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==Service==
==Service==
[[File:Newcastle ferry wharf with docked ferry.JPG|thumb|The MV Shortland docked at [[Queens ferry wharf|Queens Wharf]] in Newcastle, in July 2013.]]
The Stockton ferry service is currently operated by the MV ''Shortland'' and MV ''Hunter'', each respectively named after naval officer [[John Shortland]] and former [[Governor of New South Wales]] [[John Hunter (Royal Navy officer)|John Hunter]]. They were built to replace the ''West Head'' and ''Edith Walter'', and were built at the [[Forgacs Shipyard|Carrington Slipways]] in [[Tomago, New South Wales]]. They were built as part of an order for nine new [[catamaran]] ferries, later to be known as the [[First Fleet-class ferry|First Fleet class]], for operation in [[Sydney Harbour]], and two smaller vessels of a similar design to operate the Stockton route.<ref name="afloat-1"/> The current timetable, as of 1 July 2017, consists 42 services on weekdays and 38 services on weekends and [[public holiday]]s.<ref name="timetable-1">{{cite web|author1=[[Newcastle Transport]]|title=Stkn - Stockton Ferry|url=https://transportnsw.info/documents/timetables/Stkn-Stockton-Ferry-20170701.pdf|website=[[Transport for New South Wales]]|publisher=[[Government of New South Wales]]|accessdate=1 July 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701052603/https://transportnsw.info/documents/timetables/Stkn-Stockton-Ferry-20170701.pdf|archivedate=1 July 2017|date=30 June 2017}}</ref>
The Stockton ferry service is currently operated by the MV ''Shortland'' and MV ''Hunter'', each respectively named after naval officer [[John Shortland]] and former [[Governor of New South Wales]] [[John Hunter (Royal Navy officer)|John Hunter]]. They were built to replace the ''West Head'' and ''Edith Walter'', and were built at the [[Forgacs Shipyard|Carrington Slipways]] in [[Tomago, New South Wales]]. They were built as part of an order for nine new [[catamaran]] ferries, later to be known as the [[First Fleet-class ferry|First Fleet class]], for operation in [[Sydney Harbour]], and two smaller vessels of a similar design to operate the Stockton route.<ref name="afloat-1"/> The current timetable, as of 1 July 2017, consists 42 services on weekdays and 38 services on weekends and [[public holiday]]s.<ref name="timetable-1">{{cite web|author1=[[Newcastle Transport]]|title=Stkn - Stockton Ferry|url=https://transportnsw.info/documents/timetables/Stkn-Stockton-Ferry-20170701.pdf|website=[[Transport for New South Wales]]|publisher=[[Government of New South Wales]]|accessdate=1 July 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701052603/https://transportnsw.info/documents/timetables/Stkn-Stockton-Ferry-20170701.pdf|archivedate=1 July 2017|date=30 June 2017}}</ref>
===Wharves===
===Wharves===

Revision as of 05:37, 1 July 2017

Stockton
MV Shortland in September 2015
LocaleNewcastle, New South Wales
WaterwayHunter River
OwnerTransport for New South Wales
OperatorNewcastle Transport
System length2 wharves, 0.6km
No. of vessels2 Shortland class

The Stockton ferry service (abbreviated STKN, coloured green) is a commuter ferry service in Newcastle, New South Wales. Operated by the private consortium Newcastle Transport, it forms part of Transport for New South Wales' ferry network in the state, and is a shuttle service between the Queens and Stockton ferry wharves. Two ferries operate the service, the MV shortland and MV Hunter.

History

Prior to the construction of various road projects connecting the outer western suburbs of Newcastle and crossing the Hunter River, including the Stockton Bridge, numerous ferry services, both privately-run and publicly-operated, shuttled across the Hunter River to link the locality of Stockton with the rest of Newcastle during the 19th and 20th centuries,[1] including a car ferry service from the former Market Street Wharf and Stockton.[2] This relatively vast network of wharves and services on the river included many wharves on the Newcastle foreshore, Bullock Island, Raymond Terrace, the Stockton foreshore, and Waratah.[3] The passenger ferry service that operated between the Queens and Stockton wharves, which runs in an area further downstream of the river from the bridge, is the only ferry service in Newcastle that still operates, surviving a wave of service decommissions prompted by the opening of the Stockton Bridge in 1971.[2] It was temporarily discontinued in 1982, however was revived a year later with support from the Government of New South Wales, due to public pressure to restore the service. Initially, the West Head and Edith Walter, two ships previously used by the former operator Stockton Ferries P/L, were used to operate the service, before replacing them with the Shortland and Hunter, in May and June 1986.[4]

Operation of the Stockton ferry service from 1983 to 2017 was handled by the publicly-owned Newcastle Buses & Ferries, an arm of the State Transit Authority. The service's operation has since been turned over to the privately-owned Newcastle Transport consortium, run by French-Australian transport company Keolis Downer. Newcastle Transport currently operates the service on a 10-year contract which initiated on 1 July 2017.[5] It was Australia's first multi-modal handover to a private transport operator, with Newcastle Transport also operating bus services in the city, and pegged to operate the Newcastle Light Rail network upon its completion and opening in 2019.[6][7] While the handover was "cautiously welcomed" by the Australian Rail Tram and Bus Industry Union, the Australian Labor Party criticised the alleged lack of transparency in the bidding process, which concluded in December 2016.[8]

Service

The MV Shortland docked at Queens Wharf in Newcastle, in July 2013.

The Stockton ferry service is currently operated by the MV Shortland and MV Hunter, each respectively named after naval officer John Shortland and former Governor of New South Wales John Hunter. They were built to replace the West Head and Edith Walter, and were built at the Carrington Slipways in Tomago, New South Wales. They were built as part of an order for nine new catamaran ferries, later to be known as the First Fleet class, for operation in Sydney Harbour, and two smaller vessels of a similar design to operate the Stockton route.[4] The current timetable, as of 1 July 2017, consists 42 services on weekdays and 38 services on weekends and public holidays.[9]

Wharves

Name Travel Time Waterway Serving Suburbs
Stockton Ferry
Queens Wharf dep. Hunter River Newcastle
Stockton 5 min. Stockton

References

  1. ^ Ray, Greg (26 October 2013). "MEGA GALLERY: Pictures of our past". The Newcastle Herald. Fairfax Regional Media. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  2. ^ a b Hunter Development Corporation staff. "History of Ferries in Newcastle" (PDF). Honeysuckle. Hunter Development Corporation (Government of New South Wales). p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  3. ^ EJE Heritage (November 2014). "Heritage and Conservation Register" (PDF). Port of Newcastle. p. 31. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017. ...as well as stairs for the various ferry-steamers travelling to Stockton, Bullock Island, Waratah and Raymond Terrace.
  4. ^ a b Andrews, Graeme (April 2008). "Crossing the Hunter". Afloat Magazine. Afloat Publications Pty. Ltd. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  5. ^ Australian Associated Press (30 June 2017). "Keolis Downer handed the keys to Newcastle buses and ferries". The Newcastle Herald. Fairfax Regional Media. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  6. ^ Australian Associated Press (12 December 2016). "Downer JV wins $450m Newcastle contract". SBS World News. [{Special Broadcasting Service]]. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  7. ^ Australasian Bus and Coach staff (20 December 2016). "Newcastle Transport operator announced". Australasian Bus and Coach. Bauer Trader Media. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  8. ^ Kirkwood, Ian; Proudman, Dan (12 December 2016). "Keolis Downer to run Newcastle light rail, buses and ferries says Baird government". The Newcastle Herald. Fairfax Regional Media. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  9. ^ Newcastle Transport (30 June 2017). "Stkn - Stockton Ferry" (PDF). Transport for New South Wales. Government of New South Wales. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
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