Articles: Brisbane's public bus service is one of the best

[ozbob]

The Ferny Grove line is probably going to be the first high frequency line on our network, 10 minutes peak or better, 15 minutes off peak.  With the duplication proceeding and works at Ferny Grove it is clear where the Ferny Grove line is heading.

It would not be cost efficient to rip up the line and replace it.  The railway line is there, and it is time to use it more effectively.  There is also the remote possibility of the 'North West connection' from the FG line across to the Caboolture line.  It would be better investment to put in bus routes where there is no rail.  Shorncliffe will be eventually duplicated and will only increase in loadings.  There is a limit to how many buses will fit on the system.  Once the frequencies are improved there is little doubt that the true potential of the rail network will start to be realised.

Despite some folks perceptions of bus in Brisbane, there is a huge number that are extremely dissatisfied with the bus generally.  You only have to look at the feedback on blogs and so forth.   The major issue with rail is poor frequency.

[#Metro]

Well said.
10 min peak, 15 min off peak services would be a godsend.

[#Metro]

Let's throw a curly question.

Say you wanted to improve transport through Kelvin Grove, Paddington, Ashgrove and to The Gap.
Which mode would you choose and why?

* Busway
* Light Rail
* Light Metro
* Heavy Rail
* Metro

[somebody]

The Ferny Grove line is probably going to be the first high frequency line on our network, 10 minutes peak or better, 15 minutes off peak.  With the duplication proceeding and works at Ferny Grove it is clear where the Ferny Grove line is heading.

... There is a limit to how many buses will fit on the system.  Once the frequencies are improved there is little doubt that the true potential of the rail network will start to be realised.

Despite some folks perceptions of bus in Brisbane, there is a huge number that are extremely dissatisfied with the bus generally.  You only have to look at the feedback on blogs and so forth.   The major issue with rail is poor frequency.

Um, I'd be surprised if the Ferny Grove line outdid the Corinda stretch in the foreseeable future.  I wouldn't think it would be fair either.  Caboolture is next in line for a frequency upgrade.

There is a limit to how many buses, there's also a limit to how many trains.  Both can be increased.

Regarding those dissatisfied with bus, is that people getting a lot of "full bus" problems, poor routings or other reasons do you think?

[#Metro]

The cordon toll effects was interesting.
It would keep traffic out of the city (which is like now anyway) but put massive traffic onto the arterials and the Clem 7.

Developing a sequenced TOD network connected by PT corridors is a novel idea. New suburbs would be extended and "plugged in" to the corridor. However, the corridor itself may overload as corridor may concentrate itself above its own capacity.

[ozbob]

Feedback re bus is unreliable timetables, full buses and no shows.  Another irritant is the failed bus/rail connections but that is more of an overall system issue, this problem would be minimised if train frequency was better of course.

Ferny Grove may well be the pilot for 15 minute frequency, but I agree Caboolture needs more services today.

[#Metro]

  Another possibility: Trouts Rd Corridor.

[somebody]

Feedback re bus is unreliable timetables, full buses and no shows.  Another irritant is the failed bus/rail connections but that is more of an overall system issue, this problem would be minimised if train frequency was better of course.

Another problem would be the lack of maps/stop lists.  For instance, if you are at the Cultural Centre and want to get the next bus to the Gabba, unless you are a bus nerd, you'd have to ask every driver.  Why isn't there a list of buses which service which busway station, and to a lesser degree maps of their routes after that.

I'd wonder how much of an effect the Northern Busway changes have had on the full bus issues.

[MaxHeadway]

There used to be whole system maps at Busway stations. We desperately need something like that again. Route maps at on-street stops wouldn't hurt either: they're common in Toronto.

[WTN]

Seems like some stations have maps while others don't.  KGS has them.

[MaxHeadway]

King George Square has a schematic diagram of the inner portion of the busway. The maps we used to have a few years ago were scale maps of the whole bus system, with BT routes in red and private routes in green. That would work well, although you'd want to have an inset showing the CBD at a smaller scale.