1989: Food and Drink banned on Sydney Buses

Source: State Transit. 1989. "Cleaner, more comfortable bus travel, will require curbing a few appetites" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, May 1: 14. 

On public transport in Sydney, it is acceptable for commuters to eat or drink on Trains, Light Rail and ferries, but not on buses. 

How did it come to be? 

In 1989, the State Transit Authority (STA) decided to ban the consumption of food and drink on Government Buses in Sydney and Newcastle. Eating or drinking on a bus carried a fine of $200. The primary reason for the ban was cleanliness, but it was also in response to complaints from commuters.

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Source: Timmins, M. 1989. "Eating Ban on Buses". The Daily Mirror, May 1: 2. 

The Daily Mirror asked commuters for their thoughts on the ban, and had mixed reactions.

Source: Cramsie, D. 1989. "Passengers divided on food bus ban". The Daily Mirror, May 1: 12. 

The following year, the NSW Government passed the Passenger Transport Act (1990), which gave the State Government authority to determine whether commuters were permitted to consume food or drink on any mode of transport and regulate behaviour on public transport. 

It also allowed the Government to set fines for non-compliance. Under current legislation, a person who eats or drinks on a bus can be fined $550, up from $200 in 1989. The directive not to eat or drink must be displayed on a sign inside the buses. However, commuters can consume water, and those who need to eat or drink for medical reasons can. 

As a bus commuter, I have found that it is generally not enforced, particularly where alcohol is consumed, but 99% of commuters exercise common sense and refrain altogether.

Remember This? State Transit Authority Ad (1990)

Below is a 1990 newspaper advertisement by the State Transit Authority to promote the savings associated with taking public transport on the weekends.

Source: State Transit Authority. 1990. "Catch the huge savings on buses and ferries this weekend". The Daily Mirror: 39.

In August 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, which led to an increase in petrol prices to around 75 cents per litre which was high at the time. The Sydney Harbour Bridge toll has doubled to $3.00 on weekends, but at the time, the $1.50 toll was charged irrespective of the time travelled. 

A ferry trip from Manly to Circular Quay in 1990 cost $3.20 for adults, compared with $8.04 on an opal card or contactless payment in 2023. Note that there is a weekend daily cap of $8.40 for an opal meaning a return trip would cost 36 cents. 

In 1990, it cost $3.80 to travel by bus from Newport to the city and $2.40 from Coogee to the city. In 2023, the same trip from Newport to the city decreased by 27 cents to $3.53 as bus fares were previously subject to a flat fare with no off-peak discounts. However, the trip from Coogee to the city has increased just 35 cents to $2.75, but when adjusted for inflation, the same trip in real terms is cheaper than in 1990.

A few weeks after the advertisement was published, Cityrail also used high petrol prices to attract commuters to commute by train. A link is listed below.

Opal Fares are correct as of  9 January 2023. 

Related Entry

Remember This? CityRail Advertisement (1990)

1989: Sydney Ferries introduce automatic ticketing

Source: Sydney Ferries. 1989. "Announcing the Launch of a Great new Ferry Service. Automatic Ticketing" (Advertisement). The Daily Mirror, July 4: 37. 

In 1989, Sydney's Ferry Network became the first mode of public transport in Sydney to offer automatic ticketing across its entire network. Prior to 1989, automatic ticketing was only available for rail commuters on the Eastern Suburbs Railway Line, which had been available since its opening in 1979.

All tickets for services operated by Sydney Ferries featured a magnetic stripe which contained ticketing data. This would reduce fare evasion and assist government authorities in collecting data relating to public transport usage and inform planning for future provision of services. 

Automatic Ticketing led to the introduction of a new ticket option - Ferry Ten Tickets for regular commuters. This would be offered for more than twenty five years. They were withdrawn from sale at end of 2015 as part of the implementation of the Opal Card across Sydney's public transport network.  

Self-service ticket machines were introduced which meant that commuters no longer had to queue at the ticket office to buy a ticket. 

1989: The return of ferry ocean cruises

In 1988, the NSW Government delivered the last ferry in the Freshwater Class of Sydney Ferries -  Collaroy. 

 

Source: Anon. 1988. "'Family' cruises for new ferry". The Daily Telegraph, August 2: 9.

Unlike the other three ferries in the fleet - Freshwater, Queenscliff and Narrabeen, the upper deck was open at each end. Post 2000, the other three ferries would also provide open decks at each end.

Collaroy had been fitted with stablisers to manage the ocean swells along with catering facilities. More than a canteen could be offered to commuters on the Manly run or on a harbour or ocean cruise. 

 

Source: Caldbeck-Moore, B. 1989. "Harbor Ferry can take on the foamy ocean, safely". The Daily Telegraph, January 6: page unknown. 

In 1989, Sydneysiders were able to experience ocean cruises on the Collaroy, reviving the cruises provided by the South Steyne between 1953 and 1973, when it was under the ownership of the Port Jackson and Manly Steamship company. 

Below is one newspaper advertisement from February 1989.  Cruises ran between Circular Quay and Cottage Point. Tickets were $38 for adults and $25 for children and pensioners and included a picnic lunch. 

  

Source: Sydney Ferries. 1989. "Run away to sea for a day on a Sunday Coastal Cruise" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, February 28: 43.

The cruises ran until the following year. It was written in Ferries of Sydney by Graeme Andrews that the services were terminated after ferry officers demanded the payment of a "spew allowance" that was being received by deckhands working on the services. The "spew allowance" referred to a payment to cover cleaning up the mess left behind by seasick passengers. 

With new Emerald Class ferries about to commence full time service on the Manly run, Collaroy will step back into a part time role, operating on weekends alongside the Freshwater (oldest of the Freshwater Class ferries). This only occurred after a backlash from Sydneysiders over plans to retire the entire fleet citing:

• The iconic nature of the ferries 
• Cultural Importance
• Ability to transport large numbers of commuters - 1100 people compared to 400 on Emerald Class Ferries.
• Heritage value
• Ability to manage the swells at the heads.

The Narrabeen and Queenscliff are expected to be retired from service by the end of 2021. 

1993: Arrival of "kneeling superbuses"

To improve accessibility for less mobile passengers and increase capacity on popular routes, The State Transit Authority commenced the roll out of "kneeling superbuses" in 1993. 

The 14.5 metre buses by Scania were built in Australia by the Ansett Transport Industries owned Ansair in Tamworth. Compared with other buses, they had a capacity for 95 passengers (61 seated, 34 standing).

In 2021, the buses are still in operation, mostly on routes that serve the Epping Road and Anzac Parade corridors. 

Below is an article from The Eastern Herald (The Sydney Morning Herald) from June 5, 1993. 

Source: Killick, 1993. "And now for the bus that kneels for you". The Eastern Herald (The Sydney Morning Herald), June 5: 2. 

Remember this? Sydney Transport Fare Rises Ad (2001)

Fares recently went up on public transport across Sydney. Below is an advertisement published by the State Transit Authority in 2001 announcing the new fare schedule for Travelpasses (Train/Bus/Ferry), bus and ferry fares.

Source: State Transit Authority. 2001. "New fares from July 1st." (Advertisement). The Sunday Telegraph, July 1: 31.

Remember This? Sydney Ferries Ocean Cruises (1989)

In 1988, the Collaroy was added to the Manly Ferry Fleet. Unlike the other three ferries in the fleet, it was designed to operate ocean cruises. Also, it had outdoor decks on the upper level at each end (they were eventually added to the other Manly Ferries).

Ocean Cruises were provided for decades on Sundays by the old steamers, but had stopped. By the end of the 1980's, an attempt was made to revive the cruises.

The cruises were provided between 1988 and 1991. They were discounted as crew demanded a "spew allowance" to deal with cleaning up after those who were seasick.

The coastal cruises would commence at Circular Quay and proceed north along the Northern Beaches to the Hawkesbury River, exploring its lower reaches before returning back to Circular Quay by the same route.

For our readers, should the cruises be revived?

Below is an advertisement from 1989.

Source: Sydney Ferries. 1989. "Run away to sea for a day on a Sunday Coastal Cruise" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, February 28: 43. 

Remember This? Travelten Tickets (1996)

For around 30 years, Sydney bus commuters had access to multi-trip tickets for bus travel. For the majority of this period, they were available only for use on public bus services. They were expanded to private bus services in 2010 and rebranded as "MyZone".

Between 1992 and 2010, multi-trip bus tickets were known as TravelTen which allowed a commuter to prepurchase 10 rides for travel on public buses. Use of the tickets provided discounted travel for the commuter.

Source: Sydney Buses. 1996. "A ticket that will move you ten times faster" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, February 22: page unknown.

1990: The Jetcats enter service

In 1990, the Greiner Government introduced the Jetcat ferries into operation on Sydney Harbour. This stemmed from the decision of NSW Transport Minister Bruce Baird in 1988 to replace the aging
hydrofoils.

  

Source: Nicholson, L. 1988. "Costly hydrofoils will be scrapped". The Daily Telegraph, August 22: 9.

The Jetcats promised a modern and more reliable service for Ferry Commuters. For the government, the costs of servicing the Jetcats would be lower. In addition, there was the promise of more comfort for commuters. There were plans to eventually expand the service to Gladesville but also operate as far as Port Kembla and Newcastle.

Source: Morris, L. 1990. "Jetcat to oust the hydrofoils". The Daily Telegraph, April 30: 15. 

The first Jetcat to enter service was The Blue Fin. It ended up with its name after the public was asked to name the new ferry.

Source: Anon. 1990. "Blue Fin slices time to Manly". The Sunday Telegraph, April 29: page unknown.

Source: State Transit. 1990. "Name Your Own $5m. Catamaran" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, March 21: page unknown. 

The Blue Fin commenced operation on July 16, 1990, after three months of trials. Below is a preview article from The Daily Telegraph.

Source: Riddell, A. 1990. "Anchors away for new Jetcat". The Daily Telegraph, July 16: 12. 

 The hydrofoils after 26 years of service ran their last service in March 1991 after another two Jetcats - Sir David Martin and Sea Eagle were bought into service. During their first decade of service, The Jetcats were actively used. In fact, they were seen as a fifth ferry on the Manly run, replacing the regular ferries late at night and early in the morning. It was argued that with fewer crew required (and commuter demand), operating late night services would keep costs of operating the broader Manly Ferry service down. If existing ferries broke down, the Jetcat fleet would act as a substitute (as a trio), like in 2004 when two Manly Ferries - Collaroy and Queenscliff were out of service for maintenance. In the final years of service, Jetcats were restricted to peak hour operations only.

Sadly, The Jetcat fleet had a shorter life than their predecessors. Jetcats were withdrawn from service on December 31, 2008. It was argued that costs had increased along with declines in revenue. They were lucky not to have been pulled out of service earlier, when the Carr Government (1995-2005) introduced Supercats to the Sydney Ferries Fleet but had struggled to cope with the swells at the Heads of Sydney Harbour. Manly Fast Ferries (2009) currently operate High-speed services between Manly and Circular Quay, but have expanded to provide services from Manly to North Sydney, Darling Harbour, Pyrmont Bay, and the Eastern Suburbs. Sydney Fast Ferries also operated services between 2010 and 2015, when they were the tender to operate the high-speed service.

Remember this: Airport Express Advertisement (1991)

For January, our weekly entries will focus quite simply on classic advertisements or moments in time.

Many like myself have left town for the summer, and some are about to head off. I will admit this was written well before I went away.

In fact today, I'll be in the air and contending with the challenges of flying including the fight to get to the airport.

This one does relate to holidays and travel. Here is a 1991 advertisement promoting the now-defunct Airport Express Bus service. Buses used to shuttle passengers between the Airport, City and Kings Cross.

The service was provided by the State Transit Authority/Sydney Buses. Following the opening of the Airport Rail Line in 2000, the service was discounted in 2001 with private operators providing door to door shuttles.

Compared to today, it would cost the equivalent of $10 single or $16 return which is pretty cheap. There is a push to operate more bus services to Sydney Airport to reduce congestion on the roads in the area.

Source: State Transit Authority. 1991. "Take off for Your Holiday on our Runway" (Advertisement). The Sunday Telegraph, December 22: 11.