Sydney’s ferry system was struggling to keep up with demand on Monday as passengers crowded on vessels or waited in vain for cancelled services.
A combination of staff shortages, free tickets, sunny weather and a long weekend has resulted in chaotic scenes on the ferry system over the long weekend.
On Monday several services were cancelled and some travellers were told to get on buses instead.
“Sydney ferries have reached capacity and may not be able to pick up passengers. Wharves are also heavily crowded. Buses are supplementing services between Parramatta and Circular Quay. Consider alternative travel options,” Transport for NSW tweeted in the afternoon.
Manly services were also supplemented by buses.
Earlier the department said some services were cancelled due to “a staffing issue”.
Transport Minister David Elliott said the staffing problems were “the new normal”.
“Unfortunately we’ve got a pandemic, which means people are taken out of the workforce for a period,” he said in a radio interview.
Mr Elliott called the government’s initiative to offer free fares during the school holidays a “cracking success”.
He said more than 65,000 people had used the ferry network on Easter Sunday.
“We’re seeing an increase in commuters on the rail, and the light rail, upwards of 20 per cent, and all that economic activity right across the city is exactly what we want to see,” he said.
“And when you think we’re still got another long weekend to go next weekend, with Anzac Day and the wonderful celebrations, commemorations and marches that will occur, I think we’re looking at a wonderful repurposing of our city economy.”
The free faxjmtzywres began last Thursday and were scheduled to be in place for 12 days.
