Article: TBus transfers launched at BNE Airport

[ozbob]

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TBus transfers launched at BNE Airport

TBus transfers launched at BNE Airport
Friday, 27 November 2009

TBus, a new inter-terminal bus transfer system for Brisbane?s Domestic and International Airports will be launched from 1 December 2009.

Customers travelling Qantas with connecting services between Brisbane Domestic Terminal and Brisbane International Terminal and visa versa can use the TBus transfer service free of charge when presenting a connecting Qantas boarding pass.

The new transfer system will replace the existing AirTrain arrangement from 1 December 2009.

The same AirTrain customer offering will continue to apply however customers can now transfer free on TBus with a Qantas boarding pass, rather than the AirTrain.

The new bus system will provide Qantas connecting passengers with a more seamless transfer option, with increased frequency and timetable options. 

TBus includes a dedicated drop off and collection point for both terminals which are conveniently located near the check-in area.

[somebody]

It's a sad day.  Isn't this only because the Airtrain has such a crappy frequency?  I would have thought that QR/Qantas/Airtrain could negotiate an agreement to run an all day Domestic/International 15 minute frequency.

[skippy]

It gets worse - it appears both new Gold Coast services starting next month do not connect to the airport. This is a pity because Gold Coast travellers simply had to get on a northbound train to get to the airport, which is great for tourists and occasional users.  Now there are a couple of services terminating and starting a Bowen Hills. Maybe Airtrain didn't want to pay for the extra services?

[stephenk]

Lets face it, a train with 30min frequency is a pretty pathetic way to transfer passengers between terminals.

The bus will be more frequent, and passengers will not have to walk as far with heavy luggage to board the bus. So it's a win, win situation for passengers.

[ozbob]

I think the option of rail and bus is great.

The mediocre frequency and hours of operation of the so called 'air train' will always be of concern to us.

The very first issue we raised as a group and we continue to try to get some commonsense out come to the the failure to provide citizens with a truly viable transport solution.

[Arnz]

Lets face it, a train with 30min frequency is a pretty pathetic way to transfer passengers between terminals.

The bus will be more frequent, and passengers will not have to walk as far with heavy luggage to board the bus. So it's a win, win situation for passengers.

Passengers usually dont carry their luggage to transfer terminals.  In the majority of cases the luggages are checked through to their final destination.

[somebody]

It gets worse - it appears both new Gold Coast services starting next month do not connect to the airport. This is a pity because Gold Coast travellers simply had to get on a northbound train to get to the airport, which is great for tourists and occasional users.  Now there are a couple of services terminating and starting a Bowen Hills. Maybe Airtrain didn't want to pay for the extra services?

Do you have a reason for saying that other than connection to the airport hasn't been mentioned yet?

If they haven't agreed to fund it yet, let's hope they do.  They'll look a little silly if they don't.  Why do they have a gap between the 5:02pm & 5:30pm trains ex Domestic?  The PM train would fill in that gap.  Even if they abolish the 18:27 ex Roma St & 7:13pm ex Domestic to pay for it.

Lets face it, a train with 30min frequency is a pretty pathetic way to transfer passengers between terminals.

The bus will be more frequent, and passengers will not have to walk as far with heavy luggage to board the bus. So it's a win, win situation for passengers.

Maybe, but even if the walk is longer, the bus could get caught in traffic on Airport Dr.  And why not a Domestic-International shuttle off peak?  The train/crew isn't doing anything else.

[Emmie]

Passengers usually dont carry their luggage to transfer terminals.  In the majority of cases the luggages are checked through to their final destination.

No - if they are arriving from overseas at the international terminal, and taking a domestic plane on to a minor airport (e.g. Mt Isa) they will have to collect their luggage to go through customs at Brisbane International - it's different if they are going on to another airport with international capabilities (e.g. Cairns).

I came in from Los Angeles last July, and was amazed at the queue of passengers waiting for TAXIS to take them to the domestic terminal!  There was no information, apparently, to direct them to either bus or train.  Most of these were Americans off the same plane as me, so it wasn't a language problem, but just an assumption that there would be no public transport available (from LA, I guess this was a natural assumption).  Many were panicking to make connections in time - the queue was at least 30 minutes long - but the supervisor of the taxi rank was certainly not going to point them towards an inter-terminal bus sitting waiting 20 metres away, nor the train overhead.

[skippy]

Do you have a reason for saying that other than connection to the airport hasn't been mentioned yet?


I do -  use the TransLink journey planner to search for Varsity Lakes to city after 14 December 2009

[somebody]

I do -  use the TransLink journey planner to search for Varsity Lakes to city after 14 December 2009

Ahh, I see. Let's hope they see the illogic of inaction on this one.