Commuters enjoyed a speculator sunrise over Melbourne. Credit:Luis Ascui Thirty commuters plus about 30 officials and staff enjoyed a speculator sunrise over a silhouetted city – complete with hot air balloons gliding among the skyscrapers. There were 30 passengers on the 5.40pm return trip to Wyndham. The ferry is an initiative of former Essendon chairman Paul Little and his company, Little Group. Little Group operations director Murray Rance said, in the future, two or three return services could run between the western suburbs and Docklands each morning and afternoon. The journey currently takes about 70 to 74 minutes, but Port Phillip Ferries is seeking permission to travel faster through the mouth of the Yarra River, cutting down journey times.

CBD worker Lisa Faldon, said the ferry would be "a much nicer experience" than the train. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui The ferry can travel about 27 to 28 knots (50-52km/h) through Port Phillip Bay, but is restricted to 10 knots and 5 knots when it hits the Yarra. "We're confident with talking to the authorities we can take 10 to 15 minutes off that time," Mr Rance said. The ferry prepares to pass under the Bolte Bridge. Credit:Kuis Enrique Ascui "That allows us to run that second service from say 7.15am, to get in at just after 8 o'clock."

Many of the approximately 60 people on Monday's maiden voyage were officials, including Paul Little himself and a councillor candidature in full campaign mode. The Wyndham Explorer moored in Victoria Harbour on Monday. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui But there were also a group of genuine commuters dotted amongst the sparsely-populated cabins. Most said there were seeking a less-stressful commute. CBD worker Lisa Faldon, who usually takes the train, said while she probably would not save any time on the ferry, it would be "a much nicer experience". Passengers record the ferry's first regular trip. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui

As the catamaran entered Victoria Harbour at Docklands, Wyndham Harbour resident Karen Bourke received a text from her daughter with a photograph of an overcrowded train. She sent back a picture of the sunrise. Ms Bourke said she normally leaves home at 6.40am each morning to get to work in Brunswick, but now intends to ditch her car, and take the ferry and a train instead. "I drive over the West Gate Bridge and out the Tullamarine Freeway and some of my commutes can be an hour to 2½ hours depending on what happens," she said. By the end of the trial, the Little Group hope "hundreds" of the 400 seats on the ferry will be taken.

"We know it will be a slow build up," Mr Rance said. "It's difficult to change people's habits. "I think [the key thing] is giving people confidence it's going to be a reliable service, and not just something that is happening intermittently." A return trip to Wyndham Harbour departs Docklands at 5.40pm. A return ticket for the trial costs $20 – a price that is likely to increase to $25 to $29 for permanent services. Loading

Taking the train from Werribee to the CBD and back costs $7.80 for a daily, full-fare adult ticket. There have been commuter ferries in Melbourne before, including between Port Melbourne and Williamstown, but this is the first service of recent times.