RAIL - Back On Track Forum

Quote from: nathandavid88 on August 28, 2024, 12:59:57 PMI've just downloaded it, and after having a very little play around with it, it seems to work pretty well.

how do you see where your bus (or train/tram/ferry) is in the map? I see arrival time but not map tracking? I simply can't find it

I just use Anytrip (if I want vehicle data) or Google Maps (which is more widely available).  Both actually work and have for years.

The real app they need to be working on is one concerning the ticketing system, and rolling out a virtual pass (which has been available in Melbourne for ages albeit only on Android for some odd reason).

Quote from: SurfRail on August 29, 2024, 11:00:16 AMI just use Anytrip (if I want vehicle data) or Google Maps (which is more widely available).  Both actually work and have for years.

The real app they need to be working on is one concerning the ticketing system, and rolling out a virtual pass (which has been available in Melbourne for ages albeit only on Android for some odd reason).

Yes, integrating it with your account and trip history is very important and more beneficial. Similar to the Opal Travel App

Quote from: ozbob on August 29, 2024, 09:22:02 AMStill not available in the Google Play store ... 

Is now

^ thanks, got it.  It is Translink App.

They (Google) must of been working on US time 😄

Install Translink, delete My Translink.

Clicked on the map. It's just a see of running late services. A few 20+ minute late running and a 340 departing carseldine station already 13 minutes late. So how does BCC still have a good OTP? Is there a 20 minute dwell two stops from the end or something? Haha.

Quote from: Jonno on August 29, 2024, 09:33:15 AM

Quote from: nathandavid88 on August 28, 2024, 12:59:57 PMI've just downloaded it, and after having a very little play around with it, it seems to work pretty well.

how do you see where your bus (or train/tram/ferry) is in the map? I see arrival time but not map tracking? I simply can't find it

If you tap the map, you can see all the buses operating around you. I haven't yet worked out if you can filter services by stop or not, because here in the CBD there are a LOT of services on the map, or if you can track a single service (I generally don't use those features, preferring a departures list.

The departure tab on Android has the traditional departure list by stops

It kind of shows/reminds me that we have way way way too many bus stops. It's hard to see the bus and train due to the bus stop.

Seems pretty good so far.

The interface is overall more modern and easy to use than MyTransLink.
It's good to see "what leaves near me right now" getting a lot of prominence. This kind of thing is why most people open transit apps, because GMaps etc. doesn't do it well.

I don't love the way journey planner results are presented, there's a bit too much going on. (Paradoxically, I think this is because they've tried too hard to keep it compact.) I especially don't like the +1, +2 stuff - it's confusing and really messy.

Overall not bad, definitely better than the old app, but it still needs more customisation/localisation.

Quote from: Jonno on August 29, 2024, 21:57:32 PMIt kind of shows/reminds me that we have way way way too many bus stops. It's hard to see the bus and train due to the bus stop.

Yeah I was thinking this, the map should probably use different sized labels for different modes, or if several buses don't fit nicely on screen, consolidate them until the user zooms in.

The app will also only ever be as good as the data. Stuff like excruciatingly long stop names and lazy targeting of service updates really affects the user experience, but that's a bigger TL problem, not a problem with the app per se.

Quote from: HappyTrainGuy on August 29, 2024, 15:22:00 PMClicked on the map. It's just a see of running late services. A few 20+ minute late running and a 340 departing carseldine station already 13 minutes late. So how does BCC still have a good OTP? Is there a 20 minute dwell two stops from the end or something? Haha.

Ha ha, bus reported OTR [https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=15669.0]

is more fantasy than fact! 

I think there are phantom buses being displayed on the map. This morning I caught a bus from along Mains Road at Sunnybank, and watching the map, there were a number of buses on the map that should have been driving past that weren't.

The actual buses that did drive past, all did show up on the map too, there were just additional ones displayed too.

Quote from: nathandavid88 on August 30, 2024, 18:26:03 PMI think there are phantom buses being displayed on the map. This morning I caught a bus from along Mains Road at Sunnybank, and watching the map, there were a number of buses on the map that should have been driving past that weren't.

The actual buses that did drive past, all did show up on the map too, there were just additional ones displayed too.

Were those 'phantom' busses missing the ± next to the route number? I suspect busses missing the ± aren't actually showing the live location but rather where it 'should' be according to the schedule.

For example, nearly all the busses in Redcliffe aren't transmitting live data atm. If you click into the route it doesnt show any live info.
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Quote from: RowBro on August 30, 2024, 19:24:32 PM

Quote from: nathandavid88 on August 30, 2024, 18:26:03 PMI think there are phantom buses being displayed on the map. This morning I caught a bus from along Mains Road at Sunnybank, and watching the map, there were a number of buses on the map that should have been driving past that weren't.

The actual buses that did drive past, all did show up on the map too, there were just additional ones displayed too.

Were those 'phantom' busses missing the ± next to the route number? I suspect busses missing the ± aren't actually showing the live location but rather where it 'should' be according to the schedule.

For example, nearly all the busses in Redcliffe aren't transmitting live data atm. If you click into the route it doesnt show any live info.
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They weren't missing it, but I have a feeling they were all displaying a green "+0", which I thought might indicate the same thing.

https://x.com/jonathanpbryant/status/1830506949974376601?s=46&t=EDszjTErsxTIqAna7yuP-w

I'm amazed we have that many buses on the road but at the same time frequency is perceived as not good.

Quote from: #Metro on September 02, 2024, 18:44:30 PMI'm amazed we have that many buses on the road but at the same time frequency is perceived as not good.

It is peak hour though.

Quote from: #Metro on September 02, 2024, 18:44:30 PMI'm amazed we have that many buses on the road but at the same time frequency is perceived as not good.

that is the problem with an illegible network. People can't work out the frequency! 

Queensland Parliament

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2024/884-2024.pdf

Question on Notice
No. 884
Asked on 20 August 2024

MR J KRAUSE ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS AND MINISTER
FOR DIGITAL SERVICES (HON B MELLISH)—

QUESTION:

With reference to the Brisbane Times story from May 2024 that advised that a new TransLink
journey planner app would be rolled out by the end of July—
Will the Minister advise the reason for the delay and when the new app will be publicly available?

ANSWER:

I thank the Member for Scenic Rim for the question.

I am pleased to advise that the first release of the new Translink journey planner app was made
available for download on 28 August 2024.

I am advised that the Department of Transport and Main Roads made the decision to move the
release to late August 2024 to avoid conflicting with communication activities for the introduction
of the highly successful 50 cent fares initiative and the Royal Queensland Show 2024.

The new app features real time journey planning, including walking and cycling options where
available, commuter alerts, and new map features.

I wish it allowed you to combine active transport and public transport in the routing. Or even car and public transport, like Google Maps does.

I like using the MyTranslink over the Google Maps as it doesn't have a transfer penalty/buffer and so allows me to judge if I can make a 2 minute walk in time. This wouldn't suit everyone though. A setting would be preferable. For example it assumes you can leave Central in 2 minutes, which is entirely unrealistic.