379 Grange - does it even need to exist?

[#Metro]

Does route 379 even need to exist?
(Google Earth/Google Maps .kml file attached at the bottom)

379 Ashgrove - basically run more 385s or similar

379 Grange - basically string a short 7 km bus route between Ennoggera station on the FG line and Albion station (heaps of trains go past Albion), and try and get a connection to the Norhtern Busway.

The service levels in Grange could radically be boosted at little or no cost (might even make huge savings) to 15 minutes all day, and probably 20 minutes on weekends simply by stringing the routes between the FG line and Albion station and relying on connections/co-ordination with the busway/trains.

There is also scope for extending east to hamilton/doomben area and west to Mitchelton if desired for further simplification.

I can't check the busway connection bit using Nearmaps (not free anymore - gah!)

Image


http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af104/tramtrain/379_grange_png_zps34fa81d8.png

[somebody]

I think so.  It's too far to other services in at least parts of the route.

[#Metro]

Where Simon? It pretty much does everything the 379 does in grange except for the industrial area. To be fair, Stafford Shops is not on it but the 369 connects that.

[somebody]

How about Maygar St/Days Rd.  I guess you can argue that the 346/353/335 aren't too far away, but I'm inclined to remove those routes first.

[#Metro]

How about Maygar St/Days Rd.

I'm not sure here. Er, the bus is already put down Maygar street and part of Days road (see above image). Are you talking about the hairpin half loop that it sometimes does?

[SurfRail]

Terminating it at Enoggera is a surefire way to kill patronage.

Currently the route connects to major trip generators - the RBWH, the City-Valley, Stafford City.

What does this route actually do now?

[somebody]

I don't think that route will be created.

[#Metro]

Terminating it at Enoggera is a surefire way to kill patronage.

Currently the route connects to major trip generators - the RBWH, the City-Valley, Stafford City.

What does this route actually do now?

379 currently doesn't serve Enoggera at the moment anyway. RBWH, City-Valley are all accessible by connection.
Stafford city is already on the 375 and 369.

[SurfRail]

I'm not convinced it will actually attract much patronage as a purely connective route, that's all.

[#Metro]

But I guess then you have to ask where does the patronage come from then? Is most of the patronage coming from the duplicated sections on the busway etc?

The 379 only runs half hourly. And even without extension, you could just connect it to Albion Station, N busway and get passengers to change. You'd have to increase the frequency of course, but you could do that at little or no cost. Trains also go to the CBD, Valley etc

This is pretty much what I am objecting to:


http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af104/tramtrain/379_critique_zpsc9ae52d8.png

http://translink.com.au/resources/travel-information/network-information/timetables/120618-379-grange.pdf

http://www.humantransit.org/2009/04/why-transferring-is-good-for-you-and-good-for-your-city.html

[somebody]

The 15 minute service gaps at Albion are hardly conducive to an interchange system.

[#Metro]

Stafford Shopping Centre is already served by 375 and 369 (which could be diverted into the shopping centre). 369 is 2x the frequency of the 379.

375 takes 37 minutes from the CBD (15 minute frequency) = 52 minutes max journey time
379 takes 40 minutes from the CBD (30 minute frequency) = 70 minutes max journey time

369 takes 15 minutes  (15 minute frequency)
+ busway connection at Kedron Brook (~ 5 minutes)
+ bus trip to CBD 19 minutes on say, the 333

= 40 minutes max

So I don't get it.... it is at minimum, just as good, or up to 10 minutes better.

The 15 minute service gaps at Albion are hardly conducive to an interchange system.

Are these gaps in peak hour? Could the service be co-ordinated with one of the trains? What about busway transfer where there is heaps of frequency?

[somebody]

Only counter peak at Albion.

[Golliwog]

I can see what you're trying to do TT, but I think cutting Stafford City off the route would kill it. How does someone on the current route get to Stafford now without doing 3 sides of the square? Instead of going straight up Grange Rd, you now want them to go Days Rd to Gympie Rd, then change to either a 375 and go north then back west, or change to any route, and then change again to a 369?

I could see keeping the current route, but truncating it to Albion working better. I think the shops/restaurants around Albion aren't too bad? Not sure, I don't go that way often.

EDIT: Had forgotten about the 325/335 which would get you close to Stafford, but not to it. Still not a fan though.

[#Metro]

I can see what you're trying to do TT, but I think cutting Stafford City off the route would kill it. How does someone on the current route get to Stafford now without doing 3 sides of the square? Instead of going straight up Grange Rd, you now want them to go Days Rd to Gympie Rd, then change to either a 375 and go north then back west, or change to any route, and then change again to a 369?

Stafford City isn't served on all trips anyway. A person in the CBD, Valley, Hospital etc that wants to go to Stafford City will just get a bus that does go there - 375 (every 15 mins) or any bus to Kedron Brook and 369. Or one of the rockets if it is peak. 379 is half hourly, and even then not all trips to Stafford shops go there anyway...

On the other hand I see what you say. I think things can always be trialled and changed back if they don't work. That way we have real data to base on...

[SurfRail]

Stafford City isn't served on all trips anyway.

The review has identified that as a failing and it is likely to be fixed.