Bus region Ipswich/Springfield (Western) improvements

[ozbob]

This is the current network map for Ipswich/Springfield bus region.

Available here > http://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/resources/travel-information/network-information/maps/131202-western-region-network-map.pdf

Have you any suggestions for route improvements including new routes, increased frequency/span.

[SurfRail]

- Direct services from Springfield to Ipswich via Redbank Plains
- Review the Redbank / Collingwood Park / Goodna area services to provide better linkages to Springfield and the local shops, and to remove one-way loops
- 15 minute frequencies on selected routes in peak hour
- Services that operate from 6am-9pm minimum (except the 529)
- Better bus interchange facilities at Goodna and Redbank
- Services in and around inner Ipswich need to be straightened out and made less circuitous (which may involve adding an extra 1-2 routes to improve coverage instead of having a smaller number wend their way around every back street)

[#Metro]

Rail:

- Express trains to Ipswich, all day. Every 15 minutes if possible.

- 15 minute trains to Springfield, all day, all stops

- Consider separation of the Springfield line from the Ipswich line at Darra.

Run the line through the Centenary suburbs with two new stations at Mt Ommaney and Jindalee, and possibly two others at

Fig Tree Pocket and Indooroopilly Shopping Centre.

Bus: Will need to look at this.

[ozbob]

I am more interested in bus improvements for now.  Ipswich is not going to get an all day express pattern until Kippa-Ring <> Springfield Central goes to 15 minute off peak.

The immediate issue is fixing up the bus network.

[ozbob]

- Direct services from Springfield to Ipswich via Redbank Plains
- Review the Redbank / Collingwood Park / Goodna area services to provide better linkages to Springfield and the local shops, and to remove one-way loops
- 15 minute frequencies on selected routes in peak hour
- Services that operate from 6am-9pm minimum (except the 529)
- Better bus interchange facilities at Goodna and Redbank
- Services in and around inner Ipswich need to be straightened out and made less circuitous (which may involve adding an extra 1-2 routes to improve coverage instead of having a smaller number wend their way around every back street)

Thanks.

[ozbob]

Letter to the editor Queensland Times, submitted 11th July 2016

Time to fix the Western bus network

Dear Editor,

The present bus network for Ipswich and Springfield (the Western region) was put in place December 2013.  Since that time there has been considerable residential development, traffic congestion has gotten worse particularly at peak times.  This has had an effect on the bus network. Increasingly we find buses running late and passengers missing connections.  Other services are simply cancelled.  Buses to get people to key railway stations are not frequent enough, and the case of Springfield clearly grossly inadequate.  This puts enormous pressure on the limited park and ride facilities and to secure a park passengers are finding that need to be earlier and earlier or they miss out.  The Western bus region needs an urgent review and service improvements implemented forthwith.

New bus services from Springfield to Ipswich via Redbank Plains are needed.  More frequent peak feeder bus services are needed particularly for Springfield Central, Goodna, Redbank Plains and Redbank. Timetables need to be reviewed to reflect actual running times in traffic congestion not imagination.  The 522 bus route is an absurd feeder service, it is really a coverage route.  Proper feeders need to be introduced to take pressure off the limited park and ride facilities at Springfield Central, Richlands, Wacol and Goodna particularly. Bus services need to run hours that people can actually use them, generally this means a minimum of 6am to 9pm. Bus interchange facilities at Goodna are abysmal.  Buses do not even have a proper waiting area.   In short the Western bus region is a mess.

The State Government with support from our  local political representatives needs to direct TransLink to perform a review and fix the mess.  We have waited long enough.

Yours sincerely,

Robert Dow

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[nathandavid88]

I'll probably sound like a broken record, but I really would like to see the feasibility of improved bus links between Ipswich (Springfield in particular) and Logan. I say feasibility because I'm not 100% sure the best way to achieve this. Boosting the 534 between Springfield and Browns Plains Could be a good first step, and up the timing and frequency of the 547 Browns Plains to Woodridge Express to match (and extend it to Logan Central Bus Station too, for that matter).

[ozbob]

^ hopefully that will be looked at during a review.

[nathandavid88]

I hope so! I personally would love a viable way to travel to Ipswich without needing to go all the way into Brisbane to do so, which I will be doing on Saturday to visit the Workshops Rail Museum with Dad.

[petey3801]

Feeder services for Springfield area. The old 522/532 system worked relatively well, main things I would change from that system would be:
532 does the Springfield Lakes/Central loop only, not going to Goodna (basically the current 522 Lakes/Central areas without going up the hill to Springfield etc).
522 goes back to what it used to do, ie: Current route through Gailes, Camira and Springfield, thence straight to Orion after arriving at Springfield Pwy/Bridgewater rd round-a-bout via Springfield/Greenbank Arterial rd, ensuring timing connects well with trains at Springfield station where possible.
Minimum 30min frequencies, 15min in peak (at the very least for 532, preferably both), minimum span of hours 6am-9pm.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

14th July 2016

Time to fix the Western bus network

Greetings,

The present bus network for Ipswich and Springfield (the Western region) was put in place December 2013.  Since that time there has been considerable residential development, traffic congestion has gotten worse particularly at peak times.  This has had an effect on the bus network. Increasingly we find buses running late and passengers missing connections.  Other services are simply cancelled.  Buses to get people to key railway stations are not frequent enough, and the case of Springfield clearly grossly inadequate.  This puts enormous pressure on the limited park and ride facilities and to secure a park passengers are finding that need to be earlier and earlier or they miss out.  The Western bus region needs an urgent review and service improvements implemented forthwith.

New bus services from Springfield to Ipswich via Redbank Plains are needed.  More frequent peak feeder bus services are needed particularly for Springfield Central, Goodna, Redbank Plains and Redbank. Timetables need to be reviewed to reflect actual running times in traffic congestion not imagination.  The 522 bus route is an absurd feeder service, it is really a coverage route.  Proper feeders need to be introduced to take pressure off the limited park and ride facilities at Springfield Central, Richlands, Wacol and Goodna particularly. Bus services need to run hours that people can actually use them, generally this means a minimum of 6am to 9pm. Bus interchange facilities at Goodna are abysmal.  Buses do not even have a proper waiting area.   In short the Western bus region is a mess.

The State Government with support from our  local political representatives needs to direct TransLink to perform a review and fix the mess.  We have waited long enough.

Best wishes,
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[#Metro]

How does Ipswich City Council feel about tipping in say 20% of funding for an improved local bus network?
Or target specific 'trunk' routes?

Councils outside Brisbane seem to focus on the 'coverage' aspect more than the patronage aspect, but I think much of this is unconscious. Perhaps they haven't realised that patronage services are also possible to bring into existence too.

[ozbob]

ICC has a positive attitude.  TransLink hasn't.

I am very concerned about TransLink.  Petty meaningless mini-bureaucracy that has lost contact with realism.  In part not their fault, neutered by Newman et al, under resourced and unable to stand up to BCC.

Might be time to start again with PTQ ! 

[techblitz]

Timetables need to be reviewed to reflect actual running times in traffic congestion not imagination.  The 522 bus route is an absurd feeder service

bravo ozbob.....there are properly timed and accurate traffic point leewayed timetables and then you have the 'easy way out' and as you put it 'imaginative' timetables.....522 is clearly in the latter.......its pure laziness really.......best just to add fat on to the timetable to keep customers happy and improve the peak o.t.r.....if by chance the 522 does run early on the 'rare' occasion due to luck at the traffic lights etc....ITS CALLED A TIMING POINT....plenty of bus routes have to do this in school hols so whats the big deal?

There are many routes which have fat added onto them which still run late but can you imagine the increased lateness if the fat wasn't added??

ps: this morning on facebook

Candice ****
Today at 6:48am.What a surprise the 522 late again

[ozbob]

Spot on TB.

Like this one?

http://translink.com.au/service-updates/90606

2.10pm route 522 outbound bus cancelled

Last updated: 2.49pm Thursday 14 July 2016

The 2.10pm route 522 outbound bus is cancelled due to mechanical issue. The next outbound route 522 bus departed St Ives Shopping Centre, Goodna at 2.40pm.

Waaaaahhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times 15th July 2016 page 13

Local bus network ready to have a total overhaul

[ozbob]

^ online ..

Queensland Times --> LETTER: Local bus network ready to have a total overhaul

[City Designer]

I've done a rough network for the Ipswich region taking into account new connections.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1PItHA62JEwoft1P84_BPL10lmcs&usp=sharing

Some features:

• Deebing Heights and Ripley Valley are serviced for the first time.
• Collingwood Park connects with Redbank Plains.
• A new green link at Wulkaraka
• A new interchange point at Redbank Plains

[ozbob]

^ thanks. 

[ozbob]

Queensland Times 27th July 2016 page 3

Mayor's Olympic vision

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Plan for Ipswich that will save you hours every day

THOSE lost hours sitting and waiting for a bus or train are set to be a thing of the past if Cr Cheryl Bromage has her way.

The city's infrastructure boss is working closely with Ipswich public transport guru Robert Dow to lobby Translink for changes to bus timetables.

Last year Cr Bromage unveiled iGo, the Council's plan to ensure the city's transport system keeps pace with increases in travel demand as the population grows.

A key goal of iGo is to integrate transport throughout the city.

Cr Bromage said Mr Dow "gets public transport" and understands that the more carriages full of commuters in trains, the less congestion there will be on our roads.

"But he is also helping us with the bus situation," Cr Bromage said.

"Buses don't meet the train timetable.

"People are sitting there (at stations) waiting for half an hour for the next train to come along, but in the suburbs it takes some people an hour to get to a train station because currently the buses are a 'one size fits all' which actually fits nobody.

"So if you live out the back of Redbank Plains you've got to do a tour of the whole suburb to get to the (Springfield or Goodna) train station, so there is no incentive for people to catch public transport.

"We'd like to see a change to timetables and even a rapid bus in peak hours where every 15 minutes if you go to an identified stop it will take you to the train station, and in the afternoon that would be reversed.

"If we can get some of those actions happening we can change the way the city goes forward.

"That doesn't require us to build new roads. It is more a timing issue and having a service for the people."

Cr Bromage said having a train station at Redbank Plains would alleviate the time residents in that suburb have to spend on buses and in vehicles commuting to train stations, and alleviate parking congestion at Springfield.

In today's council meeting Cr David Morrison said the "railway extension from Springfield Central to Redbank Plains was essential".

"The population mass at Redbank Plains justifies rail and there is no more affordable and reliable form of public transport," he said.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

27 August 2016

Western (Ipswich & Springfield) bus region concerns

Greetings,

We have serious concerns with the reliability of buses in the Western Region (Ipswich and Springfield).

For the past few months there seems to be an increasing problem with scheduled bus services being cancelled to ' mechanical failures ' or ' operational issues '.

This is having a serious impact on public transport users who depend on the bus services for local transport and connections to and from the railway.

Yesterday there were again multiple cancellations.  The service frequency of the buses in the Western Region generally is very poor and if a service is cancelled this often means waits of up to an hour or even longer.

We documented the  multiple cancellations yesterday on our discussion forum here
> [ http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2695.msg178673#msg178673 ]

Most of the cancellations are reported via https://twitter.com/TransLinkSEQ however we are not confident that all are though.

An example of a cancellation yesterday:

TransLink reported that the 2.38pm 500 inbound bus from Goodna railway station was cancelled due to a ' mechanical issue '.  This means in effect that providing the next scheduled service at 3.43pm actually turns up, then passengers may have to wait up to one hour and 55 minutes or so for the bus if they missed the 1.38pm service!  Hopeless.  It also appears that some further 500 bus services might have been cancelled which were not reported by TransLink. According to some feedback on facebook school students were again left stranded, besides passengers all over the network.

The effect of cancelling low frequency services is devastating for the passengers who depend on these services.

We have raised the issue of Western region bus unreliability with both TransLink and the Minister for Transport for a while now, only to be ignored. The cost of this ignorance will be electoral defeat.

The Member for Bundamba Mrs Jo-Ann Miller also raised Western bus issues during the recent parliamentary estimates.

Why is the Western bus region being treated so poorly?

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[tazzer9]

When a service is cancelled due to mechancial and operational failures.  Translink need to organise a taxi to take over, free of charge to the passengers.

[ozbob]

^ has been put before.  The normal response is ' glazed eyes ' from the bureaucrats et al ...

Something is not right out West.  I have been watching carefully other bus regions outside Brisbane.  They often have late buses but they run through late, particularly low frequency services.  Out west they are just pulled cold.

This could mean a number of things.

The bus fleet and driver availability is on a knife edge. If something goes wrong, late due to traffic, a bus issue or whatever they just pull the service because they need to get the bus on another run or simply don't have another bus.  They don't appear to have any reserve which leads to a loss of flexibility, that is the ability to run through late without gross impacts on other services.

Might be a deliberate internal management strategy to bump up OTR statistics?

Whatever the reason it really does need to be sorted asap.  It is very very difficult for the folk who use these services.

[STB]

I remember back in my days at TransLink, myself and my supervisor were in charge of managing then Westside (now rebranded Bus Queensland), and from my experience, they always did things on the cheap, to them a good bus was a bus that was always moving no matter what, ie: very little recovery time and out of the maintenance shed as much as possible.  It was a cultural thing, harking back to the days pre TransLink, where the money really meant something.

Seems things may still be the same there.

[ozbob]

Ipswich & Springfield (Western) bus shambles ..
> https://t.co/U4or9cSNzL#qldpol@StirlHinchliffe @PaulPisasale pic.twitter.com/2usGtR7Wlo

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) August 27, 2016

[STB]

That reminds me as well.  Back in the day (going back about 10 years ago now), the way the timings were worked out was not with a bus as other operators did, but in the Westside Bus Company's Operations Manager's work car!  The Planner (my Supervisor) and the Ops Manager at Westside were best friends, so he basically allowed him to get away with doing this sort of dodge stuff for quite a long time.  I remember trying to encourage them to use a bus to get the timings, but to no avail.

Hopefully the GPS data and Go Card data will be a bit more precise than a typical work car nowadays!

[ozbob]

   I think there might be still some residual timing problems ... 

[ozbob]

Well this is better as even if late at least it is running through and not cancelled ... 

=======================

http://translink.com.au/service-updates/95931

9.36am route 500 outbound bus delayed 25 mins

Last updated: 9.54am Sunday 28 August 2016

The 9.36am route 500 outbound bus is delayed 25 minutes due to an operational issue.

This bus is now due to arrive at Goodna station at 10.49am.

[ozbob]

Western (Ipswich & Springfield) bus region concerns
> https://t.co/U4or9cSNzL#qldpol pic.twitter.com/AfIdDkoKNK

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) August 29, 2016

[ozbob]

Big problems with buses out west hey @StirlHinchliffe
> https://t.co/U4or9cSNzL#qldpol@JoAnnMillerMP pic.twitter.com/gkvd67bTD6

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) August 30, 2016

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

3rd September 2016

Western (Ipswich & Springfield) bus region concerns reach crisis point!

Good Morning,

The bus shambles continues out west.  This is now a major concern.  Passengers, including school children are being left stranded by constant bus cancellations.

It does appear the bus operator - Bus Queensland (formerly Westside) does not have enough drivers and/or buses to maintain the bus timetable.

Again yesterday (2 September) multiple cancellations.  Documented here > http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2695.msg179053#msg179053

The Minister for Transport needs to act to sort this out please.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ Attached: http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12316.msg178727#msg178727 ]

[Gazza]

If people want to take screenshots off the TL fb page of Westside cancellations i can collate them to go with a media release.

[ozbob]

Western (Ipswich & Springfield) bus region concerns reach crisis point!
> https://t.co/U4yYwYsPoC#qldpol @qld_times pic.twitter.com/gSNObjI4T8

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) September 2, 2016

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times 6th September 2016 page 19

Ipswich on cusp of transport meltdown

[ozbob]

Letter to Ed @qld_times &#39; Ipswich on cusp of transport meltdown &#39;
> https://t.co/f77qKEuIfV#qldpol@JoAnnMillerMP pic.twitter.com/W03LLTfNZs

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) September 5, 2016

[ozbob]

Quest --> TransLink working with bus service to address problems at Springfield and Ipswich

A REDBANK Plains mother of a student forced to miss three days of school in the past month is calling on TransLink to improve southwest services.

Laurell Close said her daughter, Layla, relied on the 526 Orion Springfield Central-to-Redbank bus service to get to Westside Christian College at Goodna.

Ms Close said the 7.32am service on August 22 failed to show up. The same thing occurred on August 26.

She posted her frustration on TransLink's Facebook page and was told its service delivery partner was unable to cover the trips with a replacement service.

In both cases, Ms Close said she and Layla gave up waiting and walked home.

When the 526 does arrive, Layla transfers to the 524 service at Redbank Plains Shopping Village, which then takes her to Westside Christian College. Ms Close said the 524 service was also cancelled on the morning of September 5. She urged TransLink to do more when buses were ­cancelled.

"Why doesn't (TransLink) replace the bus route, instead of cancelling the whole route?" Ms Close asked. "I'd rather Layla be late than not go (to school) at all."

A TransLink spokesman said the Department of Transport and Main Roads was aware that Westside Bus Company had recently experienced issues which had affected the performance of some services.

"By working with the operator, (the department) has taken steps to ensure Westside Bus Company addresses recent problems to ensure it can continue to meet scheduled services into the future," the spokesman said.

"(The department) will continue to investigate the circumstances closely by monitoring the Westside Bus Company to ensure that in the unfortunate event of a service cancellation, the appropriate on-time information is communicated to customers through the TransLink website via the TransLink contact centre."

TransLink said it was advised by Westside Bus Company at 3.40pm on Friday, August 26, that the 526 service scheduled for 3.20pm had been cancelled due to a mechanical failure. It was replaced by the next outbound route, the 526 service, at 3.53pm.

The operational ability of southwest buses is becoming a "major concern" to public transport advocate Robert Dow.

The Rail Back On Track head documented cancellations of bus services at Springfield and Ipswich on September 2 and August 26.

"For the past few months there seems to be an increasing problem with scheduled bus services being cancelled to mechanical failures or operational issues," he said.

"This is having a serious impact on public transport users who depend on the bus services for transport and connections to and from the railway.

"Passengers, including schoolchildren are being left stranded by constant bus cancellations," Mr Dow said.

"The effect of cancelling low frequency services is devastating for the passengers."

Mr Dow said too few buses or drivers could make it difficult for services to maintain the bus schedule.

Mr Dow said if a bus service was cancelled, a wait of up to an hour was common.

Mr Dow said he was concerned some cancelled routes were not being reported to the public via the TransLink website, but TransLink investigated and argued the cancellations were communicated via the TransLink website.

[ozbob]

Quest South West News 21st September 2016 page 3

Service fails to deliver

[ozbob]

. @QuestNewspapers 21 Sep 2016: Service fails to deliver
> https://t.co/GOT1waaxpn#qldpol Ipswich & Springfield bus problems .. pic.twitter.com/Tz0tgMe4wq

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) September 20, 2016

[ozbob]

. @StirlHinchliffe @TransLinkSEQ Poor bus out west ... the 522 is a joke .. time to sort it please !!https://t.co/WTFg40FSev#qldpol pic.twitter.com/BHNoQzwwrF

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) November 7, 2016