Upgrade planned for Redland bus network

[Otto]

http://www.baysidebulletin.com.au/news/local/news/general/upgrade-planned-for-redland-bus-network/2418273.aspx?storypage=0

A MAJOR upgrade of bus routes across the Redlands will be rolled out from February 27.

The network tweaking should deliver timetable improvements, including shorter commute times to Brisbane and weekend services on some routes for the first time.

TransLink's acting chief executive officer Matt Longland said the Veolia network was being restructured to improve reliability and provide more direct connections for 31 bus routes.

At Capalaba, passengers will have more frequent services with a bus to Carindale every 15 minutes during peak times on weekdays and every 30 minutes during off-peak and at weekends.

"Victoria Point customers will have the number of afternoon peak services aligned with the number of morning peak services to ensure an even spread of seats on both inbound and outbound peak services," Mr Longland said.

"This investment will increase capacity on peak services and improve coverage of the region with new buses for Mount Cotton via route 282 (Victoria Point-Loganholme) and for Wakerley via route 242 (Wakerley-Carindale).

Mr Longland said the upgrade would also improve connections between bus and ferry services to the Southern Moreton Bay Islands.

Several areas will also receive weekend bus services for the first time.

"Changes to route 250 (Redland Bay to Brisbane City) means it will no longer stop between Carindale, Stones Corner and the Woolloongabba busway station providing a faster trip in to the city," Mr Longland said.

Other key changes include:

    R oute 270 (Victoria Point Jetty to Capalaba and Brisbane City) will end at Carindale, where passengers can transfer to one of the high frequency services to the city.

    Peak CBD routes (243, 251, 265, 267, 273, 275, 276, 279 and 281) will no longer travel via North Quay due to heavy traffic, which will save about five minutes travel by avoiding six sets of traffic lights, providing a faster journey for the majority of passengers. To provide this time saving for customers the routes will start at the William St bus stop in the afternoon. The Ann Street (Central Station) bus stop will no longer be serviced, as passengers can use the Creek Street bus stop.

    Route 282 (Victoria Point-Loganholme) will run on Saturdays and route 270 will also run on Sundays for the first time, providing extended hours of service.

    Ormisto n will have buses every hour, seven days a week for the first time.

Change s to some routes will be minor, such as bus stop location changes.

Passengers are advised to check their local routes and familiarise themselves with the changes at www.translink.com.au.

Tra nsLink will also have its "helping hands" team members at major interchanges during February to assist with passenger enquiries about route changes.

More details about the changes can be found at www.translink.com.au

[somebody]

Peak CBD routes (243, 251, 265, 267, 273, 275, 276, 279 and 281) will no longer travel via North Quay due to heavy traffic, which will save about five minutes travel by avoiding six sets of traffic lights, providing a faster journey for the majority of passengers. To provide this time saving for customers the routes will start at the William St bus stop in the afternoon.

That was my plan.

Somewhat gratifying, either they used it or came up with the same idea themselves.

[#Metro]

Route 270 (Victoria Point Jetty to Capalaba and Brisbane City) will end at Carindale, where passengers can transfer to one of the high frequency services to the city.

Hello   

[STB]

The Eastern Region changes are now up on the TransLink website (except the timetables themselves at this stage).

See http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1323841633 for details.  Google Maps is included on the webpage so you can see the final routes from the 27th February.  I have been assured by TL that the timetables should be up soon.

[Mr X]

250 continues to service Woolloongabba? 

[STB]

250 continues to service Woolloongabba? 

No it doesn't.

Route 250 (Redland Bay to City)

The Woolloongabba busway station stop will also be removed reducing travel time by approximately three minutes. Passengers wishing to access this stop can transfer to route 200 at Carindale. Alternatively passengers can travel to Mater Hill busway station and catch one of several routes to Woolloongabba including route 66 or 200.

[somebody]

Looks like the AM rocket city loop is unchanged.

[STB]

Peak CBD routes (243, 251, 265, 267, 273, 275, 276, 279 and 281) will no longer travel via North Quay due to heavy traffic, which will save about five minutes travel by avoiding six sets of traffic lights, providing a faster journey for the majority of passengers. To provide this time saving for customers the routes will start at the William St bus stop in the afternoon.

That was my plan.

Somewhat gratifying, either they used it or came up with the same idea themselves.

Actually not quite, they wanted to remove William St and George St all together but the passengers said no!  So it looks like a compromise has been put together, although funnily enough seems like TL got back at the aggressive nature of the passengers towards the planners at the consultation by making the trip longer for those who boarded at William St in the PM Peak.  I'm pleased.

EDIT: Please note that above is tongue in cheek.  They couldn't use George St in the PM peak hour due to BT buses lining up getting ready to go, making that stop unable to be used.  Also as was said in on the TL webpage, they are re-diverting it to avoid the traffic, which really isn't all that much in reality once you get past the Victoria Bridge intersection heading outbound, it's then pretty smooth sailing.

[#Metro]

The Woolloongabba busway station stop will also be removed reducing travel time by approximately three minutes. Passengers wishing to access this stop can transfer to route 200 at Carindale. Alternatively passengers can travel to Mater Hill busway station and catch one of several routes to Woolloongabba including route 66 or 200.

Good to see TransLink grow some balls. CUT!!! 

[STB]

The Woolloongabba busway station stop will also be removed reducing travel time by approximately three minutes. Passengers wishing to access this stop can transfer to route 200 at Carindale. Alternatively passengers can travel to Mater Hill busway station and catch one of several routes to Woolloongabba including route 66 or 200.

Good to see TransLink grow some balls. CUT!!! 

Lol, you do know that's been in the plans since around 2008!

[somebody]

They couldn't use George St in the PM peak hour due to BT buses lining up getting ready to go, making that stop unable to be used.  Also as was said in on the TL webpage, they are re-diverting it to avoid the traffic, which really isn't all that much in reality once you get past the Victoria Bridge intersection heading outbound, it's then pretty smooth sailing.

That's a real pain in the bum.  You'd have to run empty via CCB to Elizabeth St or Margaret St, L George St, L Adelaide St, L North Quay to serve William St.  Might be operationally cheaper to just stick with the old route.

[Mr X]

250 continues to service Woolloongabba? 

No it doesn't.

Route 250 (Redland Bay to City)

The Woolloongabba busway station stop will also be removed reducing travel time by approximately three minutes. Passengers wishing to access this stop can transfer to route 200 at Carindale. Alternatively passengers can travel to Mater Hill busway station and catch one of several routes to Woolloongabba including route 66 or 200.

Didn't see that in what was quoted- excellent news!!!

[Otto]

http://www.baysidebulletin.com.au/news/local/news/general/translink-changes-and-fare-increases-under-fire/2465951.aspx?storypage=0

Translink changes and fare increases under fire
BY JUDITH KERR
23 Feb, 2012 04:39 PM

REDLAND commuters are bracing for bus delays and confusion on Monday, when the state's public transport system, Translink, starts a major overhaul of its eastern network.

Peter Bennett, from Capalaba, and Ted Kos, from Birkdale, said they would be severely inconvenienced by the network "overhaul".

Both held talks with Translink over the past two weeks to air grievances about changes to their bus routes, 265 and 257.

Mr Bennett said he expected Monday to be a "schmozzle" while Mr Kos said he would continue to fight the new system.

Mr Kos also attended one of eight Translink community meetings in Redland City to put forward his opposition to the changes.

"We've already got together a petition which has been lodged with both Mark Robinson and Michael Choi," Mr Kos said.

"The next step will be to go to the transport ombudsman and then hold a protest outside Translink offices in George Street.

"I will not stop protesting until this decision to change these bus routes is rescinded which can even happen while the government is in caretaker mode."

Cleveland resident Kaye Guth attended a Translink community consultation at Cleveland Library this month to complain about the changes.

Ms Guth said the new Translink plan would add an extra 15 minutes to her journey to the city and would not pass essential services such as the Mater Hospital and the Southbank precinct.

Under the new network system, most buses from Redland City will stop at all stops to Carindale and then buses will be express to the CBD.

"The additional time, coupled with a 15 per cent standard fare increase, would make me seriously consider driving to work in the city every day," Ms Guth said.

"I am also concerned by what the Translink planners told me at the meeting that they were only concerned with options for transporting people to the CBD and not to other places."

Bay island residents have also voiced their concerns about the network changes on Monday.

Lamb Island's Leonore Lohr, who has to be in Brisbane city to start work at 8am, said the changes meant she would have to catch a ferry half an hour earlier than usual.

Under the changes, her 281 Translink bus will leave Weinam Creek at 6.52am, not 6.45am, and would not make it into the CBD by 8am.

"Instead of making the 281 leave at 6.40am, Translink has stupidly got the 250 bus leaving at that time," Ms Lohr said.

"The 250 bus goes locally, to Victoria Point and Cleveland, and not to the city.

"Even if I caught that 250 bus to Victoria Point, the 276 connection bus to the city has already gone.

"It's even more of a disaster on the way home."

Tell us your experiences of the new Translink service at redlandtimes.com.au

[#Metro]

Under the new network system, most buses from Redland City will stop at all stops to Carindale and then buses will be express to the CBD.

"The additional time, coupled with a 15 per cent standard fare increase, would make me seriously consider driving to work in the city every day," Ms Guth said.

I've been on 250 and it takes forever. ANY redlands bus needs to be express from Carindale, preferably via Captain Cook Bridge as well.
What's stopping this person doing interchange at Buranda

Oh, that's right "I don't like interchange".

[SurfRail]

So in the same article, they complain about buses only going to the CBD and about buses only doing local runs, despite the fact there are buses doing both in both areas.

Some people are oxygen thieves.

[achiruel]

Wow...people live somewhere like Lamb Is and expect frequent, direct public transport to the CBD...