking the Ferry to take the view in and its considerably cheaper.

Losing the JetCat is a blow for commuters though.

What I don't get is why not kill the Paramatta RiverCat (read the article for justification)? Is the Paramatta lobby so strong that you can't force them to take the train (which is certainly more convenient than any option other than the JetCat from the Manly area). Manly residents have little choice but the ferry, and it adds on a huge percentage to their commute to lose the JetCat.

Government services are inevitably linked to the government's constituents - which on balance is electorates in the west rather than the rusted-on Liberals on the northern beaches.

Stevenshev, taxpayers have subsidised the (comparatively) wealthy northern beaches residents' three modes of public transport (ferry, jetcat, buses) and commuters and tourists alike have suffered the effect of poor management, poor work culture and unreliable jetcats for decades.

I don't agree that 40mins extra, roundtrip, for a more scenic experience, will spell the end of quick tourist trips to Manly.

I believe there is worse to come for ferry users. This is only the beginning.

For visitors to Sydney, it is likely you will still have plenty of options for cheap trips on the harbour and a pleasant journey to Manly Wharf. Enjoy.

Government services are inevitably linked to the government's constituents - which on balance is electorates in the west rather than the rusted-on Liberals on the northern beaches.

Stevenshev, taxpayers have subsidised the (comparatively) wealthy northern beaches residents' three modes of public transport (ferry, jetcat, buses) and commuters and tourists alike have suffered the effect of poor management, poor work culture and unreliable jetcats for decades.

I don't agree that 40mins extra, roundtrip, for a more scenic experience, will spell the end of quick tourist trips to Manly.

I believe there is worse to come for ferry users. This is only the beginning.

For visitors to Sydney, it is likely you will still have plenty of options for cheap trips on the harbour and a pleasant journey to Manly Wharf. Enjoy.

In fairness to the rusted on Libs on the Northern Beaches they have some of the worst transport (public or private) in Sydney. No train line and a bridge (The Spit) that was never designed for the volume of traffic it has. In fact I believe the American who constructed said at the time that it was too small to cope with future expected traffic volumes.

In any event the current government really can't alienate what little support it has left so there is no way it's going to take anything away from western Sydney