Christmas and New Year services 2015

[ozbob]

>> http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/64486/details

Christmas and New Year services

Last updated: 4.10pm Tuesday 15 December 2015

Over the Christmas and New Year period, timetables and services will change across the TransLink network.

Our operators will be running to different timetables and services may be limited during the holiday season.

Check journey planner for more information on your service.

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

^ Journey planner is cryptic, particularly for visitors and casual users. Often has errors.  Some simple lists are also needed.

[BrizCommuter]

BrizCommuter's word on the "special" Xmas period timetables
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2015/12/qrs-christmas-unpleasant.html

[brissypete]

Agreed that communication is poor.  However I think having no reductions for bus is a waste, all those super frequent empty buses.

Sent from my E6653 using Tapatalk

[Gazza]

As someone who previously worked weekends and had to use railbuses on occasion, it amuses me how weekday commuters on the Caboolture line lose their sh%t at the indignity of having to deal with it for a change.

[STB]

>> http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/64486/details

Christmas and New Year services

Last updated: 4.10pm Tuesday 15 December 2015

Over the Christmas and New Year period, timetables and services will change across the TransLink network.

Our operators will be running to different timetables and services may be limited during the holiday season.

Check journey planner for more information on your service.

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

^ Journey planner is cryptic, particularly for visitors and casual users. Often has errors.  Some simple lists are also needed.

Agreed, it's almost a lazy way out of communicating it (although I'm sure they would come out with some poor PR bullcrap that they are trying to "personalize the travelling experience").  All they have to do is do up a table of the adjusted timetable and put it into a PDF format, put it up on the website, and print a bunch out for each station so the station staff can notify and hand out the adjusted timetables.  I can understand the frustration going on about the place.

It's just as bad as not having timetables for the rail replacement buses, given off with a vague, oh they will depart around the same time as the trains...yeah, I'd love to see a bus go from Northgate to Virginia in 2mins! (for example).   

[red dragin]

BrizCommuter's word on the "special" Xmas period timetables
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2015/12/qrs-christmas-unpleasant.html

You've missed the replacement of 450 metres of speed restricted bridge in your post.

Not sure when else QR could be expected to do these works, it's not exactly an overnight job.

Agreed, more communication is needed, but there are signs up at all stations as well as websites, App's and newspapers. I don't imagine there is a great amount of "non-tech people" who'd be catching the train this next week.

I've driven the wife & I in this week (she has taken the train home) as there is almost no traffic and plenty of parking. We've saved about $60 overall for just the four days.

[ozbob]

Looking at the national situation with respect pt services this rather unusual sequence of holidays etc.

I think QR have done fine.  Publicity has been every where.  Sometimes it is best to say ' hey , Merry Christmas ' ... life goes on ..

[ozbob]

However, relying on the journey planner as a ' font of wisdom ' is seriously flawed  .. [ IMHO ]

[Derwan]

BrizCommuter's word on the "special" Xmas period timetables
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2015/12/qrs-christmas-unpleasant.html

You'd have to be living under a rock not to know about the Caboolture line closure, however changes to other lines certainly haven't been publicised apart from the generic "A special timetable will apply - check the Journey Planner."  A summary of changes on each line would've been nice (e.g. "Ferny Grove: Trains will run every 15 minutes in peak").

Other than that, I think the reduction in services between Xmas and new year is fine.  Yes - for "some", they are normal working days, but for the thousands of public servants and no doubt the majority of office workers, they are holidays.  It's not necessary to run the 7.5-minute frequency for the few people who have to work those days.  Drivers and guards deserve holidays too!

I drove to Northgate this morning.  Despite it being Christmas Eve, the car parks were about the same (or even more full) than normal.  No doubt some Caboolture-line commuters decided driving was a better option than the replacement buses.  Being Christmas Eve, this is fair enough - but then a lane closure on Sandgate Rd this afternoon really screwed things up!

I agree with QR though that a Christmas Eve closure is better than a New Year's eve closure!

And I agree with BrizCommuter re fares.  All fares between Xmas and New Year's day should be off-peak.  As well as acknowledging the reduced services, it would serve as a nice "Christmas present" to commuters. 

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Free buses for NYE revellers

WELCOMING in 2016 at the New Year's Eve Mooloolaba celebration doesn't have to mean traffic congestion with Sunshine Coast Council providing free bus services across the region.

The free buses will operate on all routes from 3pm on New Year's Eve (Thursday, December 31) until 5.30am on New Year's Day (Friday, January 1).

There will be free park and ride services operating from the University of the Sunshine Coast, Kawana Shoppingworld and Maroochydore Bus Station on Horton Parade.

The free public transport on New Year's Eve would encourage people to try the bus services and provide a safe, convenient option for people to get to and from the festivities.

New Year's Eve celebrations in Mooloolaba will attract about 45,000 people so providing the free buses helps increase safety, convenience and manage traffic and parking in the area.

The additional return services after each of the fireworks, at 8.30pm and midnight, will help get people home sooner.

For more information on the free New Year's Eve bus timetables visit Translink and Sunbus.

Sunshine Coast Council is doing a special preview of the Mooloolaba event today at 10am. Stay tuned for more details.

[ozbob]

I suppose there will be an announcement eventually that there will be some free travel NYE on the TransLink network generally? We can but only hope ...

Other jurisdictions outline this well in advance to assist people plan, not here hey? 

[ozbob]

TransLink --> New Year's Eve fireworks and celebrations at South Bank Parklands

[petey3801]

TransLink --> New Year's Eve fireworks and celebrations at South Bank Parklands

Interesting that the day before the event and there are still no extra services listed on the website. Gotta love Queensland.

[ozbob]

.. Additional services

Please check back closer to the date of the event for details of any additional services ..

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/network-information/event-transport/details/5056
6.15am 30th Dec 2015.

Reflects the general attitudes that pervade the halls of bureaucracy sadly ... 

[ozbob]

PTV --> Free public transport on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve

TfoNSW --> Sydney New Year's Eve 2015

Adelaide Metro --> FREE public transport on New Year's Eve!

Transperth --> Christmas and New Year Services 2015-16

Metro Tasmania --> Nightrider New Year's Eve services in Burnie, Hobart and Launceston

SEQ is a backwater ...

[ozbob]

 

[James]

Has there been free travel in the past? Speaking from an economic view point, a lot of people would probably be inclined to use the bus anyway due to long taxi waits and giant Uber surge pricing. I know there are extra services running (just check the journey planner), but very poor communication. There should already be a list of services running and the frequency of them.

I tell you what though, you'd have to have game to catch the all-stops train back home to Nambour. 2hr18min trip! Enough time to have a bit of a nap on the way home.

[ozbob]

Yes, it is usually free ... see > Free travel and extra services for New Year's Eve 2014/15 >> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11152.msg150850#msg150850

They wait until the very last day before they announce it usually.

It has to be 'free' because the ticketing system cannot cope with the surge crowds.
It is not really free of course, we all pay indirectly anyway.

It is though they do not want many people to know ...

Frankly, it is pathetic the way the public is treated.  Communication failures of the highest order.  They wonder why people get p%ssed  off with them ..

[Gazza]

Media release time bob, TL just told someone to check the JP because the extra services have been loaded in

So I guess punters are supposed to experiment with the JP through trial and error till they uncover what services are running. Never mind that plans can change during a big night.

Why not have a list of buses running, with departure times....they've had plenty of notice.

[ozbob]

It has been updated:   

>> http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/64486/details#nye

I will leave it be for now.  It is something that needs to be addressed in the overall communication framework of TransLink as we proceed in 2016.

[ozbob]

 


Free public transport

From 9pm on Thursday (31 December 2015), all New Year's Eve public transport services will be free until 5.30am on New Year's Day (Friday 1 January 2016).

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/64486/details#nye

Under New Year's Eve - Thursday 31 December

[Otto]

.
Just tried to check tomorrows NYE 200 services and this is what I get.

[ozbob]

Minister Hinchliffe has asked TransLink to fix it.

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

Twitter

Stirling Hinchliffe ‏@StirlHinchliffe 2 minutes ago

Hi @Robert_Dow agree the website should be clearer. I've asked @TransLinkSEQ to update with additional service info http://bit.ly/1OrDBRQ

=======================
^

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow 2m2 minutes ago

. @StirlHinchliffe @TransLinkSEQ Thank you Minister.

[ozbob]

Good to see the free travel information is now out as well.  Thanks.

[Gazza]

no it has not properly have a look at Brisbane transport just says that they will be extra services but it doesn't specify which Ones

[#Metro]

Good heavens, this is a shambles! What on Earth is going on behind the scenes?

[ozbob]

no it has not properly have a look at Brisbane transport just says that they will be extra services but it doesn't specify which Ones

Hopefully it will be updated shortly.

[ozbob]

Good heavens, this is a shambles! What on Earth is going on behind the scenes?

The other states all have the information up and ready to go weeks ago. 

In SEQ it is a last minute effort, and not very well done at that.  Good to see the Minister intervening, it can be and should be done a lot better than what it has been.

[#Metro]

Detailed info at TL website. http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/64486/details

Ideally should be out 1 week beforehand. Oh well.

[ozbob]

Good heavens, this is a shambles! What on Earth is going on behind the scenes?

Gazza was told by TransLink rep at 12.46pm today that some last minute changes may be made and they are waiting for finalised lists to be made available .. O_O



See >> https://www.facebook.com/RAILBackOnTrack/posts/1181587818522070:0

[Gazza]

Sunday/public holiday timetable with extra Friday AM services

So that means extra 314s right?

[ozbob]

 

[Gazza]

yes the website has been updated but the information is still vague with respect to Specific routes.

if you click on an individual route numbersend me information on that page just references back to the page that you Were on

[ozbob]

Media Release
Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games
The Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe

Free travel to welcome in the New Year

New Year's Eve travel across South East Queensland is covered with free public transport and plenty of extra services to help families and revellers get home safely.

Minister for Transport Stirling Hinchliffe said from 9pm on New Year's Eve until 5.30am on New Year's Day all services across the TransLink network would be free.

"With spectacular firework displays and celebratory events planned right across the region, I encourage people to leave the car at home and use public transport," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"To ensure everyone can get home safety, there will be more than 500 extra buses servicing entertainment hotspots and extra ferry, train and tram services operating throughout the evening and into the early hours of New Year's Day.

"For customers celebrating on the Gold Coast, the G: will operate to an increased frequency with trams running every 7.5 minutes from 7pm on New Year's Eve to 2am on New Year's Day. Extra bus services will also run across the Sunshine Coast.   

"There will also be extra trains on the Beenleigh, Caboolture, Cleveland, Doomben, Ferny Grove, Gold Coast, Ipswich/Rosewood, Shorncliffe, Springfield and Sunshine Coast lines in addition to scheduled services.

"Nineteen secure taxi ranks will operate across Brisbane, Ipswich, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast including three FlatFare ranks in the Brisbane CBD and Fortitude Valley."

While up to 30 additional Brisbane River ferry services will operate on New Year's Eve there will be temporary service disruptions due to the firework displays at South Bank.

For more information visit http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/64486/details. All travellers are encouraged to check www.translink.com.au to plan their journey or call 13 12 30, as operators across the network will run to varied timetables.

[ozbob]

Media Statements
Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games
The Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe
Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Travel free in Townsville this NYE

The Queensland Government will once again offer free travel to help Townsville and Magnetic Island residents get home safely after New Year celebrations.

Minister for Transport Stirling Hinchliffe said from 5pm on Thursday, 31 December until 5.30am on New Year's Day free shuttle buses would travel between entertainment hotspots in the region.

"I encourage revellers to secure the best seat in the house this New Year's Eve with free shuttle services operating across the city and on Magnetic Island," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"From the fireworks at The Strand, to celebrations at the Ville Resort & Casino, you can take advantage of the free services to secure an early vantage point for the evening's entertainment."

State Member for Thuringowa Aaron Harper encouraged locals to take full advantage of the free travel offer and public transport services New Year's Eve.

"New Year's Eve is one of the busiest public transport nights of the year and these free shuttle buses services will be operating across the city and on Magnetic Island to get people to and from the fireworks spectacular to other entertainment venues," Mr Harper said.

Free New Year's Eve shuttle services will run from:

    Dean Street car park via City (Cowboys Leagues Club), the Strand, The Ville Resort & Casino to Dean Street car park - shuttles will depart every 20 minutes from 6pm to 8.30pm and return services from 9.30pm to 1.30am
    The Willows via Hermit Park, City (Cowboys Leagues Club), the Strand, to the Ville Resort & Casino - shuttles will depart at 5pm, 5.40pm, 6.10pm, 7pm, 7.40pm and 8.20pm
    The Strand via the Ville Resort & Casino, Hermit Park to Willows - shuttles will depart at 9.30pm, 10.05pm, 10.40pm, 11.50pm, 12.25am, 1am and 1.35am
    The Ville Resort & Casino to the Willows - shuttles will depart every 30 minutes from 12.30am to 5.30am

Public transport on Magnetic Island will also be ramped up with continuous free shuttles between Horseshoe Bay and the island ferry terminal every 30 minutes from 8pm on New Year's Eve to 5.30am on New Year's morning.

While the special shuttle services will be free on New Year's Eve, normal fares and timetables will apply for all scheduled Sunbus services on Thursday, 31 December 2015.

For more information, visit www.qconnect.qld.gov.au<http://www.qconnect.qld.gov.au> or www.sunbus.com.au<http://www.sunbus.com.au (external site)> and click on Townsville.

[STB]

The information on the webpage is still quite vague.  I don't know if the communications and organisation for NYE has been this bad before?  Good luck to those heading out, you'll need it to work out how the heck you'll get home and/or the pubs and clubs and/or friend's houses afterwards.  :conf

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

31st December 2015

Poor information for TransLink New Year's Eve Services

Greetings,

Happy New Year!  Sadly, public transport information for New Years Eve in SEQ is poor.

Some improvement was made to the information yesterday at http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/64486/details#nye however most of the information is still vague.

Lists of the actual extra services running are needed.  Relying on the journey planner is vague, cryptic and very difficult for casual public transport users. Are intending passengers supposed to experiment with the journey planner through trial and error till they uncover what services are actually running?

An example of how Service information should be be presented is Victoria.  See --> https://ptv.vic.gov.au/news-and-events/events/public-transport-for-new-year-s-eve-thursday-31-december-to-friday-1-january-2016/#service

All other states have clear information that has been available for weeks (see below).  Why is everything in SEQ last minute, and done poorly?

Hopefully we will see improvements in 2016 with basic communication with the public from TransLink.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Service information New Year's Eve other states:

PTV --> Free public transport on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve

TfoNSW --> Sydney New Year's Eve 2015

Adelaide Metro --> FREE public transport on New Year's Eve!

Transperth --> Christmas and New Year Services 2015-16

Metro Tasmania --> Nightrider New Year's Eve services in Burnie, Hobart and Launceston

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> What to do in Brisbane for New Year's Eve 2016

... Translink services will be free between 9pm December 31, and 5.30am January 1.

Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said he encouraged people to catch public transport instead of driving.

"To ensure everyone can get home safely, there will be more than 500 extra buses servicing entertainment hot-spots and extra ferry, train and tram services operating throughout the evening and into the early hours of New Year's Day," he said.

"For customers celebrating on the Gold Coast, the G (light rail) will operate to an increased frequency with trams running every 7½ minutes from 7pm on New Year's Eve to 2am on New Year's Day.

"Extra bus services will also run across the Sunshine Coast."   ....