Passengers get connected on CityCat 13

13 November 2008

Students on Brisbane’s thirteenth CityCat, which was officially launched today, will have free wireless access to the internet, Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said today.

CityCat number 13, the Ya-wa-gara, is the first CityCat to be fitted with wifi technology, with the rest of the fleet to follow in the coming weeks.

The service will be available free of charge to Brisbane university students, with other passengers able to set up an account with UQconnect.

“This innovation will make an already enjoyable trip more productive, particularly for students,” Cr Newman said.

“Our CityCats stop at QUT Gardens Point, South Bank and the University of Queensland, so university students are among our most frequent passengers.

“Thanks to this partnership with UQ, this new service that will provide them with internet access as they make their way to and from university.”

With their wireless-enabled laptops, students will have full internet access, while other passengers will have access to Brisbane City Council and TransLink sites free of charge.

The 21.6m, state-of-the-art CityCat will enter into service next Monday, November 17.

Ya-wa-gara, the third of three new CityCats to hit the Brisbane River this year, was launched by Cr Newman, Public and Active Transport Chairman Jane Prentice and Olympic gold medallist Stephanie Rice this morning.

Cr Prentice said the vessel, with its passenger capacity of 162, represented a significant boost to Brisbane’s popular ferry network, bringing the total operating hours of the fleet to 55,111 per annum.

“This will add seven services a day for commuters who increasingly love this mode of transport,” she said.

Cr Prentice said the CityCat service had seen huge growth in passenger numbers, with more than 6.1 million passengers expected this year and a further six CityCats to be delivered this Council term.


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