Ministerial Statement: New three-door, six-go card reader superbus debuts in SEQ

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan
10/01/2010

New three-door, six-go card reader superbus debuts in SEQ

A new-generation superbus with three doors and extra go card readers to service more than 110 passengers each trip will be trialled from Monday 18 January.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan today inspected the first of two new $750,000, low-emission diesel buses which feature larger doors and extra go card readers for easier and faster access.

"This superbus is the newest and highest capacity bus in the TransLink fleet - funded under the State Government's Urban Congestion program," Ms Nolan said.

"The first of two new superbuses will be trialled throughout Logan and Brisbane on South East Busway route 555 (Loganholme-Brisbane City) by Clarks Logan City Bus Service.

"The new buses will also be trialled at special events in the near future to improve loading and passenger movements, and reduce dwell times.

"The new Volvo model with a Volgren body can carry 112 passengers, compared to existing articulated buses that carry about 90 passengers.

"The superbus has three doors and two more go card readers than normal and articulated buses, which will mean faster boarding times and easier access for passengers.

"These buses are a first for South East Queensland. They are the same length as the current articulated buses but have a smaller carbon footprint per passenger.

"Their internal design means there will be fewer seats up front and more standing space which allows these buses to carry more people.

"We believe this vehicle configuration will improve peak busway throughput and reduce congestion and full buses.

"These high capacity vehicles will also increase operator productivity, by moving more people with the same or a reduced number of vehicles and drivers, and increase efficiency due to a reduction in dead running," Ms Nolan said.

"Articulated buses have proven to be less costly per passenger per km in terms of both maintenance and fuel, and labour savings are made through utilising larger vehicles rather than additional frequency."

Ms Nolan said the second superbus would be put into service in the coming months.
   

[Mozz]

Good news in terms of increasing the fleet, but maybe a "super" bus should really be renamed "a bit bigger" bus with 112 versus 90 commuters.

[ozbob]

Next logical step as frequency limit already reached on some parts of the SE Busway at peak so increasing capacity.

Yep, a bit bigger bus.

[ozbob]

And does this mean we will see non front loading on bus with the go?

[#Metro]

Is there a picture?
Last time I heard about this was three years ago.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22061320-3102,00.html

[ozbob]

I think it is these -->  http://www.busaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=48494

ATDB

[somebody]

Not excited.  This means less seat per bendy bus.  I doubt that this will allow multi door boarding.  It will do more rapid drop offs at terminii and busy stops.

It's also not like the frequency isn't an issue.  15 minute frequencies are still an average 7.5 minute wait for a turn up and go pax.  We'd want to do better than that IMO.

Next logical step as frequency limit already reached on some parts of the SE Busway at peak so increasing capacity.

Yep, a bit bigger bus.

Is the part about the busway reaching capacity true?  The only study I have seen (from 2007) states that the busiest part of the busway (between the Capt Cook Bridge and Woolloongabba station intersections) had almost 300 buses/hour in peak.  That's only a 12 second headway, but we should be able to do better than that where there aren't stations.  The major concern, I suppose, is Buranda post the Eastern busway openning.  A 15 second headway may require even more buses to express through there.  Or a longer platform.

[ozbob]

Almost true.  What I have observed past Buranda is a minor hiccup and it is all over.  More artics will allow more capacity.

Do you think there is a possibility of real super buses 200+ pax being run on the SE Busway?

[ozbob]

e.g.

http://citytransport.info/NotMine/U1997_0991a.jpg


A Curitiba, Brazil, double-articulated bus calls at a 'tube-style' bus stop.

Footnote:  these buses can carry 270 pax.

[#Metro]

Hmm. So the superbuses are almost half the size originally envisioned? (200) from the 2007 Courier Mail article.
The BCC bi-arctics look similar but the superbus has slightly more capacity.
Photograph here

It was projected to reach capacity under the operational philosophy (bus originates in suburbs, runs to city).[BCC Mass Transit Report 2007] There is also limited space for more buses in the city, and Cultural Centre / Melbourne Street portal is a major weakness/critical point in the system.

This may change in the future (get larger vehicle, convert to light rail) or begin "branch & hub" philosophy where a trunk bus/LRT ferries passengers to major stations, and then local distributor buses take them into the suburbs. Direct routes would be reduced over time.

The rail system is also facing the same situation. That's where the new link to the city comes in.

There is a lot to do, and not much time.

[STB]

The busway isn't the only one approaching capacity (from what I last heard from reliable contacts, the SE Busway was already been used well above the designed capacity, although there was plenty of capacity left on the Inner Northern Busway), but also the inner city kerbside space is also reaching capacity.

[somebody]

Almost true.  What I have observed past Buranda is a minor hiccup and it is all over.  More artics will allow more capacity.

Do you think there is a possibility of real super buses 200+ pax being run on the SE Busway?

So is the major constraint on Busway capacity Buranda station?  Couldn't a longer platform help?  Is it now the standard 60m/4 normal bus platform, or is it longer?

The problem with increased use of artics as a capacity solution is that it doesn't work too well.  Obviously, a longer bus uses more kerb space at street stops and busway platforms.

Regarding limited city stop space, we could go back to using Ann St like what was done during the KGSBS construction.  But I think the best solution is simply to use the underground space better.  For instance, why's there a completely unused stop in KGSBS in both directions?  I think I crapped on about this in "Bus routes which need fixing" so I won't repeat myself anymore than that.

[ozbob]

Buranda is 60m.  ( http://download.translink.com.au/maps/090501_buranda.pdf ).  Might help, but as STB the basic issue is that it (the busway) is already over design capacity.  Maybe some of the other things you have suggested might be needed, alternative routing and better use of present assets.

Yes, having a more considered think about the bi-artics probably not a good idea with the present infrastructure.  More use of feeder buses to and from major bus stations to reduce overall numbers of buses on the busways may be necessary, particularly when the Eastern busway proper kicks in.

[longboi]

We have quite a few bus turnarounds along the SE Busway where local routes would connect passengers with spine routes.

[somebody]

Yes, having a more considered think about the bi-artics probably not a good idea with the present infrastructure.  More use of feeder buses to and from major bus stations to reduce overall numbers of buses on the busways may be necessary, particularly when the Eastern busway proper kicks in.

I believe that the major problems are getting the bi-artics around the loop to get on to Capt Cook Bridge, and then turning on the city streets might require 2 lanes, which is mostly a problem at Edward/Albert Sts.

Going the other way, I think it would be unlikely that they would be able to negotiate the Melbourne St busway portal without blocking buses in the other direction, then the QSBS and KGSBS aren't designed to allow for it.  I'm also not really convinced they could get between the Victoria Bridge and Adelaide St.

[#Metro]

Melbourne street portal is an accident waiting to happen.
I can't see it coping with bigger buses, more buses, more people, more traffic and limited space at Cultural Centre.
There was an option to tunnel under the river, but that was deemed too costly.
The Cultural Centre will have to be re-thought (yet again). It needs more platforms.

Possible ideas

Proposal 1
an alignment parallel with that of the new proposed rail link into the CBD (they are going to be tunneling down there anyway, might as well kill 2 birds with 1 stone.

Proposal 2
Resume land adjacent to the Captain Cook Bridge
Triplicate the Captain Cook bridge to QUT (busway use only)
New stations at
QUT Gardens Point
Northbank

I think what is lacking is foresight. The busway should be put underground in the CBD with a metro style setup with extra platforms just in case. The people building Sydney's rail system in the 1920s put in extra tunnels and platforms for future expansion and left space on the Coathanger for extra lines.

There also could be a Central busway in the CBD connecting QSBS-Post Office Square-Fortitude Valley-INB.
Expensive to do today, but even more expensive to do tomorrow...

[O_128]

And does this mean we will see non front loading on bus with the go?

Yep this is what is really needed on all buses

[O_128]

Melbourne street portal is an accident waiting to happen.
I can't see it coping with bigger buses, more buses, more people, more traffic and limited space at Cultural Centre.
There was an option to tunnel under the river, but that was deemed too costly.
The Cultural Centre will have to be re-thought (yet again). It needs more platforms.

Possible ideas

Proposal 1
an alignment parallel with that of the new proposed rail link into the CBD (they are going to be tunneling down there anyway, might as well kill 2 birds with 1 stone.

Proposal 2
Resume land adjacent to the Captain Cook Bridge
Triplicate the Captain Cook bridge to QUT (busway use only)
New stations at
QUT Gardens Point
Northbank

I think what is lacking is foresight. The busway should be put underground in the CBD with a metro style setup with extra platforms just in case. The people building Sydney's rail system in the 1920s put in extra tunnels and platforms for future expansion and left space on the Coathanger for extra lines.

There also could be a Central busway in the CBD connecting QSBS-Post Office Square-Fortitude Valley-INB.
Expensive to do today, but even more expensive to do tomorrow...

Arent there plans for a second bridge already? The Adelaide street bridge. Why this was not given priority over the Hale street bridge will never be known. Also Sydney was much smarter and built more platforms than needed some of which are used for archival storage

[#Metro]

Arent there plans for a second bridge already? The Adelaide street bridge. Why this was not given priority over the Hale street bridge will never be known. Also Sydney was much smarter and built more platforms than needed some of which are used for archival storage

Brisbane is now bordered on all sides by freeway (either above or below ground). And I read today that the car industry has had $6 billion (over 13 years) or so allocated to it in subsidies. Madness... My theory is that transport and fuels are essential, almost everyone has a car and therefore hard to get away from if you tax it. Think petrol excise, rego, parking ,fines, license fees and tolls.

Brisbane appears to be going down the pathway as Melbourne and Sydney. Mass population.
Looks like Cultural Centre might have to be redeveloped (yet again!) to expand capacity for now and the future. It would have to be like "Roma St for buses". And something permanent needs to be done about the Melbourne St portal issue.

I think the future is underground as a busway subway network located beneath Adelaide Street. This network would carry buses and probably transition to light rail in time. Now, whether that involves an approach to Adelaide St via the Adelaide St Bridge, A triplication of the Captain Cook bridge or a triple tunnel co-location with the new underground railway link should be put to a feasibility study. Its hardly pie in the sky when you consider this is what Clem 7 is for cars.

I also think that Adelaide Street should eventually be closed and turned into a mall like Queen Street was done. Portals would be sunk to the underground stations there, with two levels- one to access KGS, the other to continue below KGS-QSBS tunnel to Fortitude Valley.

[somebody]

Or they could just go with increased use of the Captain Cook Bridge.  130/140/150/555 are prime candidates.

[Andrew]

Yes, having a more considered think about the bi-artics probably not a good idea with the present infrastructure.  More use of feeder buses to and from major bus stations to reduce overall numbers of buses on the busways may be necessary, particularly when the Eastern busway proper kicks in.

I believe that the major problems are getting the bi-artics around the loop to get on to Capt Cook Bridge, and then turning on the city streets might require 2 lanes, which is mostly a problem at Edward/Albert Sts.

Going the other way, I think it would be unlikely that they would be able to negotiate the Melbourne St busway portal without blocking buses in the other direction, then the QSBS and KGSBS aren't designed to allow for it.  I'm also not really convinced they could get between the Victoria Bridge and Adelaide St.

I think one of the main hurdles with the bi-artics is registering them.  They wanted them for CityGlider apparently but our current legislation doesn't adequately cater for vehicles like that without classifying them like a b-double.  If you got one like the Vanhool AGG 300, the engine is located in the front section off to one side so both trailer wheels steer on corners like the older artics that BT have.  This means that cornering and driving forwards would not be a huge problem as they could go anywhere a normal artic could go, vehicle length not withstanding.  Reversing them on the other hand....  There are clips on you tube of these buses overseas and they are quite impressive.  Current stop infrastructure would be the major sticking point though.

[dwb]

I would have thought lots of standing room would be better for shorter trips although I guess on the busway it is a smooth ride and relatively fast when compared to a standard urban service such as the 385, 345 or equivalent.