Bus- Private Operators SEQ Summary FY 12/13 to FY 17/18 gain (loss) trips %

[ozbob]

Spreadsheet > https://backontrack.org/docs/rti/PTdata/other/PO12_13to17_18.ods



Note:  Surfside has undergone some changes due to the introduction of light rail. 

For an informed interpretation of Surfside patronage see https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=13369.msg215116#msg215116

Note:  I picked up a database error in one of the HBL entries.  Database and images have been corrected.  Slight improvement in the mean decrease over the 5 years.

[ozbob]

I think some serious network reform is needed ... 

[Cazza]

Should we start collating all the sensible maps and ideas across the forum over the years and put together revised bus networks for each region? As you said Bob, some of these numbers aren't good and won't turn around anytime soon. Patronage should be increasing year on year as the population grows and urbanisation continues to surge.

I've done one for Ipswich (which needs updating) and Brisbane, Liam's done a few which could be revised and the BT one you proposed back in 2013/14 could do with some updates.

We'll do the hard work for them then get Rob to go pitch it to the relevant officials (at meetings like the one with ICC coming up I do believe).

The government has clearly shown that they won't be changing anything soon and with enough pressure put on them, they have, and will carry out these changes if required (more spaces at Springfield Central-not necessarily a good change but still something that people wanted, Railbus Timetable for FG Line etc.)

There's no harm in trying again. As soon as they understand how much they will win over the voters, they would be stupid not to say no  

[ozbob]

It has taken a lot of work to crunch the data as we received it but it was worth it.

None of this has been made public before although I am certain those within the industry and in TransLink are well aware of the general deterioration of the network generally.  Really is shocking that it has been allowed to just fester along. Complete lack of will to fix things.

Well it is out in the open now ..

#busfail + #railfail = one great big CLUSTERFUK !   

Cazza, thanks for the offer and suggestion.  I think we have to just push Government, Oppositon and the authorities to acknowledge it is not the best and reform/improvements are needed.  Any suggestions we make at this time will probably be summarily dismissed as they usually are. 

Lets see how the next few days go ...

[ozbob]

I still need to do TfB (BCC) but that can wait till another day.  I am worn out.   

[SurfRail]

Obviously I have reported Surfside extensively in my own little summary, but the year on year route bus figures down our way are as follows.  (I have excluded school routes and the random fluff.)

12/13 - 14,220,164
13/14 - 13,933,729 (-2.01%)
14/15 - 11,921,179 (-14.44%)
15/16 - 11,997,031 (+0.64%)
16/17 - 11,653,621 (-2.86%)
17/18 - 11,979,887 (+2.80%)

12/13 to 17/18 - drop was -15.75%.

Of course, unlike the other regions, this only tells one side of the ledger. 

Overall patronage (route bus and tram) looks like this:

12/13 - 14,220,164
13/14 - 13,933,729 (-2.01%)
14/15 - 18,198,953 (+30.61%)
15/16 - 19,673,423 (+8.10%)
16/17 - 19,628,855 (-0.23%)
17/18 - 21,466,740 (+9.36%)

12/13 to 17/18 - increase was +50.96%

For every 2 trips that were being made 5 years ago, there is now another 1 trip.  That is insane growth and it is a direct reflection of the suppressed demand created by crap services being swept away by decent services.

[ozbob]

Thanks SurfRail.  The Gold Coast is doing well and as you point out

" For every 2 trips that were being made 5 years ago, there is now another 1 trip.  That is insane growth and it is a direct reflection of the suppressed demand created by crap services being swept away by decent services. "

The rest of SEQ has been neglected essentially.  TransLink and a succession of mediocre governments and Ministers should hang their collective heads in shame!

[ozbob]

There has been a mean drop in patronage on bus outside Brisbane of -16.89 % over the last 5 FYs.

Brisbane bus has dropped -3.8% over the same period.

Ferries BCC overall -6.1% loss of patronage over the 5 years.

Hey Houston?  We have got a problem ..

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

19th October 2018

Bus patronage plummets throughout SEQ

Good Morning

RAIL Back on Track (RBoT) has made a successful Right To Information (RTI) application for the 17/18  Queensland public transport patronage data. We previously had made a successful application for the patronage data for financial years 12/13 through to 16/17. We now have available an excellent 5 year series which demonstrates the longer term trends and helps allow for the identification of problems.  We are happy to share the RTI documents and our subsequent analyses. See https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?board=91.0

We think TransLink/TMR should routinely publish this sort of data, but they don't. So it is necessary to make RTI application (which costs $48 + GST). Depending on the nature of the RTI further costs may be charged for processing and access. RBoT presently has financial hardship status under the act, and we are exempt from processing and access charges.

We have previously analysed and reported the SEQ Citytrain rail patronage over the 5 year period.  See > https://www.facebook.com/RAILBackOnTrack/posts/2270765076271000

We have now concluded our analysis on the SEQ Bus Patronage data.  And it is alarming.

Spreadsheet > https://backontrack.org/docs/rti/PTdata/other/PO12_13to17_18.ods



Of the private bus operators only Thompson Bus Services have shown a small patronage growth over the 5 year period.  Over the 5 years there has been a mean ~-17% fall in patronage. Why is this so?  No doubt the failed five year SEQ fare path was a factor, but low frequency, poor span of operation, failing on-time running and reliability, and failing connections have turned people off public transport there is no doubt.  This sort of detail must have been known internally by the operators and transport authorities but they kept quiet, at least publicly. Proper bus network reform must proceed from here.

As can be seen there has been a small turnaround in FY 17/18, partly as the result of the introduction of the new fare structure in December 2016, but more needs to be done.

Note Surfside (Gold Cost) has undergone some changes due to the introduction of light rail.

For an informed interpretation of Surfside patronage see https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=13369.msg215116#msg215116

For comparison, Transport for Brisbane (Brisbane Transport) over the same period (FY 12/13 to FY 17/18) had an overall patronage loss on bus of -3.8%, Ferries was -6.1%.

If this information had have been made public, the public clamour for action would have resulted in TransLink actually doing something sooner.  We again call for the proper regular publication of both detailed on time running and patronage data for all modes.  Hiding it behind cloistered walls only accessible through costly RTI actions helps no one in the end. Secrecy breeds contempt.

Best wishes,

Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track https://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Facebook

[ozbob]

 

https://twitter.com/Schrinner/status/1053025185585029120

^

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1052973100575338496

[Mr X]

As a starting point, 1 zone trips are too expensive and unless you travel 9 times or more per week, it's not very good value for money.

[Cazza]

The zone fare system needs to go! As the decentralisation of cities continues to occur, zone structures do not work. People aren't just commuting between their home and the City anymore, so why are the zones centred around the CBD? Fares should be based on distance.

It costs me more to travel from Ashgrove to The Gap (Zone 1 to Zone 2) in the morning, against the peak flow may I add, then it does from Ashgrove to the City (Zone 1 only); a distance of about 5kms each journey. Just to rub salt into the wound, I could travel from Lawnton to Browns Plains (Zone 2 only. Could even be cheaper if they don't count the cross over through Zone 1) and that would be the same price as Ashgrove to The Gap- a journey around 50km more than the short 5km, 10 min trip along Waterworks Rd.

Yes, the fare changes in 2016 were nice, but I can tell you now, calculating fares off distance would be the real "Fairer Fares" package.

[Mr X]

As an example, someone doing a trip from Springwood to Logan Hyperdome pays $3.96 in peak (or almost $8 return, $6.30 in offpeak). In peak they're in a crowded slow bus sitting in traffic. It costs <$2 in fuel to do the same trip in a car and the hyperdome has free parking.
While a commuter to Lawnton pays the same fare 

And we wonder why the M1 has such bad traffic?