Bi articulated buses - suitable for Brisbane?

[ozbob]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bi-articulated_bus

A bi-articulated bus is an extension of an articulated bus in that it has three passenger compartment sections instead of two. This also involves the addition of an extra axle. Due to the extended length, bi-articulated buses tend to be used on high frequency core routes or bus rapid transit schemes rather than conventional bus routes ...

A Volvo bi-articulated bus in Sweden.

[ozbob]

Related thread here --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3589.0

Where would they run if adopted?

[Golliwog]

I really think that Brisbane needs to adopt bi-artic buses. However, they should really be for high capacity trunk routes (ie: busway/main road only routes). However, I think with the busway at least, there would be problems for them at the intersections near the Cultural center, and also most likely the turn from QSBS towards KGSBS.

IMO though, if bi-artics were used to provide a high frequency and capacity trunk route the benefits would far outweigh the costs to upgrade these intersections. This would also allow thigns to change from having so many routes running up and down the busway and instead have passengers change at stations.

[somebody]

IMO though, if bi-artics were used to provide a high frequency and capacity trunk route the benefits would far outweigh the costs to upgrade these intersections. This would also allow thigns to change from having so many routes running up and down the busway and instead have passengers change at stations.

Sounds like a retrograde step to me.

[#Metro]

It has to be looked at.
TL has already promised superbuses, the best they can seem to do is 112 passengers per vehicle,
and these pseudo-superbuses have not been widely rolled out across the network.

The Mass Transit Report (2007) had used 180 passengers/vehicle for BRT super buses on the busway.
I would worry that the increased length of the superbus might block bus bays behind it, and actually decrease capacity unless the station platforms were extended.

[Golliwog]

But surely the reduced number of buses that could be stopped at a single busway station would be made up by each buses capacity? Plus hopefully the implementation will be well thought out and involve say 4 doors. And perhaps even a 2nd rear door for boarding? Given the size I think it could afford to have a 2nd member of staff to check tickets, etc.

[#Metro]

Its a good question. I'm not sure, so I had a look:
http://www.vanhool.com/Home%20EN/coaches%20%26%20buses/public%20transport/Europe/agg300EN.html

Here is my working out, correct if wrong...
This bus is 24.7 meters long. Lets make it 25 meters long to add airspace between buses.
Lets assume the bus carries 180 passengers.
Cultural Centre platforms are about 72 meters long.

Buses that can dock at Cultural Centre:
72 meters / 25 = 2.88; Assume that pax can get out of doors on the last bus, so that is effectively three buses at the platform at any one time.

Assume busway needs to transport 15 000 passengers.
15 000 pax / 180 per bus = 84 buses
3600 seconds in an hour / 84 buses = 50 seconds per bus. This seems reasonable, even with a generous 40 second dwell time.

The million dollar question is: can it turn safely at the infamous Melbourne Street Portal or go through the Queen Street snake?
The other thing is, unless a feeder scheme is adopted where people catch a feeder bus to the busway station and then transfer to a main trunk line bus (like 111), the capacity would be lower in practice if mixed with standard buses.

Interesting situation as the BCC fleet is almost brand new, if they got superbuses, what would they do with the current ones? Turn them into feeders or send them off to Sydney...

[MaxHeadway]

If they got superbuses, what would they do with the current ones? Turn them into feeders or send them off to Sydney

Better still, send them to Ipswich, Logan, Redlands etc, to beef up services in such places to decent levels (except the 555, obviously).

[somebody]

But surely the reduced number of buses that could be stopped at a single busway station would be made up by each buses capacity? Plus hopefully the implementation will be well thought out and involve say 4 doors. And perhaps even a 2nd rear door for boarding? Given the size I think it could afford to have a 2nd member of staff to check tickets, etc.

Even if those factors balance out, you would still likely have longer dwells due to the bigger buses.  Perhaps it wouldn't be as bad if you have all door boarding, but I think there is still likely to be longer dwells on the average.  A 2nd staff member would make it uneconomic. 

It has to be looked at.

It has been.  They didn't like it, and neither do I.