Sydney Ferry Fare Confusion: Passengers Told to Walk Through Without Tapping
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Time to read 4 min
Just when we thought the Sydney Ferries fare situation couldn't get much more confusing...
Passengers are now reporting being told by staff at Circular Quay to walk through the gates without tapping on, despite Transport for NSW continuing to advise that normal ferry fares apply.
It follows several days of conflicting messages over whether Sydney Ferries would effectively become free during industrial action running into October.
And at this point, the official advice and what some passengers are actually experiencing at the wharves appear to be two different things.
Transport for NSW still says fares apply
Transport for NSW's official advice hasn't changed.
It says Opal readers will remain active and passengers must continue to tap on and tap off using a valid Opal card or contactless payment method.
The industrial action includes a ban on Maritime Union of Australia members selling, collecting or validating fares between 11 September and 6 October, as well as other work bans that may cause cancellations, delays and changes across the ferry network.
But ferry workers have a different position
The Maritime Union of Australia has been equally clear that it intends passengers to travel without paying.
The union announced that its members would not sell, collect or validate fares and said turnstiles would be left open during the action.
MUA Deputy Branch Secretary Paul Garrett has publicly described the action as fare-free travel and said it would continue despite the position taken by Transport for NSW and ferry operator Transdev.
Transdev, meanwhile, has argued that physically deactivating Opal readers falls outside the notified industrial action.
So... are Sydney Ferries free or not?
Officially? No.
Transport for NSW continues to say normal fares apply and passengers are required to tap on and off.
In practice? It's becoming considerably less clear.
Voyage Ready has now received reports from passengers saying staff at Circular Quay were directing people to simply walk through the gates without tapping.
That would be consistent with the MUA's stated intention to leave turnstiles open and not collect or validate fares, but it doesn't change Transport for NSW's official fare policy.
So passengers may find that what happens when they arrive at the wharf depends on what's happening on the ground at the time.
What should visitors to Sydney do?
If you're visiting Sydney before or after a cruise and planning to use the ferries, I'd still have an Opal card or contactless payment method ready.
Transport for NSW's official advice remains to tap on and off, so that's the guidance travellers should plan around.
However, if ferry staff at the wharf are actively directing passengers through open gates without tapping, don't be surprised. That's exactly the sort of situation the union said its industrial action was intended to create.
There may also be more significant disruption than just fare confusion. Ferry services can be cancelled, delayed or changed during the industrial action, and F3 Parramatta River services have been cancelled for Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September.
For anyone planning a leisurely day of Sydney ferry hopping, it's definitely worth checking the latest service information before setting off.
And we'll keep following this one because, apparently, Sydney Ferries have decided to provide us with a new plot twist every day. 😂
Hi, I'm Kate!
I'm the creator of Voyage Ready and a BAS Agent and bookkeeper from regional NSW who loves cruising and travelling with my family (and occasionally working from a cruise ship somewhere in the middle of the ocean). I particularly love longer cruises with plenty of sea days, exploring new places at our own pace and finding practical ways to make family travel more affordable and less complicated.
Who is behind Voyage Ready?
I’m Kate, a BAS Agent and bookkeeper from regional NSW who loves travelling with my family. Most of the travel and cruise content on Voyage Ready comes from places we’ve actually visited and things we’ve tried ourselves. I’m particularly fond of longer cruises with plenty of sea days, and I occasionally work from cruise ships as well.
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