A major problem with the 10 new River Class ferries that will be added to Sydney’s Parramatta to Circular Quay route later this year has been revealed, with the shadow minister for transport Chris Minns going so far as to describe the new design as a “fiasco”.

Instead of going with the current one-level River Cat ferries, the operators have ordered new ferries with upper decks that accommodate 10 people. The New South Wales government has confirmed the new model won’t be able to safely pass under two bridges along the Parramatta River if commuters are sitting on the top decks, as reported by the Guardian.

That means travellers passing under the Camellia Railway Bridge and Gasworks Bridge will need to be called to the lower deck so the ferries pass clearance.

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“Many Sydney Ferries customers are daytrippers, tourists and sightseers, and having a new viewing experience from the top deck of these ferries will give customers a new experience that they cannot currently enjoy,” a spokesperson for Transdev Sydney Ferries, which operates the Parramatta River Ferry service, told Broadsheet.

“The Upper Parramatta River is an extremely constrained operating environment, with low bridges, very shallow water depth and narrow width.”

With these constrained conditions in mind, Transdev and Transport for New South Wales (TFNSW) decided to favour the scenic benefits of having an upper deck over the inconvenience caused by calling passengers down to the lower deck for safe passage under the bridges.

“Rather than compromise the customer experience on these new ferries – which will have a constraint between Parramatta and Rydalmere wharves only – TFNSW and Transdev Sydney Ferries recognised that having rooftop seating and access would be a feature that would significantly enhance the customer experience,” the spokesperson continued.

The ferries, which were manufactured in Indonesia and can carry 200 people, will be primarily used on the Parramatta River ferry service, which begins in Parramatta and heads downriver before docking at Circular Quay – a crucial transport artery connecting western Sydney residents to the city centre. The ferries will also be used on some inner-harbour routes.