Monday 11 July, 2011 - Sunshine Coast Service Changes (Train and Bus)

[Fares_Fair]

Monday 11 July, 2011 - Sunshine Coast Service Changes (Train and Bus)

In response to numerous enquiries received recently.

Information of new 5:28pm train, 5:04pm train extension and 5:20pm train truncation can be found here.
http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1309243827

Regarding the 605 and 615 bus services from Landsborough Station.
I can confirm that there WILL be connecting buses to the 5:04pm and 5:28pm trains to Nambour.
Actual times yet to be announced, the very helpful lady from TRANSLink said they expected them to be approx. within 5-15 minutes.
She was unaware of the changes when I called and had to seek assistance from a supervisor, which to her credit she did.

Thank you TRANSLink.  
Perhaps things are changing there too.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Fares_Fair]

Update Tuesday 5th July, 2011

Today I received a report from a commuter who contacted the Minister's office about the connecting bus services, the 605 and 615 from Landsborough.
The Minister's office said that NO decision had been made on connecting bus services at Landsborough to meet the 1 new and 1 extension service.

This is at odds with what the young lady (name with-held) told me in the post above.
She quoted to me from the ministerial Press Release of 29 June, after talking to her supervisor.

I originally questioned TRANSlink over this because I thought the release was somewhat ambiguous on the point.
Apparently the press release refers to the last minute scheduled bus changes made just before the June 6 timetable was implemented
(these were too late to be included in the new 605 and 615 bus timetables).

This afternoon I contacted TRANSlink seeking confirmation of connecting bus services for
1. 605 and 615 bus connection to meet the 5:04pm ex-Roma St train at Landsborough.
2. 605 and 615 bus connection to meet the 5:28pm ex-Roma St train at Landsborough. (this I assume would mean just moving the time 6 minutes later).

Stay tuned ... confusion reigns.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[ozbob]

The buses for the 5.28pm have been moved back 6 minutes AFAIAA.  I am not sure if anything has been done with respect to the 5.04pm service ex Central.  Pax figures have been very low on the earilier connections.

[Fares_Fair]

Thanks ozbob,

I think common sense could safely assume a simple readjustment to meet the 5:28pm.
Apparently the Minister's office and TRANSLink have not confirmed that as the case.

Q1          Will there be 605 and 615 bus connections to coincide with the new 5:04pm ex-Roma St train at Landsborough.
Q2          Will there be 605 and 615 bus connections to coincide with the new 5:28pm train at Landsborough.
             (i.e. I assume TL just need to move the new 5:20pm bus services forward 6 minutes)

I hope for a response to clarify it one way or the other.
Interestingly, the Sunshine Coast Daily also reported the Bus services as having connections based upon the same 29 June Ministerial Press Release.
It is ambiguous - probably part of the problem. Cutting and pasting in Press Releases ... :conf
I'm confident that TRANSLink will respond and get it sorted.


Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Fares_Fair]

The buses for the 5.28pm have been moved back 6 minutes AFAIAA.  I am not sure if anything has been done with respect to the 5.04pm service ex Central.  Pax figures have been very low on the earilier connections.

I understand that a decision will be made by the end of the week - not much time to get the message out there.
Doesn't bode well.
I agree, passenger loadings will be the key - and would confirm an acknowledgement that not many can make the 5:04pm train.
Depends perhaps on passengers further up the line.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1309243827

Changes to route 605 and 615 bus timetables

From Monday, 11 July, minor changes will also be made to routes 605 and 615 bus timetables to ensure services continue to meet connecting train services.

   The 6.55pm bus services on route 605 and 615 will depart Landsborough station six minutes later than previously, at 7.01pm, to meet the new 5.28pm Central to Nambour service.

   An additional bus service will be added to the route 605 and 615 timetable which will connect with the extended 5.04pm Central to Nambour service.

These bus services will depart Landsborough station at 6.35pm.

Train leaves CBD

Train arrives Landsborough station
   
Bus leaves Landsborough station
5.04pm Central to Nambour    6.30pm    6.35pm
5.22pm Central to Caboolture    -    -
5.28pm Central to Nambour    6.54pm    7.0

==================

Rippa Rita ...  thanks TransLink

[Fares_Fair]

Wooo hoo.

Well done TRANSlink !   

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]

A good outcome. 

[Fares_Fair]

Indeed Stillwater, great response from TRANSLink.  

I have received a report from a SC commuter that the bus to meet the 5:04pm train is for a 6 month trial period.
That is not mentioned on the TRANSlink website, but if so it is a reasonable period of time to re-establish travel patterns lost in the over-crowding mayhem.
If true, it is a very sensible approach to the issue IMHO.

I am told the information came via the Transport Minister's office.

People of the Sunshine Coast: Use it or lose it !
Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Fares_Fair]

Bus 618
Sunshine Coast University (SC Uni)
Kawana (via Buderim)

I understand that the 618 bus used to connect with the Landsborough bus service at the SC Uni (pre-June 6).
Now the 618 bus leaves 5 minutes before the Landsborough bus arrives at the University - and so is now disconnected and leaves empty.
Could this situation please be addressed or a reasonable explanation given for its new non-connection.
Thank you.

Kind regards,
[Name withheld]

Feed-back received, thank you.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[david]

FF, could you update us on loadings for these new services (5:04pm and 5:28pm)? I'm very interested to know whether the situation has improved.

[Arnz]

FF, could you update us on loadings for these new services (5:04pm and 5:28pm)? I'm very interested to know whether the situation has improved.

To add to David's request, where either services operated by IMUs? 

Since the IMU fleet would be stretched as a few are not in service (refurbs or maintenance).

[Fares_Fair]

FF, could you update us on loadings for these new services (5:04pm and 5:28pm)? I'm very interested to know whether the situation has improved.

To add to David's request, where either services operated by IMUs?  

Since the IMU fleet would be stretched as a few are not in service (refurbs or maintenance).

Sure, tonight I received reports from the 4:00pm, 4:30pm, 5:04pm, 5:45pm and my own 5:28pm train.

4:00pm - 24 standees in carriage 3, much less than usual. Equalisation update to be received tomorrow am. Incommunicado via mobile. TRAIN TYPE UNAVAILABLE
4:30pm - 0 standees and empty seats available, equalisation was immediate from Central. TRAIN TYPE UNAVAILABLE
5:04pm - a few standees (less than 10), equalisation occurred at Northgate (20 minutes - acceptable) but NO TOILETS (POSSIBLY SMU ?)
5:28pm - empty seats available, equalisation was immediate from Central. The Hon. Annastacia Palaszczuk travelled from Central to Northgate (20 minutes). NEW SMU 261/268
5:45pm - no standees, all seats full. ICE TRAIN

Sorry Arnz, I was busy counting and photographing and did not note down the train types. The above train types are from memory but certainly open to correction.

To summarise, it looks very promising, however today was a pupil free day and I expect tomorrow (and the next 2 weeks) will be the crucial test.
Give people time to vary their habits and return from holidays.
I'm elated tonight however.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

EDIt: 5:28pm train type corrected as per STB post below.

[ozbob]

From the ABC News click here!

Hope for extra rail service to fix 'Bombay Express'

Hope for extra rail service to fix 'Bombay Express'

By Jo Skinner

Updated Mon Jul 11, 2011 1:05pm AEST

Commuter groups say they hope an extra rail service will fix the problem of serious overcrowding on Sunshine Coast trains.

The new service begins today and will run from the Brisbane CBD to Nambour during this afternoon's peak.

It was introduced after passengers complained of fainting and falling out of crowded trains onto platforms when the doors opened on a service labelled 'The Bombay Express'.

Sunshine Coast commuter advocate Jeff Addison says two new bus connections have also been scheduled to start today.

"I really am elated. I think it's great that the Sunshine Coast is finally getting a voice," he said.

"These issues on the rail were actually raised in the forum held in December last year and ... 76 per cent of all the feedback at that forum came from the Sunshine Coast and Caboolture, so it's great to finally get a response to that."

[STB]

FYI, I was on board the 5:28pm express to Caboolture/Nambour (in car 3 - boarding at Roma Street and disembarking at Caboolture) yesterday and quite clearly saw that it was SMU261/268.

[Fares_Fair]

Hello STB,

Thank you very much.
Correction will be made in original post above.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Arnz]

On a related note (for the day off today) sighted the "internet" train 261 with 268 at Landsborough making the return journey down to Brisbane this morning.  

Quite a number of people with their laptops and Ipads in one of the Cars (which I'm assuming is the Internet test carriage).

[david]

Great to hear that the problem has been solved! And it seems you were right FF in that there were 2 train loads worth of passengers on the old 5:22pm Nambour train, judging by your reports. Hopefully, this will encourage more Sunshine Coast commuters to ditch their cars and go back to using the trains again!

P.S. Does anyone have any observations for the 5:22pm Caboolture train?

[skippy]

Will be interested to hear the loads today now school is back, and then after 25 July when QUT and UQ 2nd semester starts.

[Fares_Fair]

I caught the 5:04pm train home tonight.
There were about 20-25 standees per carriage with equalisation not occurring until Burpengary.
QR passenger counters are again on the 5:04pm and 5:28pm services and are hopping off at Caboolture.
After Caboolture the train is only half full.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Fares_Fair]

Sunshine Coast timetables dated July 2011 are now available (at Palmwoods rail station)  

PS
Check out the Nambour arrival times for the :
4:48pm train (Roma St to Caboolture) and then continuing express Rail bus to Nambour. Arrival time = 7:00pm
5:00pm train (Roma St to Nambour). Arrival time = 7:00pm

By way of explanation, the 5:00pm train is a new extension of the service that previously terminated at Caboolture, hence the arrival times being the same now.

Note also the 'procession' of 13 Rail buses and only 10 trains (what is the collective noun for Rail buses? I made it the same as caterpillars  ) from after the 6:57am GYN train.
Also note that the colour code of the Rail buses is the palest of pale green colour, the RBus text top and bottom does help.

WE NEED DUPLICATION OF THE LINE NOW - not in 12-20 years time.  


Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[somebody]

It is very much unclear why they bother to run a number of those RailBuses.  The one you point out has debatable merit as far as Landsborough, but none beyond barring a service interruption.  The 3:15pm ex-Caboolture is another which has no merit beyond Landsborough (and debatable merit before that - it does serve Australia Zoo).

[rob2144]

Sunshine Coast timetables dated July 2011 are now available (at Palmwoods rail station)  

PS
Check out the Nambour arrival times for the :
4:48pm train (Roma St to Caboolture) and then continuing express Rail bus to Nambour. Arrival time = 7:00pm
5:00pm train (Roma St to Nambour). Arrival time = 7:00pm

That must've been the snail bus i saw the other night leaving Caboolture with 0 pax on board

[Arnz]

Complete waste of money to operate the 3:15pm and 5:52pm railbuses considering the train services usually leave a few minutes after the Railbus. 

I would suggest scrapping the 3:15pm and 5:52pm railbuses, and transferring some of the late afternoon/early evening 649 services to Sunbus to reduce dead running for KBL drivers (since the affected services form some late afternoon/early evening 649s out of Nambour).   The 8:15pm late evening Railbus could probably be shifted to 8:50, and terminate at Landsborough.

[Stillwater]

When catching the railbus south from Nambour, it is only the 'express' run to Landsborough that's worthwhile.  The bus run via Eudlo and Mooloolah is much, much longer.  It is a Cook's tour of the hinterland and only the stoic (or the kids who use it to get to their homes in the hills) use it.  Get off at Landsborough, buy a paper and have a coffee at the bakery, because there is little sense catching the bus to Caboolture.  Wander to the station and catch the train to Caboolture and Brisbane.

Re scrapping the 3.15pm railbus, this would inconvenience kids who go to (high) school in larger towns such as Caboolture and/or Beerwah and need to get home after school.

[Stillwater]

Like you FF, I live in hope that some action will be taken to improve passing opportunities for trains on the SCL.  Sadly, it won't be full duplication to Nambour, but maybe some strategic double track placements at locations south of Nambour.

[Arnz]

The School Kids has the train that leaves a few mins later.  

Also, from my observations, the 3:15pm bus carries anywhere between 0-3 passengers.  Would be better to scrap it for my liking, or alternatively just operate the 3:15pm as a limited stops express service; Caboolture-Glasshouse-Beerwah-Australia Zoo-Landsborough-Nambour.