20 January 2014: Sunshine Coast train frequency

[Fares_Fair]

See 4th March 2014 post below for latest changes. See --> « Reply #27 »

Now current, information below is correct as at 10 March, 2014.

NAMBOUR Weekdays                                   Minutes between services
Southbound services

4:34                                                           
5:07                                                           33
5:25                                                           18
5:50                                                           25
6:14                                                           24
6:40                                                           26
6:57 Originates Gympie North                      17
7:07 Bus to Caboolture                                10
7:46                                                           39
8:20 Bus to Caboolture                                34
9:13                                                          53
9:43 Bus to Landsborough                           30
10:10 Bus to Caboolture                              27
10:43                                                        33
11:08 Bus to Landsborough                         25
11:31 Bus to Caboolture                              23
12:13                                                         42
12:37 Bus to Caboolture                               24
13:15 Bus to Landsborough                          38
13:43                                                         28
14:26 Originates Gympie North                    43
15:13                                                         47
15:51 Bus to Caboolture                              38
16:30                                                         39
16:51 Bus to Caboolture                              21
17:22 Bus to Caboolture                              31
17:39                                                         17   timetable errors: corrections applied
18:21 Bus to Caboolture                              42
19:20 Bus to Caboolture                              59
20:13                                                         53


Including buses used as trains...
Average frequency from 4:34am to 8:20am = 25.11 minutes
Total Average frequency from 4:34am to 8:13pm = 32.38 minutes

[Fares_Fair]

BRISBANE Weekdays                                   Minutes between services
Northbound services

4:33 Bus from Caboolture                           
5:21                                                            48
5:33 Bus from Caboolture                             12
6:03 Bus from Caboolture                             30
6:33                                                            30
7:03 Bus from Caboolture                             30
8:30                                                            87
8:33 Bus from Caboolture to Landsborough      3
9:29 Destination Gympie North                      56
10:00                                                          31
10:33 Bus from Caboolture                           33
11:30                                                          57
12:03 Bus from Caboolture                           33
13:00                                                          57
13:33 Bus from Caboolture                           33
14:03 Bus from Caboolture                           30
14:33 Bus from Caboolture                           30
15:30                                                          57
16:00                                                          30
16:18                                                          18
16:36                                                          18       timetable change: corrections applied
16:48 Bus from Caboolture                           12
17:00                                                          12
17:24                                                          24
17:47 Destination Gympie North                    23
18:00                                                          13
18:15 Bus from Caboolture to Landsborough   15
19:00                                                          45
19:03 Bus from Caboolture                             3
20:30                                                          87
21:30                                                          60
23:00                                                          90


Including buses used as trains...
Total Average frequency from 4:33am to 11:00pm = 35.71 minutes

[BrizCommuter]

3tph for 2 hours in peak direction, for only around 1000 passengers beyond Caboolture is pretty good.

[Fares_Fair]

3tph for 2 hours in peak direction, for only around 1000 passengers beyond Caboolture is pretty good.

You miss the point, and it's why there are just 2000 passengers beyond Caboolture.

It's amazing that so many still use it - possibly because they have no choice.
Taking over 3 hours to get to Brisbane for appointments from the Sunshine Coast is a joke. It shouldn't be a day trip PERIOD.
42% rail buses, frequency is ad hoc, freight trains and so on.

It's a national disgrace. 

[Arnz]

Now that Petey has confirmed that the upcoming 4:22pm (from Central) service is a 3-car service (and therefore one of the reasons why it runs express BH-NGate-Cab), and this Nambour service originating from Springfield Central at 3:39pm, what are your thoughts.

My thoughts:
I have some concerns on the 4:22pm service being a 3-car service which may get crowded pretty quickly, it would likely pick up (Elimbah-Nambour) patronage from the 4:04pm and 4:34pm service, as well as already carrying people from Springfield in only a 3-car unit. 

My suggestions, revert the 3:30pm service back to 3-car and run that express Bowen Hills-Northgate-Caboolture (so the Albion to Nundah passengers can board the 2 new Caboolture services introduced around the existing 3:30pm service to Nambour), thus addressing the crowding concerns (This service would no longer service Albion to Nundah under my suggestion)
There should more than enough track capacity to allow the express running at this time of the afternoon.  The 3-cars from that service would be put on the 4:22pm service.

The 4:22pm service upped to a 6-car unit, and that now stops all stations to Northgate, and runs express Northgate to Caboolture (picking up/setting down the Albion to Nundah folks).

[Fares_Fair]

Frequency analysis complete for all 359 Sunshine Coast train (and sadly, 26 Rail bus) services, including weekends.

What trains are fastest, what trains are slowest (most proved to be Rail buses) and what one's to simply avoid altogether if you want a life.

Stay tuned ...

[Stillwater]

 

[Fares_Fair]

NOTE

I understand that all Sunshine Coast / Caboolture line printed timetables have had to be recalled due to a minor error.

The information below was not corrected in the new timetable ...
The current 4.34pm Nambour express service will depart Central station 6 minutes later at 4.40pm.

i.e. the depicted 4:30pm departure from Roma Street station should be 4:36pm, and thus 4:40pm from Central.

I will update this posts information above, once the correct times are shown.

[ozbob]

^ thanks FF for checking these timetables ..

[Arnz]

There is also a mistake in the Caboolture timetable.  The Cab timetable depicts the 4:22pm from Central to NBR to be stopping all stations to Northgate then express to Caboolture, then all stations to Nambour, whereas the Sunshine Coast timetable shows the correct stopping pattern of Bowen Hills express to Northgate express to Caboolture, then all stations to Nambour.

I have reported those mistakes already to QR via FB to pass onto TL.

[Arnz]

And on that note, has anybody asked TL whether the bus timetables for the 605/615 and 630/631 will be re-adjusted to meet the new and adjusted afternoon services?

[Fares_Fair]

And on that note, has anybody asked TL whether the bus timetables for the 605/615 and 630/631 will be re-adjusted to meet the new and adjusted afternoon services?

Good work Arnz.
Have now...

Jeff Addison ‏@Jeffrey_Addison  27s 
@TranslinkSEQ 20 January 2014: Sunshine Coast train frequency http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10440.msg137230#msg137230 ...
Has bus timetable been updated 605/615 & 630/631 buses?
8:58 PM - 8 Jan 14

[Arnz]

^
http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/4966/details

The good news.
TransLink has adjusted the 605/615/631 services to connect to the retimed services for Monday Jan 20's service changes.   Old departure times has been adjusted 6 minutes to leave at 6:11pm (from Landsborough) and 6:35pm (from Nambour)

However, the bad news..  no 605/615 bus connection for the new service leaving Central at 4:22pm arriving Landsborough at 5:43pm.  Any passengers coming off the 4:22pm train intending to catch a connection has to wait 28mins for the next 605/615 departing at 6:11pm.

[Fares_Fair]

EXTRA TIMETABLE CHANGE by 14 minutes

I note also that the timetable has been changed to show a new service from Nambour at 5:39pm to arr. Roma St at 7:56pm.

Previously this service departed Nambour at 5:53pm, arr. Roma St at 8:10pm

[Arnz]

EXTRA TIMETABLE CHANGE by 14 minutes

I note also that the timetable has been changed to show a new service from Nambour at 5:39pm to arr. Roma St at 7:56pm.

Previously this service departed Nambour at 5:53pm, arr. Roma St at 8:10pm

Seems the timetable scheduler moved the timetabled crossings (with the peak outbound trains) to stations north of Landsborough on that retimed service.   

Anyone want to join the "dance of the trains" at night, feel free to catch this service leaving Nambour at 5:39pm.

[Fares_Fair]

Frequency analysis complete for all 359 Sunshine Coast train (and sadly, 26 Rail bus) services, including weekends.

What trains are fastest, what trains are slowest (most proved to be Rail buses) and what one's to simply avoid altogether if you want a life.

Stay tuned ...

[ozbob]

From the Sunshine Coast Daily click here!

How to save 50 minutes on your train trip into the city

How to save 50 minutes on your train trip into the city
Kathy Sundstrom
17th Jan 2014 6:00 AM

CATCHING the right rail service to Brisbane with the launch of the new timetable from Monday could save you 50 minutes each trip.

Regular commuter Jeff Addison has completed a detailed analysis of the new timetable and its impact on the nearly 2000 rail commuters who travel from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane each week.

The analysis shows how to avoid spending nearly three hours on the journey to the city, how to ensure your trip includes toilets on board and how to get home as quickly as possible.

In one instance, switching trains on the journey home at Caboolture will save more time than completing the whole journey with the same service.

The analysis also shows how long you will have to wait for another service if you accidentally miss your train.

The fastest train trips from Nambour to Roma St in the week take one hour and 50 minutes. The slowest trip on the same route takes two hours and 40 minutes.

More than half - 14 out of the 27 - of the daily southbound journeys range from one hour and 50 minutes to one hour and 58 minutes.

But the remaining 13 southbound daily journeys take longer, ranging from two hours 17 minutes to two hours and 40 minutes.

The 27 exclude the rail buses from Nambour to Landsborough.

On average, most commuters will have to wait 59 minutes if they miss a train to Brisbane and 32 minutes if they are prepared to catch a rail bus service.

Going home after a busy day at the office will take an extra two minutes on both the slowest (two hours and 52 minutes) and fastest journey (one hour and 52 minutes).

The journeys are quicker on weekends, with the slowest trip south taking two hours and 17 minutes, while the fastest trip takes one hour and 46 minutes.

Mr Addison has urged commuters planning the trip to the city to do what they can to avoid the rail-bus journeys, which comprise 42% of the trips between the Coast and Brisbane.

Mr Addison said the rail-bus services had the longest journey times.

The rail buses also have no toilets on board.



FAST TRACK

Fastest weekday trains to Brisbane:

Take one hour and 50 minutes, departing Nambour at 4.34am, 5.25am and 6.40am.

The slowest trips to Brisbane:

Take two hours and 40 minutes, leaving Nambour at 8.20am and 7.20pm.

Fastest weekday trains home to Nambour:

Take one hour and 52 minutes, departing Roma St at8.30am, 10am, 11.30am, 1pm, 4pm, 4.18pm, 6pm, 8.30pm, 9.30pm, 11pm.

The slowest trip to Nambour

Take two hours and 52 minutes, from Roma St at 7.03am.

Weekends: south-bound

Our slowest train trips from Nambour to Roma St = 2 hours 17 minutes

Our fastest train trips from Nambour to Roma St = 1 hour 46 minutes

Depart Nambour Saturday 6.51am, 9.48pm and Sunday 4.51pm (all Gympie North trains)

Average time between train services (frequency) to Brisbane = 78 minutes (Saturday) and 82 minutes on Sunday.

Weekends: north-bound

Our slowest train trip from Roma St to Nambour = 2 hours 29 minutes

Our fastest train trips Roma St to Nambour = 1 hour 52 minutes

[Stillwater]

This analysis is very good, thanks FF.  It shows up one of the vagaries of the SCL -- a wide variance of journey times from one train/bus to the next.  Commuters on other lines just don't have to contend with this.

[Gazza]

3tph for 2 hours in peak direction, for only around 1000 passengers beyond Caboolture is pretty good.

You miss the point, and it's why there are just 2000 passengers beyond Caboolture.

But it's 3TPH for SC versus 4TPH for Shorncliffe in peak...Not much of a difference really.

[Arnz]

1 out of the 3TPH to NBR (and beyond) is either 3-cars or a 5-car ICE (both have less seats) in both directions.

However, those are compensated via the stopping patterns (eg Gympie North express via Suburban tracks per the ICE's operational requirements).

The 4:22pm is really a "stopping at all-red signals" train due to a Petrie train 3 minutes in front of it, and one of the reasons why this one runs 'express' Bowen Hills to Northgate is due to crowd management as this service is a 3-car Springfield Central starter.  Normally a train running express on the Bowen Hills to Northgate corridor would save 2-3 mins tops (per the 2011 SC timetable).

[Fares_Fair]

I received confirmation this afternoon that both new services to/from the Sunshine Coast will be 3 car sets.

[Arnz]

I received confirmation this afternoon that both new services to/from the Sunshine Coast will be 3 car sets.

In addition to the above, the 4:22pm service originates from Springfield Central (per the SC Timetable).  This would be the 2nd Nambour service for Darra to Milton passengers (the other being the 8:34am morning departure from Central).

[Fares_Fair]

The 4:22pm, given its origin, it may be interesting to see what transpires load wise now that it's confirmed as a 3 car set.
I don't expect any issues with the 5:07am 3 car set.

Happy to wait and see how it goes ... 

[Arnz]

G'day FF,

Disregarding the bridge strike by a rental truck at Morayfield today, how was the loads on the 3-car 4:22pm service today?

Cheers.

[Fares_Fair]

G'day FF,

Disregarding the bridge strike by a rental truck at Morayfield today, how was the loads on the 3-car 4:22pm service today?

Cheers.

G'day Arnz,

Jeff Addison ‏@Jeffrey_Addison  3h (4:30pm)
On the new 4:18pm #Springfield to #Nambour 3 carriage train. Comfortably full, with approx. 10 standees per car. Running express BH-Ng-Cab.

It was a 3 car set as expected, and toilet equipped.

[DayboroStation]

The 4:22pm, given its origin, it may be interesting to see what transpires load wise now that it's confirmed as a 3 car set.
I don't expect any issues with the 5:07am 3 car set.

Happy to wait and see how it goes ... 

Yes, agree - being a 3 car set during that time of day, particularly on the Toowong-Milton stretch is a concern. Will be standing room only. I've long said that 15 minute frequency counterpeak Ipswich line is inadequate - this is just rubbing salt into the wounds. Especially as there are several empty trains returning from Springfield/Ipswich to start their run at Roma Street.

By the way, I've just looked on the Springfield timetable, and the train that becomes the 4:22 Central to Nambour service is showing as terminating at Caboolture.

Also, would it be a good idea to indicate on a train timetable where a train is a 3 car set? I seem to recall older timetables used to indicate this, but the new ones don't.

[Arnz]

Yup, taking into consideration the rollingstock availability has been reduced with the new timetable.  This is why I thought the 3:30pm or 4:00pm departures from RST to NBR are better candidates to be "right-sized" to 3-cars and to take the "Bowen Hills - Northgate - Caboolture" pattern, which removes the Albion to Nundah passengers.   
There is also enough capacity on either mentioned earlier services to utilise the 2-3 min tops savings on the BHills-NG corridor, as the current 4:18pm (from Roma Street) has a Petrie-all stopper 3 mins in front of it.

The new 4:18pm in my opinion, would've been better left as 6-cars, but stopping all stations to Northgate, then express to Caboolture from there, with one of the two earlier services taking the new 4:18pm's mentioned stopping pattern.

[Fares_Fair]

UPDATED TO REFLECT TODAY'S POSTER ANNOUNCED CHANGES ... as is usual for the rail ignored Sunshine Coast, nothing updated on TransLink website regarding this.

NAMBOUR Weekdays                                   Minutes between services
Southbound services

4:34                                                           
5:07                                                           33
5:25                                                           18
5:50                                                           25
6:14                                                           24
6:40                                                           26
6:57 Originates Gympie North                      17
7:07 Bus to Caboolture                                10
7:46                                                           39
8:20 Bus to Caboolture                                34
9:13                                                          53
9:43 Bus to Landsborough                           30
10:10 Bus to Caboolture                              27
10:43                                                        33
11:08 Bus to Landsborough                         25
11:31 Bus to Caboolture                              23
12:13                                                         42
12:37 Bus to Caboolture                               24
13:15 Bus to Landsborough                          38
13:43                                                         28
14:26 Originates Gympie North                    43
15:13                                                         47
15:51 Bus to Caboolture                              38
16:30                                                         39
16:51 Bus to Caboolture                              21
17:22 Bus to Caboolture                              31
17:59                                                         37   2nd timetable change, now effective Monday 3 March : corrections applied
18:21 Bus to Caboolture                              22
19:20 Bus to Caboolture                              59
20:13                                                         53


Including buses used as trains...
Average frequency from 4:34am to 8:20am = 25.11 minutes
Total Average frequency from 4:34am to 8:13pm = 32.38 minutes

[Fares_Fair]

UPDATED TO REFLECT TODAY'S POSTER ANNOUNCED CHANGES ... as is usual for the rail ignored Sunshine Coast, nothing updated on TransLink website regarding this.

NAMBOUR Weekdays                                   Minutes between services
Southbound services

4:34                                                           
5:07                                                           33
5:25                                                           18
5:50                                                           25
6:14                                                           24
6:40                                                           26
6:57 Originates Gympie North                      17
7:07 Bus to Caboolture                                10
7:46                                                           39
8:20 Bus to Caboolture                                34
9:13                                                          53
9:43 Bus to Landsborough                           30
10:10 Bus to Caboolture                              27
10:43                                                        33
11:08 Bus to Landsborough                         25
11:31 Bus to Caboolture                              23
12:13                                                         42
12:37 Bus to Caboolture                               24
13:15 Bus to Landsborough                          38
13:43                                                         28
14:26 Originates Gympie North                    43
15:13                                                         47
15:51 Bus to Caboolture                              38
16:30                                                         39
16:51 Bus to Caboolture                              21
17:22 Bus to Caboolture                              31
17:59                                                         37   2nd timetable change, now effective Monday 3 March : corrections applied
18:21 Bus to Caboolture                              22
19:20 Bus to Caboolture                              59
20:13                                                         53


Including buses used as trains...
Average frequency from 4:34am to 8:20am = 25.11 minutes
Total Average frequency from 4:34am to 8:13pm = 32.38 minutes

This will now change back to its original list as noted at the start (top) of this thread.

[ozbob]

From the Sunshine Coast Daily 11th March 2014 page 2

QR sees sense and reinstates timetable

[ozbob]

^ now online ..

--> http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/qr-sees-sense-and-reinstates-timetable/2194774/