3 Apr 2012: SEQ: Centenary - CBD Rocket buses?

[ozbob]

Media release 3 April 2012

SEQ: Centenary - CBD Rocket buses?

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has highlighted the need for a bus interconnection between the Inner Northern Busway and Legacy way (1, 2, 3).

Gavin Seipelt, Brisbane West Region Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track said:

"This bus interconnection, if built, will allow peak hour express and rocket services in the Western Suburbs to do their run in the Centenary Suburbs, and then head down the Centenary Highway into the Legacy Way tunnel for a non-stop super-express trip direct into the CBD via Roma Street Busway and Railway Station."

"It is no secret that the Centenary Suburbs, along with the inner eastern suburbs such as Bulimba and the northwestern suburbs such as Eatonvale, are situated in public transport 'no-go' zones. The Legacy Way interconnection will mean that trips can be faster, and this actually saves money from the bus operator's perspective, a time saving that will also allow more services to be put on."

"RAIL Back On Track believes that for $30 million dollars, this is good value for money. To compare, it is less than the cost of one kilometre of light rail, heavy rail or busway. The cost of this could be split into half, in recognition that TransLink will benefit by having lower costs to operate peak hour buses to the Western Suburbs, and also in recognition that BCC ratepayers will be the main beneficiaries of the interconnection. A second way of funding the interconnection would be to extend the toll period of the tunnel to recoup costs, which would allow toll prices to remain unchanged."

"Fixing public transport in Centenary Suburbs is an important task, and this interconnection is one of many things that can be done relatively quickly and cheaply. There is also a need to re-organise, simplify and boost frequency (BUZ 400) in the Centenary Suburbs."

References:

1. Longer trips for bus commuters after Legacy Way bus link goes begging http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/west/longer-trips-for-bus-commuters-after-legacy-way-bus-link-goes-begging/story-fn8m0u4y-1226316729445

2. SEQ: Core Frequent Network: Centenary Residents' push for Centenary BUZ http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7935.0

3. Centenary of Transport Neglect, Courier-Mail http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/south/commuter-group-wants-better-services-in-the-western-corridor/story-fn8m0tyy-1226311445730

Contacts:

Gavin Seipelt
Brisbane West Region Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Discussion --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7886.msg93652#msg93652

[Gazza]

Would it be peak only usage, or could one of our two centenary buzes use it?

[ozbob]

Peak and out of peak, as you suggest.

[#Metro]

I think you could have an all day service, but not the CFN BUZ services (BUZ 400 & BUZ 450) as they need to serve the demand centres on Coronation Drive, UQ, Toowong, Indooroopilly. An express bus will miss all those destinations.

[ozbob]

I think you could have an all day service, but not the CFN BUZ services (BUZ 400 & BUZ 450) as they need to serve the demand centres on Coronation Drive, UQ, Toowong, Indooroopilly. An express bus will miss all those destinations.

Yep, give them choice.  Around the clock Centenary Rockets plus the other  ...  be a wonderful improvement for the Centenary suburbs ...

[Gazza]

Yeah but think of it too like an equivalent expresslink  from Ipswich/SC/GC/Caboolture.
And getting to the CBD quickly is attractive too.

We've idenfitied 2 BUZ routes to cover the Centenary. One could be tunnel, one could be Coro Dve...You Interchange at Mt Ommaney Center or Jindalee P&R if you want the other one.

[#Metro]

Yeah but think of it too like an equivalent expresslink  from Ipswich/SC/GC/Caboolture.
And getting to the CBD quickly is attractive too.

We've idenfitied 2 BUZ routes to cover the Centenary. One could be tunnel, one could be Coro Dve...You Interchange at Mt Ommaney Center or Jindalee P&R if you want the other one.

Ah, OK, I neglected to take this one into account. Service would need to be carefully co-ordinated. Would be a bit like the 150 or 140 express services on the busway.
So that is another bus route cut (save a few million per year), meaning we go from 9 routes to just three! How's that for maximum simplicity and legibility?

1. BUZ 400 Centenary (Core Frequent Network - Line Haul)
2. BUZ 450 Centenary Rocket (Core Frequent Network - Line Haul - All day express)
3. 452 Darra High Frequency Shuttle - Every 7.5 minutes between Mt Ommaney Shopping Centre and Darra

[#Metro]

Yep, give them choice.  Around the clock Centenary Rockets plus the other  ...  be a wonderful improvement for the Centenary suburbs ...

Will there be 2000 of them, which is one per 36 seconds, all day? 

[Gazza]

452 Darra High Frequency Shuttle - Every 7.5 minutes between Mt Ommaney Shopping Centre and Darra

Wouldn't it only need to be every 15 mins?

[#Metro]

Ah, OK, I neglected to take this one into account. Service would need to be carefully co-ordinated.

What about people in Jindalee / upper part of the suburb that want to go to Indooroopilly. Where do they change?

Wouldn't it only need to be every 15 mins?

4 services to the City
4 services away from the City (2 trains to Richlands, 2 trains to Ipswich, remember Ipswich line has demand in both directions - CBD and Ipswich, unlike other lines)
-----------
8 services per hour to connect to requires
8 buses per hour (we can afford this because the route is very short, and if it goes down the motorway, very fast)

60 minutes in an hour / 8 = 7.5 minute intervals

Remember also, you have 4 BUZ 400's and 4 BUZ 450's pulling into Mount Ommaney = 8 services per hour.

Basically, if a connection is put in, the 452 can be remodelled into a high frequency, no waiting, shuttle with the same frequency as at the train station
for very little cost.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Westside News ‏ @WestsideNews

Many readers echoing @Robert_Dow and his plea for the Newman Govt to connect Legacy Way to the Inner Northern Busway. http://bit.ly/Ha67cK

[somebody]

Peak and out of peak, as you suggest.

Given that we could have a full time KGSBS/Milton Rd/Freeway/Centenary BUZ on current infrastructure but don't, I find it unlikely that it would be utilised out of peak.

[ozbob]

Peak and out of peak, as you suggest.

Given that we could have a full time KGSBS/Milton Rd/Freeway/Centenary BUZ on current infrastructure but don't, I find it unlikely that it would be utilised out of peak.

Little doubt that if the connection is made it will used around the clock, particularly when the fuel price takes off ...

Having a fast reliable run will improve patronage, compared to the present basket case.

Now is the hour to future proof!

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

Re: SEQ: Centenary - CBD Rocket buses?

4 April 2012

Greetings,

There has been a strong community response to the Legacy Way bus failure.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/west/longer-trips-for-bus-commuters-after-legacy-way-bus-link-goes-begging/story-fn8m0u4y-1226316729445

The Queensland Government needs to move on this and make good the former Lord Mayor of Brisbane's committment of ' up to 2000 express buses will use it daily ' ...

NO BRAINER!  Half a billion dollars spent on the Eastern Busway for limited benefit, $30million for fix up Legacy Way for a massive benefit.

Government for the community or mates?

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

Media release 3 April 2012

SEQ: Centenary - CBD Rocket buses?

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has highlighted the need for a bus interconnection between the Inner Northern Busway and Legacy way (1, 2, 3).

Gavin Seipelt, Brisbane West Region Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track said:

"This bus interconnection, if built, will allow peak hour express and rocket services in the Western Suburbs to do their run in the Centenary Suburbs, and then head down the Centenary Highway into the Legacy Way tunnel for a non-stop super-express trip direct into the CBD via Roma Street Busway and Railway Station."

"It is no secret that the Centenary Suburbs, along with the inner eastern suburbs such as Bulimba and the northwestern suburbs such as Eatonvale, are situated in public transport 'no-go' zones. The Legacy Way interconnection will mean that trips can be faster, and this actually saves money from the bus operator's perspective, a time saving that will also allow more services to be put on."

"RAIL Back On Track believes that for $30 million dollars, this is good value for money. To compare, it is less than the cost of one kilometre of light rail, heavy rail or busway. The cost of this could be split into half, in recognition that TransLink will benefit by having lower costs to operate peak hour buses to the Western Suburbs, and also in recognition that BCC ratepayers will be the main beneficiaries of the interconnection. A second way of funding the interconnection would be to extend the toll period of the tunnel to recoup costs, which would allow toll prices to remain unchanged."

"Fixing public transport in Centenary Suburbs is an important task, and this interconnection is one of many things that can be done relatively quickly and cheaply. There is also a need to re-organise, simplify and boost frequency (BUZ 400) in the Centenary Suburbs."

References:

1. Longer trips for bus commuters after Legacy Way bus link goes begging http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/west/longer-trips-for-bus-commuters-after-legacy-way-bus-link-goes-begging/story-fn8m0u4y-1226316729445

2. SEQ: Core Frequent Network: Centenary Residents' push for Centenary BUZ http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7935.0

3. Centenary of Transport Neglect, Courier-Mail http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/south/commuter-group-wants-better-services-in-the-western-corridor/story-fn8m0tyy-1226311445730

Contacts:

Gavin Seipelt
Brisbane West Region Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org