BC Ferries aims to please travellers
Posted May 21, 2012 2:26 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VICTORIA (NEWS1130) – If you’re planning to take the ferry home today and tomorrow, there shouldn’t be any long waits for you. BC Ferries says it is doing everything it can to keep things running smoothly and customers happy.
Deb Marshall with BC Ferries says they’ve added early morning sailings to speed the trip home for passengers.
“Some people tend to delay their end of holiday travel plans if they can, so what we have done is scheduled 6 a.m. sailings out of Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay tomorrow. [It’s to] get a jump on commercial traffic and free up some space on the 7 a.m. sailings for regular traffic,” explains Marshall.
With the Queen of New Westminister back in operation after being off the water for days due to mechanical failure, Marshall doesn’t foresee any problems for travellers today.
Even with things backs to normal, the workers union is worried about dropping passengers levels and high fares. Marshall says the organization recognizes these concerns and wants customers to understand how costly it is to operate.
“You have to realize the cost of the service, for example, we spent $94 million conducting maintenance, the cost of fuel and gassing levels,” she says.
Looking ahead, Marshall claims the corporation is working with the province to improve services for customers. “I know we will be doing some consultation in the coming time about ferry service, so we will work closely with the provincial government and we’ll see if there will be any changes.”
