New bus services for Brisbane - effective 23 February 2009

[ozbob]

New bus services for Brisbane - effective 23 February 2009

From 23 February 2009, TransLink will introduce significant bus service improvements in Brisbane at a total cost of $6.8 million per year.

This is the largest amount ever spent on transport improvements in South East Queensland and provides an additional 989 services per week, carrying up to 64,282 passengers per week and 26 new, low floor air-conditioned buses, funded by the State Government.

In addition, three new routes will be introduced:

?         157 (Runcorn ? Brisbane City)

?         343 (Aspley ? Brisbane City)

?         363 (Herston ? Brisbane City).

Two of these new routes, 157 and 343, will operate as pre-pay only routes to provide a faster trip for city commuters.

See --> http://servicechanges.translink.com.au/db/servicechange.php?id=254

[Mozz]

Good news on the new buses, I was wondering when some new ones would be announced as some of the ones I see pulling in and out of Oxley station look as old as the oldest EMU and very very shabby in look appearance and fumes coming out of the exhaust.

[ozbob]

Richlands  and the South West Transit (also at Richlands) depot seems to have the oldest buses Mozz.  We deserve better!!  LOL

Some of them are 1985 vintage. The oldest buses on the system.  And don't they look it.

Some of the EMUs are nudging 30 years.  The buses with 25 years almost will go soon.  The EMUs will be tracking along for at least another 30 years I reckon.

[stephenk]

The new 363 route is welcome, as many work colleagues at the RCH and RBWH have had problems getting on a bus to/from RCH Herston busway station due to overcrowding/full buses since the Inner Northern Busway opened in May 08. However, re-extending the 393 to Roma St (why was it cut back?) or extending the 66 one more stop to RCH Herston would have done the same job!

[ozbob]

[stephenk]

Sadly after seeing the timetable I have to take back my positive comments about the new 363 service along the Inner Northern Busway. This service only runs inbound in the morning, and outbound in the evening. Sadly the congestion travelling to and from RCH Herston station occurs in the opposite direction. This had confirmed my view that Translink are totally incompetent!

Edit:Corrected myself - inbound morning and outbound evening.

[STB]

The 363 only runs inbound and outbound evenings only? Are you sure or is it just a typo, as I've just checked the timetable and it does run inbound mornings and outbound evenings.

It's a peak hour service only, if you need to go backwards or forwards then you catch a 360 or 361 in that area. The 363 is meant to get people into the city from the Herston area in the fastest way possible and out of the city in the fastest way possible, and that's via the INB which makes sense.

[stephenk]

It's a peak hour service only, if you need to go backwards or forwards then you catch a 360 or 361 in that area. The 363 is meant to get people into the city from the Herston area in the fastest way possible and out of the city in the fastest way possible, and that's via the INB which makes sense.

The point I'm trying to make is that extra services (the 363) have been added in the opposite direction to where the INB is suffering from overcrowding.

[STB]

I see what you're saying, but I think things through than simply jumping the gun and calling in this case TransLink incompetent.

Now which way is the congestion happening? I'm assuming it's outbound by your post, is the congestion on all the 393, 333, 340, 330 routes etc...ie: are they all overcrowded to RBH in the outbound direction?  Or are people being picky and simply sticking to say the 333?

From the Valley are they simply sticking the the 360/1 or are all routes from the Valley to RBH congested? and when I say congested, are they saying 'Sorry Bus Full', you can have a bus that may be standing room only but is still not full.  Also when you consider the distance from say the city to RBH or the Valley, it's reasonable to stand as it's only a small distance.

Looking forward to hearing from you, as this is making me think now lol.