Frequency, Frequency, Frequency

[#Metro]

Went to Corinda recently. There has been a lot written in the newspapers recently about how we are in the bottom for cities in our region. And it is so hard just to get to the other side of town without going to the City!
It tool 1 hour and 45 minutes to go from West End to Corinda which required 2 transfers:

* West End bus change to Roma St bus at Cultural Centre
* Roma St bus transfer to Ipswich bound train

The train had me wait for just over 20 minutes. It could easily have been 30 minutes and more time wasted.
To do the same trip in the car would have taken 20 minutes flat. And on the way back- more waiting! Buses down Oxley Rd - 101, 102 etc (actually road was quite congested) completely horrible frequency. The least they could do is make sure there is a bus to fill in the gaps with the train. Won't be doing that trip on PT again!

Given the amount of congestion, Oxley Rd would probably justify its own BUZ route or something until trains started running on the new track.

Anyway, off peak frequency should be at least every 20 minutes or three services per hour. This would reduce the average wait time for someone who turns up to a reasonable 10 minutes or so.

Not happy Anna!

[stephenk]

Went to Corinda recently. There has been a lot written in the newspapers recently about how we are in the bottom for cities in our region. And it is so hard just to get to the other side of town without going to the City!
It tool 1 hour and 45 minutes to go from West End to Corinda which required 2 transfers:

* West End bus change to Roma St bus at Cultural Centre
* Roma St bus transfer to Ipswich bound train

The train had me wait for just over 20 minutes. It could easily have been 30 minutes and more time wasted.
To do the same trip in the car would have taken 20 minutes flat. And on the way back- more waiting! Buses down Oxley Rd - 101, 102 etc (actually road was quite congested) completely horrible frequency. The least they could do is make sure there is a bus to fill in the gaps with the train. Won't be doing that trip on PT again!

Given the amount of congestion, Oxley Rd would probably justify its own BUZ route or something until trains started running on the new track.

Anyway, off peak frequency should be at least every 20 minutes or three services per hour. This would reduce the average wait time for someone who turns up to a reasonable 10 minutes or so.

Not happy Anna!

I don't even think 20mins is good enough to make public transport more attractive. Whilst only 5 mins more frequent, 15mins is a much more attractive frequency for a "turn up and go" service.  There should be a 15mins off-peak frequency on all major rail lines during Mon-Sun daytime unless Brisbane is to stay in the dark ages.

15mins off-peak is mentioned in Translink's network plan. Just when it will happen, is unknown.

[#Metro]

Yes, I agree with you totally Stephenk. If 15 minute frequency on all major lines was offered, it should be done.
I proposed 20 minutes as a stepping stone as it seems to take a long while for anything to be co-ordinated, funded and done in QLD.

[ozbob]

Yes 15 minutes is our ambit claim outside peaks - 5am to 9pm, outside that and on weekends public holidays 20 minutes.

My guess is we will see progressive introduction of 15 minute line by line.  The corridor in the box seat is Caboolture to Ipswich.

[#Metro]

minute line by line.

This is starting to sound like that TV shampoo ad.

Funnily enough, I think the rest of the words were "It wont happen overnight, but it will happen!" sounds much like QLD Gov ATM... very appropriate...

[Derwan]

It tool 1 hour and 45 minutes to go from West End to Corinda which required 2 transfers:

* West End bus change to Roma St bus at Cultural Centre
* Roma St bus transfer to Ipswich bound train

If only we had the second rail tunnel!  You would've got there in under 20 minutes!

[somebody]

Yes 15 minutes is our ambit claim outside peaks - 5am to 9pm, outside that and on weekends public holidays 20 minutes.

My guess is we will see progressive introduction of 15 minute line by line.  The corridor in the box seat is Caboolture to Ipswich.

What's ambit about a 15 minute frequency?  If you want a bus/rail interchange, you'd want 7.5 minute off peak frequency.

And can we get a complete re-write of the timetable such that express patterns are logical, and counter peak services are high frequency, at least as far as Toowong?

My guess is we will see progressive introduction of 15 minute line by line.  The corridor in the box seat is Caboolture to Ipswich.

Does that mean the Corinda terminators will extend to Ipswich?  That would be kind of cool.  I agree, Caboolture is the next priority, then Ferny Grove.

[stephenk]

And can we get a complete re-write of the timetable such that express patterns are logical, and counter peak services are high frequency, at least as far as Toowong?

I would agree on both.

We need as logical and homogenous as possible peak service patterns rather the current random mess.

Counter-peak services to large employment centres outside of the CBD such as Toowong and Indooroopilly need to be improved.

[somebody]

It tool 1 hour and 45 minutes to go from West End to Corinda which required 2 transfers:

That would have to be on a weekend or after 7pm when the trains are only running every 30 mins.

Did you think about using a ferry?  The journey planner suggests staying on the bus and interchanging a Central, but I would have done what you did, or perhaps getting on a 4xx express and changing at Toowong or Cribb St.

[#Metro]

The Brisbane river is a major barrier to cross-suburban movement...
I'm a turn up and go person. If I had to plan my trip i would rather drive.

I thought about the ferry, but the 199 is every 5 minutes or so and I knew there were frequent transfers to Roma St- whereas going towards the ferry? Who knows if one would be there or not?

I know there is a plan for a 2nd ferry stop and I can't wait until the CityGlider begins. If there were a green bridge between West End and Toowong, I would have walked it or bussed it probably. Pity it does not exist- and it could with the ABC site up for grabs and no buyers for it in sight.

Yes I could have caught the train on the ICRCS but I'm couldn't wait until 2022 or put 7 billion on my GoCard as I wanted to get to Corinda same day.  (Joking) Would be good if they just had 3 trains per hour to Ipswich- an average wait of 10 minutes; I didn't mind the transfers as much as I minded the long wait at the rail station.

The best way IMHO to increase patronage isn't by construction or by flashy signs, special branding, fancy stations or playing around with fares (these help though)... just put more frequent services on so people who want to use it can use it whenever they want without thinking...

[Arnz]

Does that mean the Corinda terminators will extend to Ipswich?  That would be kind of cool.  I agree, Caboolture is the next priority, then Ferny Grove.

Best bet is the current Corinda terminators extend to Darra (and continue to Richlands). 

It will however extend the 15 min service to night time and weekends for the first time to the inner-half of the Ipswich line.

[somebody]

Does that mean the Corinda terminators will extend to Ipswich?  That would be kind of cool.  I agree, Caboolture is the next priority, then Ferny Grove.

Best bet is the current Corinda terminators extend to Darra (and continue to Richlands). 

It will however extend the 15 min service to night time and weekends for the first time to the inner-half of the Ipswich line.

Yes, of course.  But that will only happen once Richlands opens, or at least the triple to Darra.