Ministerial Statement: 140,000 more public transport seats

[SurfRail]

There's no need for a Aspley-Chermside-City buz especially if it starts at the Aspley Interchange and runs via Gympie Road. The 338 already covers that. There's already ample coverage for most of the area but its just ran poorly eg. 335/336/337/338 etc. Having put more thought into it if there was a new bus/buz introduced it should be ran via East Aspley along Robinson/Kirby/Ellison/murphy roads as opposed to via West Chermside/Gympie Road as there is a larger market available and current routes can be modified to boost frequency in other areas that has been lacking PT eg modifying the 335 to run via Robinson/Murphy roads (I don't like it going via Gympie road next to Marchant park as there's no market for it). One could have a field day with modifing routes haha.

I have this looming suspicion the 340 might be BUZed now.  The 330 was meant to be done this year, perhaps in the plans it has been superseded or will be in addition to this "new" service.

[somebody]

There's no need for a Aspley-Chermside-City buz especially if it starts at the Aspley Interchange and runs via Gympie Road. The 338 already covers that. There's already ample coverage for most of the area but its just ran poorly eg. 335/336/337/338 etc. Having put more thought into it if there was a new bus/buz introduced it should be ran via East Aspley along Robinson/Kirby/Ellison/murphy roads as opposed to via West Chermside/Gympie Road as there is a larger market available and current routes can be modified to boost frequency in other areas that has been lacking PT eg modifying the 335 to run via Robinson/Murphy roads (I don't like it going via Gympie road next to Marchant park as there's no market for it). One could have a field day with modifing routes haha.

What would you say to extending the 333 to Chermside markets via Hamilton & Webster Rds and relining the 340 to Gympie Rd?

[HappyTrainGuy]

There's no need for a Aspley-Chermside-City buz especially if it starts at the Aspley Interchange and runs via Gympie Road. The 338 already covers that. There's already ample coverage for most of the area but its just ran poorly eg. 335/336/337/338 etc. Having put more thought into it if there was a new bus/buz introduced it should be ran via East Aspley along Robinson/Kirby/Ellison/murphy roads as opposed to via West Chermside/Gympie Road as there is a larger market available and current routes can be modified to boost frequency in other areas that has been lacking PT eg modifying the 335 to run via Robinson/Murphy roads (I don't like it going via Gympie road next to Marchant park as there's no market for it). One could have a field day with modifing routes haha.

What would you say to extending the 333 to Chermside markets via Hamilton & Webster Rds and relining the 340 to Gympie Rd?

Currently not a bad idea actually (What's the interchange going to be like post busway in the future or are they going to leave it as is with buslanes? I can't recall off the top of my head). It would speed up the time that it takes the 340 to traverse Gympie road from Aspley to Chermside interchange (Especially the long wait for the lights/traffic at Chermside Markets and at the Hamilton/Gympie roads intersection). The 335 could be modified to run via Ellison road to give residents the option to jump on the bus for a minute and then transfer at the chermside interchange to any number of city routes via the busway (330,333,340) instead of bypassing them because of some bushland and sporting fields (Let's face it, its never going to be culled at Chermside - Maybe cull the peak hour P339 at Chermside and boost the 325 frequency during peak).

Although there might be a problem with where the 333 would terminate/turn around at the Chermside Markets. It could run to Aspley interchange via Gympie Road/via Kirby/Robinson Roads (I'd perfer via Robinson road as Gympie Road has enough busses already and there's currently no bus services at all between Kirby and Gympie Roads but would that be a bit too long of a route? - Still better than nothing I guess) and use the current interchange or do a loop of the carpark if the Chermside Markets stop outside the Mitre 10? is still used.

330 via Murphy Road - Pink
333 via Robinson Road - Red
333 via Gympie Road - Yellow
335/P339 via Ellison Road - Green
336/337 Community Bus - Orange (Links everything in nice and together)
340 via Gympie Road - Blue
345 via Maundrell Ter. - Light Blue
Black dots are interchanges.

[somebody]

HTG, great map!

Current round of busway building will only get to Kedron.  I don't think it is useful to talk about what might happen after it goes beyond there.  There needs to be a reasonable network in the interim, which will be a number of years, number not known as it is not funded.

Which of the 333s are you recommending, red or yellow?  I was thinking of just terminating at Chermside Markets.

Is it a good idea to run the 335 along Ellison Rd?  On paper it seems reasonable to have the 335 running either down Gympie or Webster Rds.

As for 335 truncation not happening, I don't think we should take that attitude.

[BrizCommuter]

There's no need for a Aspley-Chermside-City buz especially if it starts at the Aspley Interchange and runs via Gympie Road. The 338 already covers that. There's already ample coverage for most of the area but its just ran poorly eg. 335/336/337/338 etc. Having put more thought into it if there was a new bus/buz introduced it should be ran via East Aspley along Robinson/Kirby/Ellison/murphy roads as opposed to via West Chermside/Gympie Road as there is a larger market available and current routes can be modified to boost frequency in other areas that has been lacking PT eg modifying the 335 to run via Robinson/Murphy roads (I don't like it going via Gympie road next to Marchant park as there's no market for it). One could have a field day with modifing routes haha.

With the charges for Chermside parking, and as far as BrizCommuter is aware plenty of free parking at Aspley Hyperdome, could this route be a much needed alternative to the now effectively-defunct Chermside park and ride?

It also may help ease pressure on the route 66 on the INB (assuming it serves the INB), and the often overcrowded in peaks 333.

BrizCommuter is awaiting the timetables and route maps to be released before blogging about these bus changes.

[HappyTrainGuy]

I think its a reasonable option to extend it past the markets to the Aspley interchange as the outbound Chermside market stop leads you directly back on to Gympie Road. If they are going to run half way there just to do a uturn and travel back via Ellison Road they might aswell go all the way there so the drivers have somewhere to have a break, grab something to drink or eat, use any facilities etc.

If the 333 is extended past the markets I'd like the red route more as there's more of a market to tap into for constant travel along with providing a direct link for locals to multiple shopping centres (Chermside Westfield, Chermside Markets, Aspley Village and the Hypermarket) along with providing a route for school students near by (Craigslea state schools - 345 change to 333 or direct to the 333, the same with students at Aspley and East Aspley primary schools) and a direct link to two majoy interchanges.

It couldn't hurt the 335. The 336/337 take it. It opens another bus travelling along that little stretch making it the second bus route to travel along it (I combined the 336/337 as its the same route). Anyone going to Chermside usually bails outside the stop near the Cinemas with people going to the city bailing at the next stop to transfer to the 330,333 and 340 buses which follows the 335 by about 2-3 minutes at the minimum. Also read below for another reason why the 335 is usless via that part of Gympie Road.

Brizcommuter; from what I've been told by a few mates that live/work at Chermside/Work at the Hypermarket its usually the locals surrounding the area to the West, North and East that drive and park at Chermside because buses in the area are non existant or their running hours are so poor. The local feeder bus that links all these places and areas together is run at a 2 hour frequency and its only between 9am-3pm, anyone living in East Aspley has to drive if they work there because the P339 bypasses Chermside in the morning/335 is run hourly starting at 8.30 counter peak providing a useless feeder to Carseldine railway station and stops alltogether between 7-10pm/there isn't one single bus route between Gympie-Zillmere-Kirby Roads. Anyone that lives beside Gympie Road thinks busses are useless as it might be a hundred metre walk in the morning to the bus stop but in the afternoon they are looking at a hundred metre walk across 6 lanes in peak hour traffic with the nearest traffic lights 800m+ down the road or vice versa (People living on Ellison road is a good example. 350m walk across the sports field just to get to the bus stop while in the afternoon it can end up being a 1200m walk through the vacant, bushy, unlit sporting fields via the traffic lights or 1.6km from the stop before). West Chermside isn't as bad as it's a small distance to a buz route but the morning P routes still get them.

[somebody]

Hmm, perhaps add pedestrian traffic lights or an overpass.  Traffic lights are good enough for Moggill Rd@Indro (4 lane), so it may or may not pass muster here.

What would you say to extending the 333 to Chermside markets via Hamilton & Webster Rds and relining the 340 to Gympie Rd?

Developing this idea some more, you could then have the 335 continue along Webster Rd and Kirby Rd and non stop Chermside shops.  I really want the via Newmarket route rather than the via Wilston, RBH & Valley thing.  Also the Chermside-Boondall bit of the 325 could be its own route rather than the indirect one it is at present.

That's a more reasonable proposition than the 325 BUZ IMO as it is pretty direct and might get some decent patronage.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Traffic lights would just bugger things up even more on Gympie road. Tunnels/underroad walkway would be the better option I think as future expansion could be better maintained.

I'm not sure on the bypassing Chermside bit. From the times I've transfered onto it at Carseldine railway station/transfered from Brunswick Street alot of the patronage seems to get off at Chermside/get on at Chermside then run fairly empty all the way to the city in off peak. If the 336/337 got a frequency boost to half hour.... HA! (It should be half hour minimum across the entire network imo)/333 extended to Aspley int via Kirby Road/Robinson roads I'll be in favour of what's basically a P339 route via Newmarket but I think culling the 335 at Chermside with a 325 frequency boost would be more effective as the 335 can make headway into servicing more of east aspley in the mean time - 336/337 boost would also negate that. Its really crazy how so many routes are possible with so many near by interchanes yet they've done a pretty horriable job with the whole area.

[longboi]

Interesting that they mention Wooloongabba on the flyer there for route 250.  Did they decide to cave in from an obvious no brainer due to the typical my bus is a taxi mentality out here in the Redlands?

I think leaving Woolloongabba in is an attempt at appeasing pax in light of the CBD stop changes. Deleting CBD stops and W'Gabba all at once would no doubt result in cries of "You're taking all our stops!"

[somebody]

Interesting that they mention Wooloongabba on the flyer there for route 250.  Did they decide to cave in from an obvious no brainer due to the typical my bus is a taxi mentality out here in the Redlands?

I think leaving Woolloongabba in is an attempt at appeasing pax in light of the CBD stop changes. Deleting CBD stops and W'Gabba all at once would no doubt result in cries of "You're taking all our stops!"

Didn't notice that.

Even more disturbing is the comment "Stones Corner" then "Woolloongabba".  What about Buranda?

[longboi]

Interesting that they mention Wooloongabba on the flyer there for route 250.  Did they decide to cave in from an obvious no brainer due to the typical my bus is a taxi mentality out here in the Redlands?

I think leaving Woolloongabba in is an attempt at appeasing pax in light of the CBD stop changes. Deleting CBD stops and W'Gabba all at once would no doubt result in cries of "You're taking all our stops!"

Didn't notice that.

Even more disturbing is the comment "Stones Corner" then "Woolloongabba".  What about Buranda?

Yeah I don't quite know what that one's about. Buranda is good for transfer to SEB services but I guess they can be made at Mater/South Bank/CC.

[somebody]

UQ services even more importantly IMO.  I think we need to get away from the idea of having a 109.  South side people interchanging at Mater Hill for the 109 is bad therefore in my parallel universe.

[longboi]

UQ services even more importantly IMO.  I think we need to get away from the idea of having a 109.  South side people interchanging at Mater Hill for the 109 is bad therefore in my parallel universe.

It's only 250 that's been taken out of Buranda (okay, 270 as well) but there is an easy transfer to the 209 at Carindale so I don't see too much of an issue for UQ pax.

I'm not so sure about deleting the 109 - Its a catch-all for students who aren't close to/have a transfer opportunity to xx9 routes. There has been some talk of a Northside UQ route (Aspley/Chermside - UQ via Story Bridge & Gabba) but even then I still think you need a City-UQ route (Which isn't the 412).

[ozbob]

Note planned change to 462 Feb 2012

Darra Rail - Heathwood Extension.  I understand this bus will be going via Darra Centenary Village using the new service road networks (not sure if all or some, to be confirmed).

Now understand that all peak services 462 will be via Darra Centenary Village, off peak Richlands, Archerfield Rd, Centenary Village, Darra Station (off peak not Heathwood).

[ozbob]

138 route, to be confirmed officially

- 25 peak-only services a day, particularly for lower Calamvale. Will assist easing of peak loads on 130.
- gives residents of Algester Rd between Endiandra and Ridgewoods St access to public transport.
- Joins the trunk corridor at Eight Mile Plains, so avoids Mains Rd.
- Most of the other routes in area cover Ridgewood and Beaudesert Rds.

[Golliwog]

109 also gets decent walk up pax at South Bank from the Urban nest building right next to it. Plus GC pax need to get past Park Rd to South Bank to get a peak service.

If the 250 still servews the Gabba then they can also change to the 29....

[longboi]

I'm not sure on the bypassing Chermside bit. From the times I've transfered onto it at Carseldine railway station/transfered from Brunswick Street alot of the patronage seems to get off at Chermside/get on at Chermside then run fairly empty all the way to the city in off peak. If the 336/337 got a frequency boost to half hour.... HA! (It should be half hour minimum across the entire network imo)/333 extended to Aspley int via Kirby Road/Robinson roads I'll be in favour of what's basically a P339 route via Newmarket but I think culling the 335 at Chermside with a 325 frequency boost would be more effective as the 335 can make headway into servicing more of east aspley in the mean time - 336/337 boost would also negate that. Its really crazy how so many routes are possible with so many near by interchanes yet they've done a pretty horriable job with the whole area.

To be fair they haven't actually "done" anything to the area. Apart from the 333 the whole area is pretty much unchanged from what was there pre-TransLink.

Anyway, back to your proposal...when you talk about truncating the 335, I assume you mean keep the Taigum-Chermside portion? If so, you may as well reinvest the deleted portion and extend it to Sandgate.

[somebody]

138 route, to be confirmed officially

- 25 peak-only services a day, particularly for lower Calamvale. Will assist easing of peak loads on 130.
- gives residents of Algester Rd between Endiandra and Ridgewoods St access to public transport.
- Joins the trunk corridor at Eight Mile Plains, so avoids Mains Rd.
- Most of the other routes in area cover Ridgewood and Beaudesert Rds.

I support the notion of a rocket along Algester Rd completely avoiding Ridgewood Rd.  I never understood why the 131 didn't do precisely this, and I still don't.  Must be someone with the ear of their MP on Endiandra St.   Second best would be having the 129 going this way, and third best would be the 136 (city precincts - interchange is possible and reasonably easy).  The worst of all options is a new route.

If it is worth heading to the Gateway from the 130 corridor, surely the 141 should do this also.  Similarly with the 129 in particular.  131 can't do it as it needs to serve Hellawell Rd.

[somebody]

Still no official announcements regarding these services.

[ozbob]

Still no official announcements regarding these services.

Probably later this week ...  today is a public holiday ... and I think things have been a little rushed.

[HappyTrainGuy]

To be fair they haven't actually "done" anything to the area. Apart from the 333 the whole area is pretty much unchanged from what was there pre-TransLink.

Anyway, back to your proposal...when you talk about truncating the 335, I assume you mean keep the Taigum-Chermside portion? If so, you may as well reinvest the deleted portion and extend it to Sandgate.

Yeah, just not running it all the way to the city so it can perform local feeder duties to interchanges. It would be a better option to feed it into the heavy rail line on the Shorncliffe line at Boondall railway station and boost the feeders at Sandgate/Deagon/Brighton/Shorncliffe.

[somebody]

It's only 250 that's been taken out of Buranda (okay, 270 as well) but there is an easy transfer to the 209 at Carindale so I don't see too much of an issue for UQ pax.

That isn't a mistake?  That's moronic!  Worse than staying the 'Gabba.  The 209 only runs every half hour for most of the day.  I'd change at Stone's Corner, maybe use the 222 to get to Buranda.  It shouldn't be so hard.

[somebody]

HTG, how did you create that map?  It's better than what I have done in the past.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Its just screenshots of Google Maps put together so I could effectly see how routes ran across and interacted with the rail network on the northside. Give me a couple mins and I'll try to upload the map for you.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Northside 9mb - http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k558/HappyTrainGuy/map.jpg

[longboi]

It's only 250 that's been taken out of Buranda (okay, 270 as well) but there is an easy transfer to the 209 at Carindale so I don't see too much of an issue for UQ pax.

That isn't a mistake?  That's moronic!  Worse than staying the 'Gabba.  The 209 only runs every half hour for most of the day.  I'd change at Stone's Corner, maybe use the 222 to get to Buranda.  It shouldn't be so hard.

209 is 15 mins during the day.

[somebody]

It's only 250 that's been taken out of Buranda (okay, 270 as well) but there is an easy transfer to the 209 at Carindale so I don't see too much of an issue for UQ pax.

That isn't a mistake?  That's moronic!  Worse than staying the 'Gabba.  The 209 only runs every half hour for most of the day.  I'd change at Stone's Corner, maybe use the 222 to get to Buranda.  It shouldn't be so hard.

209 is 15 mins during the day.

Hmm, must have been thinking about weekends.

[ozbob]

TransLink --> Exciting network changes coming February!

[somebody]

A more detailed list is here, with click thru links: http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1326673903

Still no timetables.

[somebody]

This is the sum total of what they are doing for the Northern Busway:

These buses, known as High Capacity Vehicles (HCVs) are either 14.5 metres or the supersized 18 metres long

HCVs will be available on routes 66, 109, 111, 130, 137, 139, 140, 142, 150, 160 and 169.

In addition to the bigger buses, we've added eight extra trips to route 66 from around 1pm.

Link: http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1326352493

[david]

I am most disappointed about this:

Route 467 to extend to Mt Ommaney Shopping Centre

From Monday 20 February 2012, route 467 will be extended from DFO Jindalee Village Centre (Windermere bus stop) to Mt Ommaney Shopping Centre.

Following community feedback, this improvement will operate during peak hours only to provide better access for residents and workers in Jindalee, Mt Ommaney and Seventeen Mile Rocks.

Route 467 will also service Jindalee State School and Centenary High School during school hours.

We are also increasing services during morning and afternoon peaks for route 467 to provide better connections to Oxley station. This means Jindalee residents will now have access to rail services at Oxley station for the first time.

More information on these exciting changes will be added over the coming weeks, so keep checking the website for the latest details and new timetables.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

While it's great that the 467 is getting more services, making it extremely slow by forcing it to complete the Tour de Jindalee before heading towards Windermere will attract NO ONE from Jindalee to the service. There should have been a completely new route drawn up and the service directed towards Darra Station where there are MORE services, including the EXPRESS services. I'm too tired to fight it though. I envisage air parcels driving around Jindalee come 20 February.

[somebody]

Won't be any slower than the existing service along the existing route though will it?

[david]

My concern is not the Windermere/17 Mile Rocks part of the 467. It's how Translink proposes to extend it through Jindalee. Anyone crazy enough to catch it in Jindalee would be forced to endure the loop-de-loop around Windermere.

It's not going to attract the patronage they want it to. There's no incentive to catch it.

[somebody]

New bus for Calamvale
decrease text size reset text size increase text size Print


From Monday 20 February, route 138 will run from Calamvale to the CBD via Garden City.

Following requests from the community this new peak hour service will run every 15 minutes during the morning and afternoon peak to Garden City and the CBD (Monday to Friday).

The 138 service will also provide residents along Benhiam Street and Algester Road (between Endiandra Street and Ridgewood Road) with a dedicated bus service for the first time.

Existing route 130 will continue to operate as scheduled for anyone wishing to access the CBD in off-peak hours.

More information on this exciting new service will be added over the coming weeks, so please keep checking the website for the latest details and new timetable.

If this 138 is going to serve Benhiam St, Algester Rd, then run along Beaudesert and Compton Rds to the Gateway, I can't see that it picks up enough people to justify its existence.  Lets hope it isn't as it appears.

[#Metro]

If this 138 is going to serve Benhiam St, Algester Rd, then run along Beaudesert and Compton Rds to the Gateway, I can't see that it picks up enough people to justify its existence.  Lets hope it isn't as it appears.

^^^ THIS is the problem in Brisbane. If this was rail, Brizcommuter would call it 'Express to my stationitis'. But on buses, we operate 'a rocket to my house' philosophy which has a rocket literally travel from almost every neighbourhood direct to the CBD, which congests the core CBD streets, busways and capt cook bridge. Not to mention the huge cost of small shifts and getting a bus ($500 000) for just a few runs each day. And people want to attack park and ride as wasteful!

The sooner a metro goes down the busway, the better IMHO. It should, at minimum, have double the current capacity of the busway.

[Mr X]

Hence my desire to feed a lot of these peak hour rockets to the shredder and send their full time counterpart over the Captain Cook Bridge!

[SurfRail]

If this 138 is going to serve Benhiam St, Algester Rd, then run along Beaudesert and Compton Rds to the Gateway, I can't see that it picks up enough people to justify its existence.  Lets hope it isn't as it appears.

^^^ THIS is the problem in Brisbane. If this was rail, Brizcommuter would call it 'Express to my stationitis'. But on buses, we operate 'a rocket to my house' philosophy which has a rocket literally travel from almost every neighbourhood direct to the CBD, which congests the core CBD streets, busways and capt cook bridge. Not to mention the huge cost of small shifts and getting a bus ($500 000) for just a few runs each day. And people want to attack park and ride as wasteful!

They both are.  (It is no surprise that we observed nobody getting on the train at Currambine, Edgewater or Greenwood on a post-9pm service out of Clarkson yesterday, and that people were boarding at the interchange stations and Leederville...)

There will always be a room for both, but the balance is nowhere near appropriate on either spaces vs feeders or radial vs feeder.

The sooner a metro goes down the busway, the better IMHO. It should, at minimum, have double the current capacity of the busway.

Agreed.