Article: Route changes as CityGlider nears

[ozbob]

From the Brisbane mX 29th October 2009 page 4

Route changes as CityGlider nears

[ozbob]

Media Release 19 August 2009

SEQ: City Glider needs to GO!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has welcomed the news of the  City Glider bus services, but has called for complete integration with the TransLink network and ticketing (1).

Robert Dow, spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Initiatives to further provide public transport options as detailed for the City Glider services for citizens are very welcome."

"RAIL Back On Track is concerned that there is no clear indication that the services will be properly integrated with the present TransLink bus services and ticketing arrangements.  A failure to achieve that will make the services unattractive to regular TransLink public transport users and will simply mean that there will be duplication of bus services."

"This will be inefficient and counter productive to the overall strategy of a properly integrated efficient public transport network. We doubt that the City Glider services will be sustainable in the longer term unless full integration is achieved. We urge all parties to ensure that normal ticketing including the go card is valid on these new City Glider services."

References:

1.  http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25946911-952,00.html

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[stephenk]

Nice of BCC to spend lots of my rates on developing this bus route, when they allegedly can't afford to run the 66 to RBWH.

[#Metro]

I think this service will be very popular, with or without GoCard.
The very high frequency will draw lots of travellers (Mohring effect) and the prices are actually cheaper than a two zone ticket on a paper ticket OR a GoCard.

http://www.translink.com.au/fares2010.php

Only an off peak GoCard trip using 2 zones is cheaper- by 7 cents.

I have previously estimated that it is highly unlikely that route 199 to runs at a loss.
by analogy, the CityGlider service may be able to run independently of the State. Therefore BCC could thumb its nose at George St because the service might pay for itself and would not require subsidy from the state.

If this were the case, then there really is no technical reason why a GoCard cannot be used -even if the fares were not TransLink fares. Airtrain fares are integrated with GoCard, but do not fall under the same pricing schedule. If the reason isn't technical, its probably political, the state probably wants to control the price of the service in return for using the GoCard.

Petty...

[#Metro]

Nice of BCC to spend lots of my rates on developing this bus route, when they allegedly can't afford to run the 66 to RBWH.

This is the domain of TL.
109 + 66 has not eventuated, and 109 still does not use the tunnel.

[somebody]

Is there room for the CityGlider and the 199?  Especially on the West End side where the routes aren't that different.  It really does seem like this is an attempt by BCC to bypass Translink.  The question is: why?  Perhaps BCC agree with the consensus of opinion on this site about the effectiveness of Translink.

[Jon Bryant]

PS. Has anyone noticed that the BCC buses have not converted to the Translink livery or have I just missed the change?

[#Metro]

199 and CG run different routes. CG has Newstead and Montague Rd while 199 does not.
The Montague Rd area is being de-industrialised for higher density living. Already there are a number of developments around here, but a limiting factor is poor PT along Montague Rd.

I'm not against BCC doing this. TL/QGov seem uninterested and nobody else looks like they would or could step in and provide the services. A Win-Win on both ends. It may seem strange, but given the history of the BCC I am not surprised.
There will be a slight disadvantage if GoCard can't be used, but in this game, it is the Queensland Government that holds all the (Go)cards...

[#Metro]

And a thought...
I can't imagine how many hoops a private operator would have to jump through if one woke up one morning and decided to run a bus service outside TL. (But there is a thought- maybe RailBOT should start running buses in protest to fill in the service gaps and charge for it too. They would probably deny us GoCard integration just to kill off the competition).

[ozbob]

There is now apparent public evidence of a failure in communication and cooperation between TransLink and the operators with this City Glider stand off.  The travelling public is the meat in the sandwich.  Very, very disappointing ....

[ozbob]

Another way of looking at this is that despite the fact QR seasonal rail tickets are to cease December this year presumably on the basis of TransLink and Government direction, BCC can do what they want?   Farce ....

[somebody]

109 still does not use the tunnel.

I'm more or less comfortable with this now.  If you want to get to Park Rd from the city, you can easily use the train and if you want to get to the PA Hospital you can easily use an Ipswich Rd service.  The problems with the latter are that not all of the Ipswich Rd services come from QSBS, and for some strange reason they still run through Woolloongabba rather than the O'Keefe St portal from the Boggo Rd busway.

If the 109 went via the busway, the journey would be longer and therefore more expensive to operate.  I think of the busway as not being for the 109, but for the 139, 169, and 209 (once the Eastern Busway opens to Coorparoo).

[beauyboy]

If the BCC implement a dayly cap on the 'CITYGLIDER' they will surely be on a winner.

Yes I to would like to know how much if any the 199 is losing. The loads I see it carry I believe it would be easily breaking even.
The fact is the only duplication of route the glider and the 199 have is CBD, West End ferry terminal, and Teneriffe Ferry terminale, the rest of the way they are completly seperate.

Donald

[somebody]

The fact is the only duplication of route the glider and the 199 have is CBD, West End ferry terminal, and Teneriffe Ferry terminale, the rest of the way they are completly seperate.

That's true, but at present if you want to get to/from Montague Rd you would be using the 199.  The 199 also provides service between the city and the valley which will be duplicated by the CityGlider, but that's also done by the trains and several other routes.  At the New Farm end, there isn't much duplication.

This route would probably kill the eastern part of the 470 run though.

[#Metro]

199 is usually full at peak hour. So any extra "duplication" is welcome duplication.
And Cityglider is cheaper for 2 zone trips from 2010.

[dwb]

http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2659.msg17772#new

Anyone notice the Qld Govt/ Translink logos in the bus advertising... does this mean it is funded through Translink???

[ozbob]

Does this mean that go card will be able to be used?  Certainly hope so ...

[#Metro]

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25946911-952,00.html

This is hardly a "tram on tyres" though. Why not just call a BUZ a BUZ?
$2.50 flat fare is very reasonable for any passenger IMHO.