25 Dec 2010: SEQ: Inner Northern Busway still underutilised

[ozbob]

Media release 25 December 2010

SEQ: Inner Northern Busway still underutilised

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and advocate for public transport commuters has been confused for a long time about the underutilisation of King George Square Bus Station.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"When the Inner Northern Busway and King George Square Bus Station opened in 2008, a number of strange changes were made.  Chief among these is the truncation of the 393 at Normanby.  Most likely this was done as the old route was no longer possible, but it would still be possible to reach the old terminus at Herschel St stop 1 through the then new portal at Roma St and Turbot St.  This would allow a number of people to actually use the route and ease pressure on the 66 route.  It is also confusing as to why the returning 331, 332 and 341 services do not run in service counter peak between Roma St and RBWH stations."

"Another point of confusion is why the 350, 351, 352, 357, 359 and 390 routes most of which go via Kelvin Grove Rd were not given King George Square Bus Station stops while a stop was left unused in each direction.  The 350 and 352 routes on the inbound journey have been harmed rather than helped by the infrastructure, so it is confusing as to why the current route was adopted, and it seems that it isn't just RAIL Back on Track who think so (1, 2).  Arguably, the 325, 335 and P339 should also use the infrastructure."

"Equally, it is unclear why the outbound 374 to Paddington, 375 to Bardon, and to a lesser degree 379 to Ashgrove and 380 and 381 to The Gap do not serve Roma St busway station on the outbound.  This would avoid a number of traffic lights and also allow a common stop location in Roma St station with the 382 & 383 rockets, and 385 BUZ.  There should be no concern with continuing to run inbound on Roma St if that would be superior."

"It is unclear as to why the 444 and 111 were separated from the other routes which serve the same corridor.  The 444 is really a Coronation Drive route so doesn't get much advantage from using the space in the station, and this point applies even more on the opening of Go Between Bridge as such routes no longer need to deal with the previously poor outbound routing.  The 111 was separated from the 160 on the opening of this infrastructure.  These routes should be kept together.  Apparently tighter headways than 5 minutes are possible at the 88/443/444 and 66/222 stops, so it is unclear why so few routes are using this infrastructure.  This is the mistake which has caused the perceived need for the 88 route bus (3)."

"It is disappointing that even two and a half years after the opening of the infrastructure, it is still not being properly used. This is typical  of the wider failure to properly capitalise on public transport infrastructure and assets in south-east Queensland, this must be turned around in 2011!"

References:

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3519.0  Point 6.

2. http://www.fivefootthree.com/blog/labels/Brisbane.html#3546768709089992452

3. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4920.0

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org