NON-BUZ tweaks

[#Metro]

Ok, so there are some routes which could have their daytime frequencies improved but maybe not to BUZ levels.

One I am thinking of is route 411- during the day this is much half hourly and not good. Maybe every 20 minutes or 15 minutes during the daytime hours? are there other routes which need tweaking?

[Arnz]

602: Maroochydore to Caloundra via Mountain Creek and TAFE.  Since the split of the route in 602 and 612.  The "long way" to Caloundra (via Mountain Creek and TAFE) should at least be upgraded to half-hourly on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
610: Nambour to Kawana via Maroochydore (Sunshine Plaza). Weekend (Sat/Sun) frequency should be upgraded from hourly to half-hourly, in line with the weekday (Mon-Fri) half-hourly frequency.
616: University to Maroochydore via Buderim. Weekend (Sat/Sun) frequency should be upgraded from hourly to half-hourly, in line with the weekday (Mon-Fri) half-hourly frequency. 
630/631:  Split the 630/631.  The 630 becomes the dedicated fast "TrainLink" route to Noosa, whilst the 631 (via Eumundi and Cooroy) becomes the local service.  Upgrade the 631 service to a hourly route to link the hinterland towns with the Noosa and Nambour hubs.

[SurfRail]

Ok, so there are some routes which could have their daytime frequencies improved but maybe not to BUZ levels.

One I am thinking of is route 411- during the day this is much half hourly and not good. Maybe every 20 minutes or 15 minutes during the daytime hours? are there other routes which need tweaking?

Virtually everything? 

More a case of prioritisation I think - although that goes without saying.

Brisbane examples that stick out in my mind as deserving something like a doubling of day-time frequency (and standard frequency 7 days a week except the additional peak flow capacity) include the 184/185 pairing, 220, 250, 270, 300, 358, 428, 500, 534, 550, 560, 680, 690/695, the whole Thompson's network.

109 and 169 could probably do with BUZing - they are almost there anyway and the extra journeys would be a negligible addition to what is already provided.  The original timetable upgrade proposed from the Boggo Road opening would have seen the 109 made a BUZ and the 169 only failing the basic service characteristics definition due to the earlier cessation of services on weekends (around 9pm I think, but still every 15 minutes until then).

Gold Coast examples would be getting the corridors served by the old legacy routes up to half-hourly standards 6am to 9pm (particularly the 3, 5 and 21) and upping frequency on the 706, 709 and 715 (eg by scrapping the 703).

[#Metro]

These are NON-BUZ tweaks. Not everything has to be BUZzed (we've already worked out that would take 50-100 years to do!)

[SurfRail]

These are NON-BUZ tweaks. Not everything has to be BUZzed (we've already worked out that would take 50-100 years to do!)

I would suggest that the 109 and 169 could be done easily for little extra cost to extend the branding, goodwill and legibility of the routes, but these are the only 2 of those I mentioned.  Several of the others I have mentioned could be HFP routes, but would simply benefit from better daylight services.

The others either run hourly or worse, or run half-hourly when bunched, or run half-hourly along a major spine route.  Baiscally double the other routes I have mentioned, or be tactical about straightening/realigning.

The noticeable thing which kills a lot of discretionary PT usage in Brisbane is the almost 4:2:1 frequency ratio, which is largely limited to the BT network (Weekday:Saturday:Sunday headways).  Most of the other regions and QR have relatively uniform services on Saturday and Sunday - albeit perhaps with lower frequency in the early morning or after hours or later starts and earlier finishes on Sundays, but generally with the same headways during daylight hours both days.  It isn't even a big fleet utilisation issue - only one of staffing and cost.

[O_128]

230 and 235 need to be fixed, at about 3 30 the inbound goes from half an hour for the each bus to 40 min and the sunday timetable is a joke.

[WTN]

174/175 drops to half hourly on Sundays, vs every 15-20 minutes Mon-Sat daytimes. Some of the Sunday and weeknight services already receive good patronage despite the lower frequency. Similar principles apply to the 124/125 on Ipswich Rd if the patronage is similar, but I'd rather see an Inala service BUZed instead.

There's other mostly trunk routes that could benefit from 15 minute daytime running all week. It saddens me when I want to head out and enjoy my weekend only to find a thin Sunday (and sometimes Saturday) timetable.

N471 should be introduced to relieve the carparking strains on Mt Cootha Summit. You wouldn't believe how many cars are up there after the last daytime service!

The Gold Coast theme parks also have no buses for after hours events.

[#Metro]

174/175 drops to half hourly on Sundays, vs every 15-20 minutes Mon-Sat daytimes. Some of the Sunday and weeknight services already receive good patronage despite the lower frequency. Similar principles apply to the 124/125 on Ipswich Rd if the patronage is similar, but I'd rather see an Inala service BUZed instead.

This thread isn't about BUZ, I know people understand this, but just re-inforcing this. Not all routes need to be BUZZed, something like 411 could do with more frequency but without the late evening services, for example.

The weekend timetable is an issue- should we aim for a universal weekend timetable? There are pros (more services) and cons (costs more so could also result in fewer services elsewhere).

Personally I think hourly and half hourly services are a waste of time and belong in the 1980s really. I had the opportunity to go out on to Waterworks road or whatever that main road is in Red Hill on a weekend only to find the 380 and 381 come half hourly at places where I could SEE the CBD! Walking to the city was faster- and its situations like these which I think are abominable.

Even decent 20 minute frequency on weekends might be something to aim for on routes like 174/175 on weekends.

[O_128]

174/175 drops to half hourly on Sundays, vs every 15-20 minutes Mon-Sat daytimes. Some of the Sunday and weeknight services already receive good patronage despite the lower frequency. Similar principles apply to the 124/125 on Ipswich Rd if the patronage is similar, but I'd rather see an Inala service BUZed instead.

This thread isn't about BUZ, I know people understand this, but just re-inforcing this. Not all routes need to be BUZZed, something like 411 could do with more frequency but without the late evening services, for example.

The weekend timetable is an issue- should we aim for a universal weekend timetable? There are pros (more services) and cons (costs more so could also result in fewer services elsewhere).

Personally I think hourly and half hourly services are a waste of time and belong in the 1980s really. I had the opportunity to go out on to Waterworks road or whatever that main road is in Red Hill on a weekend only to find the 380 and 381 come half hourly at places where I could SEE the CBD! Walking to the city was faster- and its situations like these which I think are abominable.

Even decent 20 minute frequency on weekends might be something to aim for on routes like 174/175 on weekends.

'

Exactly my point, On weekends the 230 and 235 are full by the time they pick me and they are running ona combined 45 min frequency on a sunday and when they seperate and hour and a half frequency, whats worse is on a sunday night if you miss the 630 bus your waiting until 8pm. Pretty disgusting considering I can see The CBD from my stop yet people out in moggil and browns plains are getting an almost "world class" service. PLEASE EXPLAIN!

[Mr X]

Reminds me of the times the 230/235 would be 25mins late and you'd see two arrive at once  it was the alternative to the BT 868 from my old school at E. Brisbane and had to take if it I was staying back at school etc. Horrible route.

Had to risk being run over crossing Vulture St E. so I could get a 184/185/210/212 I/B from Stanley St E. which if I remember correctly had a shocking level of service too. Fun times!

[cartoonbirdhaus]

Personally I think hourly and half hourly services are a waste of time and belong in the 1980s really.

Even if it was still the '80s, I'd still deem half-hourly to hourly frequencies as unacceptable, and merely a residual service.

The problem with the 174/175 running every 20 minutes combined, is that either route would have to run every 40 minutes, which means tossing clockface timetabling out the window. A big no-no. Every 15 minutes combined would be more appropriate.

[SurfRail]

Personally I think hourly and half hourly services are a waste of time and belong in the 1980s really.

I will disagree.  They are not a waste of time if deployed correctly, where they offer a reasonable compromise for a lower density area.  I would not expect Route 663 or the stretch of Route 748 from Nerang to Mudgeeraba to be running at 15 minute headways, but 30 minute headways sound fine (maybe even excessive) and certainly better for the community cost-wise than implementing an expensive telebus service. 

Certainly, the vast majority of bus routes in the BCC and adjacent areas should be running at 15 minute headways 7 days 6am-9pm, even if it is only on common corridors in some places (eg 184/185).

[WTN]

Personally I think hourly and half hourly services are a waste of time and belong in the 1980s really.

I will disagree.  They are not a waste of time if deployed correctly, where they offer a reasonable compromise for a lower density area.  I would not expect Route 663 or the stretch of Route 748 from Nerang to Mudgeeraba to be running at 15 minute headways, but 30 minute headways sound fine (maybe even excessive) and certainly better for the community cost-wise than implementing an expensive telebus service. 

Certainly, the vast majority of bus routes in the BCC and adjacent areas should be running at 15 minute headways 7 days 6am-9pm, even if it is only on common corridors in some places (eg 184/185).

Looks like you've pretty much got it there. The minimum should be something like:
Busy corridors (main urban roads) - 15 minute frequencies daytime-early evening, or full BUZ if warranted (I know this thread isn't about BUZing, but we're nearly there)
Quieter areas and short milk runs - 30 minutes.
Long windy milk runs - consider dividing into more direct routes/feeders for the above.

Applies to most areas.

[AnonymouslyBad]

You know we've come a long way when we talk about the BUZ frequency being close to the minimum acceptable