Mersey Ferries Timetable Review 2014/15 (PTE/40/13) Report of the Executive 1. Introduction The purpose of the report is to review the Mersey Ferries timetable arrangements and available ticket types with a view to clarifying and improving the products offered for the benefit of our customers. 2. Background 2.1 The current Mersey Ferries timetable is attached as Appendix 1. This timetable varies slightly from winter to summer months, but in effect operates an am commuter service between 7.20am and 10am Monday to Friday and a pm commuter service 4pm to 7pm the same days. 2.2 Outside of these hours and all day Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays, the Ferries offer a 50 minute River Explorer Cruise which leaves Pier Head on the hour, calling at Seacombe and Woodside en route. 2.3 What the attached timetable also details is a ticket type referred to as a Direct Service ticket which is sold outside of the stated commuter hours. This ticket type in effect is a historic legacy that is often confusing for customers and should not be offered as part of the ticketing products. The services available are the commuter service, a full river explorer cruise or a cross river service using the river explorer cruise (Cruise single). 2.4 Patronage data also indicates a commuter volume for our morning and afternoon peaks which differ, particularly in summer months. The table attached as Appendix 2 indicates weekly commuter volumes between April and October 2013. 2.5 Total figures indicate am commuters levels at 39,517, but pm commuter levels are almost double at 78,486. In the majority of cases, due to the car parking arrangements at Seacombe, it would be fair to assume that commuters using the Mersey Ferries service would return the same day. General Purposes Committee 28 November 2013
2.6 It is likely therefore that the additional passengers using the pm commuter service, after 4pm, are in fact leisure passengers in the majority of instances. 2.7 Finally, in considering this review it should also be recognised that the current commuter service operates differently during the morning commute than the afternoon commute. Between 7.20am and 10am, the Ferry provides a 10 minute shuttle between Seacombe and Pier Head the main basis of our commuter service. However, during the afternoon commuter run the service actually operates mainly the same way, but also once per hour it visits Woodside. This can cause delay and confusion for the commuter customers. 2.8 Patronage data indicates that the volume of customers utilising Woodside during these pm commuter services are minimal. The table below helps to indicate patronage levels at Woodside for the scheduled 17.35 and 18.35 sailings during standard weeks, i.e. not school holidays: - Week ending Passengers Joining the Vessel Passengers leaving the Vessel 28 April 17.35 26 26 28 April 18.35 11 12 26 May 17.35 35 33 26 t May 18.35 10 26 16 June 17.35 61 35 16 June 18.35 15 21 Totals 158 153 2.9 The figures in the above table indicate weekly figures. Taking into account daily sailings, the totals of 158 and 153 respectively are over a total of 30 sailings, averaging just 5 people per sailing. 2.10 Another factor in considering the Woodside service is that the Woodside Ferry terminal is very close to Hamilton Square Railway station, allowing customers a simple alternative option to cross river transport between James Street and Hamilton Square Railway stations. 3. Proposed Changes to Timetable & Tickets 3.1 Following customer feedback and potential confusion between the two key services the Mersey Ferries offer, ie the commuter service and the more leisure focussed river explorer, this report looks to remove a current product referred to as a Direct Service ticket.
3.2 Instead, the commuter service ticket will only be available for sale before 10am each morning, Monday to Friday as a single or return. After this time, or all day Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays, then only the River Explorer products will be available for sale. 3.3 The River Explorer product will offer the full cruise, or will allow passengers to travel cross river one way only, allowing them to travel back across the river if required via other means, eg rail. 3.4 This proposal means with effect from 31 March 2014 the removal of an often confusing Direct Service ticket product, which in effect does not exist when the full River Explorer is in operation. 3.5 It is also proposed to make changes to the current operating timetable regarding the River Explorer/ Commuter service. The current arrangements on a Monday to Friday see the last River Explorer cruise leave Pier Head at 3pm, switching to a commuter service from 4pm onwards. As a result, particularly in the summer months, many passengers wishing to experience the full River Explorer cruise after 3pm must utilise the commuter service or miss out. Estimated volumes during 2013 to date are in section 2.5 of this report. 3.6 With effect from Monday 31 March 2014, it is proposed to run the last River Explorer cruise at 4pm from the Pier Head, one hour later than current services, switching to the commuter service at 5pm. However, to accommodate this change, members of the public who purchase return commuter tickets before 10am that day or who are regular pass holders can return using those tickets on the 4pm River Explorer cruise. 3.7 Finally, considering the volume of passenger usage at Woodside Ferry terminal during the pm commuter service, with effect from 31 March 2014 it is proposed to introduce similar arrangements for the pm commuter service to that which operates during the am service, ie a 10 minute shuttle direct between Pier Head and Seacombe, removing any visits to Woodside after 16.35 hours. 3.8 Whilst this will have a negative impact on the average of 5 customers per day highlighted in 2.9, it will be recognised as a positive step for the majority of the regular ferry commuter passengers whom travel to and from Seacombe on a daily basis. 3.9 These proposed changes to both the ticket products and timetable will ensure the products offered are clearer for our
customers and ensure we are able to improve further on the product offering. 3.10 Detailed communications will take place with our customers, particularly our regular commuter customers, ahead of any changes proposed for March 2014. 4. Financial Implications The removal of the Direct Service tickets and the additional River Explorer Cruise at pm are difficult to estimate in detail, but are expected to have a further positive impact on the Ferries revenue budget. 5. Equality Impact Assessment A rapid screening Equality Impact Assessment been completed for this report. 6. Environmental Implications None. 7. Risk Implications The proposed changes to the timetable will be portrayed by a small minority of passengers as negative. However, this risk can be somewhat mitigated by an increase in service levels for the majority of our Seacombe based commuters and adding an additional River Explorer cruise will help reduce the operating deficit further and benefit visitors to the city, particularly during summer months. 8. Recommendations It is recommended that:- (a) (b) (c) the contents of the report be noted; Members approve the removal of the Direct Service Ticket product with effect from 31 March 2014; and Members approve the changes to the timetabled services planned with effect from 31 March 2014, resulting in an additional scheduled River Explorer cruise at 4pm Monday to Friday, meaning the commuter service operating from 5pm onwards on a direct Pier Head to Seacombe service and the last scheduled visit to Woodside midweek will be 16.35 hours.
Background Papers None. Report Prepared By Gary Evans, Head of Customer Delivery Contact for Media and Public Enquiries Liz Carridge, Corporate Communications Manager