Photo: Parramatta-Class ferry MV Frances Bodkin at Circular Quay (by Bentriceratops)
The Parramatta River is Sydney’s oldest transport corridor and one of its most visually stunning — yet as a daily commuter route, it remains vastly under-utilised. Current RiverCat services are slow, infrequent, and poorly integrated with other modes, taking 80–90 minutes for a Parramatta–Barangaroo trip and often leaving long gaps between sailings. EcoTransit Sydney believes the river should be more than a tourist route. It should be the backbone of a new public transport corridor: the Western Line on Water.
This proposal envisions a high-capacity, all-day ferry service operated by locally built, battery-electric fast ferries, fully integrated with trains, buses, metro, and active transport. It would be capable of delivering a 30-minute express journey from Parramatta to Barangaroo, run every 15 minutes in peak periods, and provide reliable service from early morning to late at night, seven days a week.
A Fleet Designed for the Parramatta River
The new Western Line on Water fleet would be purpose-built in Australia, using electric catamaran designs optimised for the river’s varied conditions. Each vessel would carry 200–250 passengers and operate with a shallow draft of approximately 1.2 metres, ensuring safe navigation at all tides upstream of Sydney Olympic Park.
In the wider downstream reaches between Meadowbank and Barangaroo, ferries would cruise at 25–27 knots, cutting travel times dramatically. Upstream, low-wake speeds of 8–12 knots would be maintained to protect sensitive shorelines and riverbanks. Advanced hull forms, active trim control, and waterjet or ducted propulsion would allow quick acceleration and reduced energy use, while minimising wash.
The propulsion system would be all-electric, with rapid charging stations at Parramatta and Barangaroo, supported by opportunity charging at Meadowbank. This ensures a reliable, high-frequency timetable without the noise, vibration, and emissions of diesel craft.
Local Manufacturing: Jobs, Skills, and Capability
Building the fleet locally — at shipyards such as Incat Tasmania, Birdon Port Macquarie, or similar Australian facilities — offers multiple benefits. Locally designed vessels can be tailored to Sydney’s specific maritime environment, meeting Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) standards and addressing tidal, clearance, and wake constraints.
Domestic construction would create and sustain skilled jobs in naval architecture, composite and aluminium fabrication, electrical engineering, and advanced battery systems. It would also retain long-term maintenance expertise in Australia, avoiding reliance on overseas contractors and ensuring faster response to any technical issues.
By investing in local capacity now, Sydney would not only gain a new ferry fleet, but also build the foundations for exportable zero-emission ferry technology, positioning Australia as a leader in sustainable maritime transport.
Service Pattern: Turn-Up-and-Go Reliability
In peak periods (06:00–09:30 and 15:30–19:00), ferries would depart every 15 minutes from Parramatta to Barangaroo, alternating between:
- Express services — Parramatta → Sydney Olympic Park → Meadowbank → Barangaroo in 30 minutes.
- All-stops services — Parramatta to Barangaroo serving all intermediate wharves in 65–70 minutes.
This alternating express/all-stops pattern ensures that commuters can either get the fastest possible trip or connect to local destinations along the river without long waits. Off-peak, all-stops ferries would run every 30 minutes, supplemented by hourly express runs where demand supports them. Evening and weekend services would operate every 30–60 minutes, with Friday and Saturday late-night sailings until 1:00 am.
The clockface timetable would make connections predictable, reducing wait times and improving interchange with trains, buses, and metro services.
Image: ParraParents
Environmental Benefits: Quiet, Clean, and Low-Impact
Replacing diesel-powered RiverCats with electric ferries would bring immediate and long-term environmental gains.
- Zero tailpipe emissions: Eliminating diesel exhaust reduces greenhouse gas output and improves air quality along the river.
- Health benefits: Removal of diesel particulates reduces respiratory risks for riverside communities.
- Low noise: Electric propulsion significantly cuts underwater noise, protecting fish, seabirds, and marine mammals.
- Foreshore protection: Low-wake hulls combined with targeted foreshore stabilisation and micro-dredging at key shallow points would allow higher speeds where possible without damaging banks.
- Modal shift: A fast, reliable ferry encourages commuters to switch from car to water transport, cutting congestion on Parramatta Road, Victoria Road, and the M4.
By building and running the Western Line on Water as a zero-emission commuter service, Sydney would align with its climate goals and demonstrate leadership in sustainable transport.
Integrated Transport: A Network That Works Together
For the Western Line on Water to succeed, wharf-to-network integration must be as seamless as the ferry service itself.
Parramatta Wharf:
- Sheltered, all-weather walkway and protected cycleway to Parramatta Station (T1 Western Line, T5 Cumberland Line).
- Frequent peak-hour shuttle bus for fast wharf–station transfers.
Meadowbank Wharf:
- New southern station entrance near Bay Drive to shorten the walk to Meadowbank Station (T9 Northern Line).
- Upgraded lighting, weather protection, and secure bike parking.
Rydalmere Wharf:
- New John Street bus stop for direct bus–ferry transfers.
Sydney Olympic Park Wharf:
- Direct event shuttles and local buses to Olympic Park Station (T7).
Barangaroo Wharf:
- Immediate access to Sydney Metro City & Southwest, L1 light rail, and CBD bus corridors.
All wharves would be true multimodal hubs, with bus bays within 50 metres of the pontoon, direct cycleway links, and universal access gangways. With 15-minute peak frequencies, connection times between ferry and rail or metro would routinely be under 10 minutes, making the ferry a natural part of daily commuting.
A River Corridor Worthy of Sydney’s West
The Western Line on Water would transform the Parramatta River from a scenic backdrop into a fast, frequent, fully integrated mass-transit route. With locally built, electric-powered ferries, improved interchange infrastructure, environmental safeguards, and a timetable designed for commuters, this service would serve both the daily grind and the night-time economy.
It would link Sydney’s two CBDs in half an hour, run from early morning until late at night, and give communities along the river a cleaner, quieter, and more connected way to travel. Investing now in the Western Line on Water is not just about new ferries — it’s about reshaping the city’s transport map to put the Parramatta River at its centre.