Changes to the Hinterland Connect trial service

[ozbob]

http://jp.translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/details/1375057697

Changes to the Hinterland Connect trial service

From Monday 5 August, the Hinterland Connect trial service will no longer operate on weekends or public holidays.

As part of the SEQ Bus Network Review, it was recommended the Hinterland Connect trial service be removed due to low patronage. Feedback from hinterland residents received by council and TransLink has told us that this service is important to you, resulitng in a 12 month extension, excluding weekend services.

Hinterland Connect timetable (PDF, 1.43MB) effective 5 August 2013.

Weekend travel options

For Maleny residents, the Maleny-Landsborough-Beerwah service connects to Sunbus routes 605 and 615 and trains at Landsborough station. For timetables, visit the Glasshouse Coaches website or phone 5496 9249.

[ozbob]

Hinterland Connect Maleny to Nambour - trial service timetable

--> http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/Travelandtransport/Public%20transport/Hinterland%20connect/Pdf_hinterland_connect_timetable.pdf

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From the Sunshine Coast Daily 13th November 2013 page 10

Maleny bus in danger again

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Future of hinterland buses in the hands of users

[ozbob]

There is an article in today's Sunshine Coast Daily that suggests bus service will remain, providing the Council provides some subsidy.

[SurfRail]

This service would surely be more viable if it were go card compatible.

[ozbob]

From the Sunshine Coast Daily click here!

Hinterland bus service to stay if council coughs up

THE State Government will extend the Hinterland Connect bus service for 12 months provided Sunshine Coast Council contributes half the funding.

The service has been at risk for more than a year due to claims of inadequate use by residents and disputes between the state and council over funding.

However, Member for Glass House Andrew Powell said the service would stay for now following lobbying from him, councillor Jenny McKay and the hinterland community to Transport Minister Scott Emerson.

"Mr Emerson agreed to extend the trial for another year if the Sunshine Coast Regional Council continues to share the cost on a 50/50 basis," he said.

Mr Powell said changes to the timetable were also being discussed.

"I have also spoken to the Minister about reviewing the timetable to ensure that passengers are able to meet their connections and/or appointments in order to drive up patronage," he said.

Mr Powell said provided council agreed to the funding model, the new timetable would start on July 7.

[ozbob]

This service would surely be more viable if it were go card compatible.

I can recall being informed by the authorities a number of years ago that this would be the case ... but hey this is Queensland!

[STB]

This service would surely be more viable if it were go card compatible.

I can recall being informed by the authorities a number of years ago that this would be the case ... but hey this is Queensland!

I remember years ago that behind closed doors TransLink was extremely hesitant to adding anymore operators to the TransLink system where other operators covered an area out of fear that those operators could potentially sue for lost income, notably the Karalee area with Southern Cross - if you remember that old service that ran for a period of time to Indooroopilly - the Network Planners wanted to extend into that area but the Contract Managers rejected it as the boundary for then Westside was the Warrego Highway and so Westside wasn't allowed to go beyond that border to service an area, and nor did they want to add Southern Cross as a TransLink operator which at the time was for sale.

[ozbob]

Southern Cross was a bit different.

I have been directly given assurances a number of times that the Sunny Coast buses west of rail line would be go card enabled ..

" crickets " ....

[STB]

Southern Cross was a bit different.

I have been directly given assurances a number of times that the buses west of rail line would be go card enabled ..

" crickets " ....

Perhaps there isn't any funding for it, or it's just wishful thinking on their part.  It happens all the time, especially in the planning section with wishlists that for the most part never come true.

They could perhaps be waiting for the Cubic contract to run out and put it under the new contract post 2016?

[ozbob]

TransLink cannot do much at all these days.  Limited funds, limited staff.  Remember they were going to take over Q Connect as well.  Has not happened, and hopefully for Q-Connect doesn't happen.   All in all just a jolly big farce!   

[STB]

TransLink cannot do much at all these days.  Limited funds, limited staff.  Remember they were going to take over Q Connect as well.  Has not happened, and hopefully for Q-Connect doesn't happen.   All in all just a jolly big farce!   

I certainly agree with you on that part.  TransLink pretty much died internally after 2008 with restructures and the gutting of the infrastructure section.  Prior to that major things were happening and TransLink was packed full of enthusiastic staff who got stuff done.  Today, I'd expect that morale internally is pretty much zero, and it makes me wonder if Government is slowly wanting to gut TransLink out of existence (except ticketing) to their own peril.

TransLink's 'golden years' - 2003-2008 IMO.

[ozbob]

From the Sunshine Coast Daily 20th June 2014 page 3

Hinterland councillors left out of bus ruling

[STB]

 ^ Schmozzle.   

[Arnz]

That's the Sunshine Coast Clowncil for you.  Meanwhile the folks up in Noosa are laughing, considering the rates didn't "skyrocket" as those that were in the 'Noosa anti-demerge' camp within the SCRC were claiming.

[ozbob]

From the Sunshine Coast Daily 20th June 2014 page 3

Hinterland councillors left out of bus ruling

Now online --> Hinterland councillors out-voted on bus ruling

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2014/6/26/hinterland-connect-service-to-stay

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson
Thursday, June 26, 2014

Hinterland Connect service to stay

Passengers will continue to access the Hinterland Connect bus service between Maleny and Nambour for a further 12 months following a deal struck between the Queensland Government and Council.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said the Sunshine Coast Regional Council had agreed to jointly fund the trial service until mid-2015. 

"As part of our strong plan for a brighter future we have secured this local public transport service following strong representation from the Member for Glass House Andrew Powell and the community," Mr Emerson said.

"The trial will continue to be a weekday-only service however it will still need to meet the same KPI's previously agreed with council.

"Passengers will continue to be able to signal the driver between scheduled stops and board or depart the bus in safe spots along the route."

Member for Glass House Andrew Powell said we would also implement minor timetable changes to encourage more passengers to use the service.

"In the coming weeks we will implement changes to the timetable based on feedback from the community," Mr Powell said.

"We hope these changes will further drive passengers to make use of this service.

"The Maleny to Nambour route is the only service that connects Hinterland towns, including Maleny, Montville, Flaxton and Mapleton, and provides a vital link for the community."

Sunshine Coast Council Transport Portfolio Councillor Rick Baberowski said the council was pleased to support the State Government's extension to the modified trial.

"We urge hinterland residents to use the improved Hinterland Connect so the State Government can make it a permanent service at the end of the trial period," Cr Baberowski said.

Division 5 councillor Jenny McKay said the trial extension was a great outcome for the Sunshine Coast hinterland community.

"I have worked hard to have this service continued and the community has worked hard as well," Cr McKay said.

"I am so confident, now that the Minister has broadened the terms to enable the change of schedule, this will become one of the most highly-used transport services in the region."

[ENDS] 26 June 2014

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[SurfRail]

This simply must be accessible by go card or paper singles as part of the standard fare system for it to attract any kind of reasonable patronage.  Without it, it will continue to dodder along.

[Fares_Fair]

I understand that that won't happen (Go card compatible) until the service is fully funded by the State Government.
The Council considers public transport to be a state government responsibility... and technically it is - notwithstanding the Brisbane City Council and Gold Coast bus situations.

Good to see it get up for another year with timetable changes to make it more useful to more users.

Great to see strong advocacy by Hon. Andrew Powell MP, Division 5 Cr Jenny McKay and Cr Rick Baberowski.

[ozbob]

When the timetable changes are affected might go for a ride.

The present timetable is here --> http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/Travelandtransport/Public%20transport/Hinterland%20connect/Pdf_hinterland_connect_timetable.pdf

Lunch at Maleny ...  http://www.malenyhotel.com.au/

[Stillwater]

The Range News (newspaper at Maleny)  may be interested in an interview. 

[ozbob]

 

[ozbob]

Hinterland Connect trial extended

--> http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/14796/details