Article and Discussion: Buses take CityCat burden

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Buses take CityCat burden

Buses take CityCat burden
Marissa Calligeros
January 28, 2011 - 12:29PM

Two new bus routes have been created to replace cancelled CityCat services, while Brisbane City Council scrambles to rebuild terminals destroyed by the flood.

The repair to terminals, washed away by Brisbane's devastating flood, is expected to take more than three months and cost the council $100 million.

While the CityCat fleet is in good health, many terminals were crushed by the torrent.

In the meantime, temporary bus routes 233 from Apollo Road and 234 from Kangaroo Point will operate from Monday.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan today announced the extra buses would help cater for the 18,000 commuters who would usually catch CityCats each day.

The services will operate from near ferry terminals to the CBD during peak hours.

Route 233 will run every 10 minutes during morning and afternoon peak hours from Monday to Friday only, stopping at Apollo Road, Bulimba, Hawthorne and Mowbray Park ferry terminals.

Route 234 will run every 15 minutes during peak hours and every 30 minutes in off-peak times seven days a week, stopping at Eagle Street, Story Bridge, Dockside, Holman and Thornton Street ferry terminals.

The extra buses will run until CityCat services resume.

The new routes will operate in addition to extra services on the 232 Cannon Hill and 305 Hamilton routes.

"We added extra buses immediately when the CityCats were suspended, to routes 232 (Cannon Hill to Brisbane CBD) and 305 (Hamilton to Brisbane CBD) to provide 30 minute frequencies between 7am and 7pm," Ms Nolan said in a statement.

"This means there are buses for workers in peak times that stop at or very near to all the CityCat terminals, at least every half-hour."

Meanwhile, contractor TransdevTSL, which operates the ferry network on behalf of Brisbane City Council, has been forced to redeploy 180 staff whose normal jobs had been affected.

Robert Dow of commuter lobby group Rail Back on Track suggested Translink also consider increasing bus services on other routes, including the 195 route from New Farm to the CBD, for the convenience of commuters.

"A temporary bus route running from the CBD to Deakin Street and Main Street, down to the Gabba, would be of value as well," he said.

Details and timetables of the new bus routes 233 and 234 will be posted at www.translink.com.au.

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan
28/01/2011

More buses replace CityCats

Extra buses, drivers and two new bus routes have been added to the public transport network to service Brisbane River ferry terminals, Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said today.

Ms Nolan said an extra 269 bus services a week would help cater for almost 18,000 commuters who have been unable to use river services since the floods.

"We added extra buses immediately when the CityCats were suspended, to routes 232 (Cannon Hill-Brisbane CBD) and 305 (Hamilton-Brisbane CBD) to provide 30 minute frequencies between 7am and 7pm," Ms Nolan said.

"Now we have created two new interim routes to cater for even more people who normally catch ferries from Kangaroo Point or from other river terminals.

"This means there are buses for workers in peak times that stop at or very near to all the CityCat terminals, at least every half-hour.

"The government will continue to work with Brisbane City Council to do everything it can to provide buses for people until the CityCats can return to the river."

Ms Nolan said the two new interim routes were the high frequency, peak only 233 (Apollo Road-Brisbane CBD) and the 234 (Kangaroo Point-Brisbane CBD), which would run from Monday 31 January until CityCat services returned.

Details of the interim routes are:

   * Route 233: Every 10 minutes in morning/afternoon peaks (Mon-Fri only), servicing Apollo Road, Bulimba, Hawthorne and Mowbray Park ferry terminals.

   * Route 234: Every 15mins peak, 30mins off peak (Mon-Sun), stopping at Eagle Street & Story Bridge Hotel (only) for the Dockside, Holman, and Thornton street ferry terminals.

Member for Bulimba Di Farmer said she was delighted that the Transport Minister had responded to her request for the interim routes.

"Local residents affected by the floods have been very understanding of the work being undertaken to get services back on track," Ms Farmer said.

"The announcement of these new routes and services at such regular intervals is great news for commuters affected by the stoppage of the CityCats."

Details and timetables of the new bus routes 233 and 234, as well as announcements when CityCat service return, will be posted on the TransLink websitewww.translink.com.au.

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[ozbob]

http://www.translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1294689251

Buses replace ferry services after flood damage

Buses have replaced CityCat and CityFerry services until further notice after the recent flood damage.

Customers who use these services will need to make alternative travel arrangements using bus and train services that connect with river terminals (provided below).

An extra 269 bus services a week have been added to help commuters until ferry services resume, which includes new interim bus routes and extra services.

New bus routes (from Monday, January 31):

    * 233 (Apollo Road - Brisbane City) - Every 10mins in morning/afternoon peaks (Mon-Fri only), servicing Apollo Road, Bulimba, Hawthorne, Mowbray Park, Riverside and QUT ferry terminals. View the inbound timetable or outbound timetable.
    * 234 (Kangaroo Point - Brisbane City) - Every 15mins peak, 30mins off peak (Mon-Sun), stopping at Eagle Street & Story Bridge Hotel (only) for the Dockside, Holman, and Thornton street ferry terminals. View the inbound timetable and outbound timetable.


Extra services

    * 232 (Apollo Road - City only, including weekends) - increased to run approximately every 30 minutes between 7am-7pm.
    * 305 (Monday to Friday only) - increased to run approximately every 30 minutes in the morning and afternoon peak.
       

See our maps page, including the Brisbane City bus stop map for help finding bus stops.

Be sure to check your bus service status before travelling.

CityCat terminals

University of Queensland

    * UQ Lakes bus station - 109, 209, 192, 169, 139
    * Chancellor's Place - 412, 402, 411

West End

    * 199, CityGlider, 192, 191

Guyatt Park

    * 402, 412

Regatta

    * 411, 415, 417, 433, 445, 412, 425, 430, 444, 88, 450, 453, 454, 460
    * Toowong station - Ipswich line

North Quay

    * Queen Street bus station - 100, 110, 115, 119, 120, 134, 135, 130, 140, 150, 156, 155, 160, 161, 170, 171, 176, 179, 180, 183, 200, 214, 215, 220, 425, 426, 430, 431,435,436, 446, 450, 453, 454, 455, 456, 460, 461
    * King George Square bus station - 66, 111, 222, 330, 333, 340, 345, 385, 443, 444, 88
    * Roma Street busway station - 66, 111, 222, 325, 330, 333, 340, 343, 345, 350, 351, 352, 357, 363, 359, 376, 377, 378, 382, 383, 385, 390, 426, 431, 436, 443, 444, 446, 455, 456, 461, 88
    * Roma Street train station - Airport, Gold Coast, Beenleigh, Ferny Grove, Cleveland, Doomben lines, Ipswich, Caboolture lines

South Bank 1 & 2

    * Cultural Centre busway station - CityGlider, 66, 100, 105, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 115, 116, 117, 120, 124, 125, 130, 135, 140, 150, 160, 170, 172, 174, 175, 180, 183, 184, 185, 192, 196, 197, 199, 200, 202, 203, 204, 210, 212, 214, 215, 220, 222, 230, 235, 250, 270, 300, 301, 306, 322, 330, 333, 340, 345, 385, 425, 430, 435, 444, 450, 453, 454, 460, 540, 555
    * South Brisbane station - Airport, Gold Coast, Beenleigh, Ferny Grove, Cleveland, Doomben lines

QUT Gardens Point

    * stop 94 Margaret Street - 118, 136, 153, 162, 363, 376, 382, 383, 206, 343, 457, 458, 459
    * stop 95 Alice Street - 114, 118, 136, 153, 162, 391, 173, 206, 207, 208
    * stop 95A Alice Street - 105, 107, 108, 112, 113, 114, 172, 202, 173, 208, 233
    * stop 96 Alice Street - 105, 107, 108, 112, 113, 114, 172, 202, 173, 208
    * stop 101 William Street - 105, 107, 108, 112, 113, 172, 202
    * stop 107 William Street - 243, 251, 257, 265, 267, 271, 273, 275, 279, 281
    * stop 108 George Street - 243, 251, 257, 265, 267, 271, 273, 275, 279, 281, 331, 332, 341, 344, 384
    * stop 123 George St (331, 332, 341, 344, 384

Riverside

There are a large number of buses which stop near the Riverside ferry terminal, including the new 233 and 234 services. Use the journey planner to plan your trip.
Sydney Street

    * 196, 197

Mowbray Park

    * 227, 232, 233

New Farm Park

    * 195, 196, 197

Hawthorne

    * 232, 233

Bulimba

    * 230, 231, 232, 233

Bretts Wharf

    * 300, 302, 305

Apollo Road

    * 230, 231, 232, 325, 236, 233


CityFerry terminals

South Bank 3

    * South Bank busway station - 66, 100, 105, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 115, 116, 117, 120, 124, 125, 130, 135, 140, 150, 160, 170, 172, 174, 175, 180, 183, 184, 185, 200, 230, 204, 210, 212, 214, 215, 220, 222, 230, 235,250, 270, 555, 540
    * South Bank station - Airport, Gold Coast, Beenleigh, Ferny Grove, Cleveland, Doomben lines

River Plaza

    * Mater Hill busway station - 66, 100, 105, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 115, 116, 117, 120, 124, 125, 130, 135, 140, 150, 160, 170, 172, 174, 175, 180, 183, 184, 185, 200, 230, 204, 210, 212, 214, 215, 220, 222, 230, 235,250, 270, 555, 540
    * South Bank station - Airport, Gold Coast, Beenleigh, Ferny Grove, Cleveland, Doomben lines

Thornton Street

    * 232, 227, 475, 476, 234

Eagle Street Pier

There are a large number of buses which stop near the Eagle Street Pier ferry terminal including the new 233 and 234 services. Use the journey planner to plan your trip.
Holman Street

    * 232, 227, 234, 475, 476

Dockside

    * 232, 227, 475, 476

Norman Park

    * 227, 230, 232, 235

Teneriffe

    * 470, 199, CityGlider, 393

Read the media release More buses replace CityCats.

[STB]

Now the ferries are out of action for an extended period of time, I wonder what has happened to the funding arrangements for those ferry routes?  I'm thinking it's quite possible that there is a little extra money in the tin at the moment, albeit temporary.  Could it be diverted to some extra bus routes, extra services on existing bus routes perhaps?