PARRAMATTA ferry-lovers can circle this date in their diaries: on Monday, November 23, at 7am, the first peak-hour ferry service will depart Parramatta Wharf for Circular Quay.

State Labor MP Tanya Gadiel at the ferry wharf. PICTURE: JOHN APPLEYARD

Nearly six months after a commuter service to Parramatta was first flagged in the State Budget, Labor will deliver on its promise when Transport Minister David Campbell announces today the official start date for a new River Express timetable.

There will be 45 new River Express services operating between Monday and Friday every week, with one stop at Rydalmere en route to Circular Quay. The last westbound Rivercat will depart the city daily at 7pm for the 55-minute journey.

“The NSW Government has invested $4 million a year, over the next two years, to deliver this new service for commuters in Parramatta,’’ Mr Campbell said.

Parramatta State Labor MP Tanya Gadiel said the service’s immediate future was guaranteed, although the current funding commitment would end after two years.

“Obviously I would like to see that it becomes a service that is well-utilised and popular,’’ Ms Gadiel told the Advertiser, “and I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t be.’’

As part of the revised schedule, buses are scheduled to operate between Parramatta and Rydalmere to minimise any disruptions to the ferry timetable during low tides.

In 2007, Rivercat services between Rydalmere and Parramatta were threatened with closure when an independent inquiry into Sydney ferries by Bret Walker SC recommended axing the service to cut costs.

After extensive lobbying by local government, business and community groups, the State Government pledged to extend the ferry service, which remains slower and more costly on a single-trip basis than an equivalent train journey, despite Mr Walker’s finding that a commuter service to Parramatta was not viable.

“When you think that two years ago . . . we didn’t even look like we were going to retain a service that went right up to Parramatta as a result of the Walker inquiry it’s really been an outstanding success for all of us,’’ Ms Gadiel said.

WHAT IT MEANS

NO trips will be lost from the previous timetable, with the following additional trips:

* DEPART PARRAMATTA

7am, 8am, 9am, 6pm, 7pm.

* DEPART CIRCULAR QUAY

7am, 8am, 5pm, 6pm, 7pm.

* Note: some journeys will have different stops than previously