Bus region Ipswich/Springfield (Western)

[ozbob]

Testing on the journey planner looks like 28th January 2020 is the start date for the 527, 528 and 533.

Well fancy that    .. TransLink have updated the web page https://translink.com.au/service-updates/256126

" .. From 28 January 2020, bus routes 522 and 526 will change and a new route - 533 - will be introduced to service the Spring Mountain area. .. "

====

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1217950959050969089

[STB]

Testing on the journey planner looks like 28th January 2020 is the start date for the 527, 528 and 533.

Lol, I and Citydesigner was able to access the timetables ages ago with thanks to some URL trickery! 

[ozbob]

 

But now official.  There will be an article in the QT soon I guess. 

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/charismullenmp/status/1217944143105683456

[ozbob]

Queensland Times 18th January 2020 page 4

On the right track



Now online:

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1218350628361031680

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1218246017134383105

[ozbob]

Facebook ...

[ozbob]

Advertisement page 12 Queensland Times 18th January 2020

[ozbob]

527 & 528 timetable > https://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/timetables/200128-527,528.pdf

533 timetable > https://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/timetables/200128-533.pdf

524, 525, 526 timetable > https://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/timetables/200128-524,525,526.pdf

[ozbob]

I will be going out to Springfield on Tuesday morning (28th January)

At this stage will aim for the 527 that leaves Goodna station at 7.12am Springfield station at 7.30am.

Then 528 Springfield station at 7.57am to Springfield Central 8.31am.

Then 533 Springfield Central at 9.12am back to Springfield Central at 9.31am.

Then 526 Springfield Central at 10.07am to Redbank Station at 10.45am.

Lunch at the Commercial Hotel

[ozbob]

[SurfRail]

I wish they would come up with a proper strategy for numbering bi-directional looped routes and follow it in every region.

[STB]

Interesting to note that route 527 will not service Springfield Central Station nor the University.

[SurfRail]

^ I suspect not a big deal though.  The way it's set up you just go to Springfield station if it's the closer end.

Are these routes interlined (in which case you could just stay onboard a 527 and it would become a 528 and go basically next door to the uni)?

[ozbob]

^ yo. TransLink looked at the go card data and set up the 527 & 528 for the best outcomes.

This is a significant improvement overall, has taken a while.  Looking forward to checking out the new routes tomorrow (28th).

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Unique bus coming to the area this week

SPRINGFIELD residents will catch their first glimpse of the 18-seat Hino Poncho bus when new services, timetables and better bus-train connections start tomorrow.

The unique bus is expected to be a hit with customers on the new Spring Mountain 533 service, which will connect residents of this rapidly growing area to other bus services at Orion Springfield Central and Springfield Central station.

Member for Jordan Charis Mullen said the only other Poncho bus on the network operated in the Logan region.

"The size of the Poncho is a bit of a novelty but has been selected to match the current population and expected patronage around Spring Mountain," Ms Mullen said.

Route 533 will be introduced along with the new 527 and 528 services, which have been formed by splitting the former 522 route into two.

Ms Mullen said the route was split to better service the Goodna, Camira and Springfield suburbs, improve on-time running and bus-train connections, including at Springfield station.

"We know commuters and families want to connect with trains at Springfield station and that's why we've built a new bus interchange on Nev Smith Dr," Ms Mullen said.

It follows the Palaszczuk Government's announcement last year for a $44.5 million, multi-storey car park at Springfield Central station.

"Springfield is booming. By 2036, we'll have more than 150,000 people calling our community home. That's why we're introducing more public transport services.

"A record 189 million trips were taken on buses, trains, trams and ferries last year – and Springfield families played a huge role in that," she said.

"The new timetables will account for changing traffic conditions, making sure commuters can get to their destination on time, including on route 526 travelling between Springfield Central and Redbank."

Route 527 will continue the connection between Orion Springfield Central and Goodna, while introducing express running between Springfield station and Orion Springfield Central.

Route 528 will cover the southern part of the old 522 route around Springfield Central, with the route operating between Springfield Central station and Springfield station via Springfield Lakes.

Ms Mullen encouraged families to check out the TransLink website for details on these new services and changes, to make sure they're ready when the new services hit the road.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1221904543606116353

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1221906918857310208

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1221914593934462976

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1221927189978828800

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1221943601887924224

[ozbob]

Waiting for the 526 for Redbank.

I think it has gone well today. My only suggestion is that it would have been useful for some Translink staff at Springfield Central. Quite a few pax a bit unsure with the changes.
But drivers helpful and I assisted a few too.

The Poncho bus is neat. Has space for a wheelchair and is comfortable.

👍😎

[SurfRail]

This Poncho is in fact the one from the Logan fleet, interestingly enough.

[ozbob]

This Poncho is in fact the one from the Logan fleet, interestingly enough.

Yope! The new poncho is still being painted etc. I was informed.

[STB]

Rather interesting to see the new bus stop opposite Springfield station - I would've thought you'd cut the garden out and insert a new kiss and ride there on the carpark side with the existing kiss and ride turned into the bus stop.  But ok.  One thing I can see happening with the bus stop on the opposite side of the railway station (school side) is that you'll likely have people ignoring the crossing and jaywalking across to/from the bus.

[techblitz]

9.32 scheduled to arrive at springfield station 527 showings 5 minutes as of 9.42......when inbound train is departing....
This is going to be the problem with springfield buses.....the flow on delays coming out of morning peak....so 8.30am - 10am...when train frequency returns to 30 mins...

Just taking a quick look at random stops along the 527 in both directions......there are 10 - 20 minute delays showing in both directions.......for someone checking the real-time planner they will take one look at these delays and not even bother with the bus....regardless if the bus is just making it to the train station on time or not.

I understand they have just implemented these changes and will take time to adjust.......but they are on notice......we will be monitoring the train stations real-time for these new routes....

[STB]

9.32 scheduled to arrive at springfield station 527 showings 5 minutes as of 9.42......when inbound train is departing....
This is going to be the problem with springfield buses.....the flow on delays coming out of morning peak....so 8.30am - 10am...when train frequency returns to 30 mins...

Just taking a quick look at random stops along the 527 in both directions......there are 10 - 20 minute delays showing in both directions.......for someone checking the real-time planner they will take one look at these delays and not even bother with the bus....regardless if the bus is just making it to the train station on time or not.

I understand they have just implemented these changes and will take time to adjust.......but they are on notice......we will be monitoring the train stations real-time for these new routes....

It generally can take a month or two for the network to settle down, the bus company to get used to the changes and for TL to get any valid data.  Having late buses isn't unusual for a network change as recent as this one.

Will see if Bus Queensland tries out altering the rosters to see if there's any improvement, or if TL needs to step in at the next network review to make adjustments (subject to approval from the Transport Minister down to internal management and adequate funding from Treasury).

I wouldn't hold your breath for any fast changes though, network reviews historically only really happened every 12 months (with about 6 months internally leading up to the changes due to having to write up why you're doing the changes (a business case), allocate a budget for it, what changes you need to do based on feedback and getting internal and ministerial approval, then get the marketing team to create the public versions of the timetable/maps etc, and any advertising, then as Planners you have to go through all of that to check for any errors, then once error free, the marketing team then needs to get sign off, and then you can start advertising it officially - at least in my day that's typically how it happened).  Also Treasury used to release funding once a year after the Government budget, which then got split up among the different regions, before any changes happened.

In the past few years though, seems like the funding supply has been gradually reduced meaning less reviews over time, for whatever reason.

[STB]

Annnd just thinking out loud, I wonder if TL and the Government has become more risk averse since the failed 2013 greater Brisbane network review.  Given the amount of negativity among the public which then fed into the local council jumping up and down, and their aversion to working with TL and the State to design any changes, TL and the Government  has become shy to doing any network reviews and has winded it down out of fear of a backlash.

Prior to 2013, TL was way more bold with wanting to do changes to the network, and the Government was much more receptive.  Just an observation since 2013.

[techblitz]

I guess we will have to wait on the community feedback of this review......

In this latest one...i think translink have shown effort...especially when it comes to dynamically increasing connection gaps.....8 minutes at Goodna and 10 at springfield definitely gets the tick of approval....from a monitoring perspective....it looks as though the buses are making up time extremely effieciently as they inch closer to the train station......but as boarding patronage grows and car traffic worsens....so will the o.t.r on these routes......there seems to be some cushioning for the time being though...

Will see if Bus Queensland tries out altering the rosters to see if there's any improvement, or if TL needs to step in at the next network review to make adjustments (subject to approval from the Transport Minister down to internal management and adequate funding from Treasury).

yep...if at some point we start having o.t.r issues again with western......and with TL having done everything possible re. timetabling/alignment.....then the internal operations of the operator would need to be scrutinised....

[STB]

I guess we will have to wait on the community feedback of this review......

In this latest one...i think translink have shown effort...especially when it comes to dynamically increasing connection gaps.....8 minutes at Goodna and 10 at springfield definitely gets the tick of approval....from a monitoring perspective....it looks as though the buses are making up time extremely effieciently as they inch closer to the train station......but as boarding patronage grows and car traffic worsens....so will the o.t.r on these routes......there seems to be some cushioning for the time being though...

Will see if Bus Queensland tries out altering the rosters to see if there's any improvement, or if TL needs to step in at the next network review to make adjustments (subject to approval from the Transport Minister down to internal management and adequate funding from Treasury).

yep...if at some point we start having o.t.r issues again with western......and with TL having done everything possible re. timetabling/alignment.....then the internal operations of the operator would need to be scrutinised....

During my time at TL, my perspective of Bus Queensland is that they have a management culture of that a good bus is a revenue bus that has as little recovery time as possible, and at the time would often have 1 bus do 3 different routes with pretty much almost zero recovery time between routes.  It's kinda of a way to reduce costs and cut corners.

I'm not sure if they've changed since then, but it wouldn't surprise me if they haven't.  Even so, the only way TL can deal with that is to cut the contract with them (very difficult) and find another company to take over.

[AnonymouslyBad]

^ Would it be safe to say most of the suburban operators are like this? It's certainly the impression you get from sitting at any suburban interchange.

The solution is to have punctuality as an enforceable part of the contract. I realise there's complexities with that - some late running is genuinely out of the operator's control, they don't have meaningful autonomy on things like fleet, the contracts overall need to be worth more money, etc. But at the end of the day TL is engaging the operator to run X service at Y time. If they fail to do that, because of a tight-arse runsheet, they shouldn't be paid for that service. Bus companies are businesses and they'll never pad appropriately unless it makes them more money than not

[ozbob]

Queensland Times 6th February 2020 page 6

Public transport In focus

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament E-Petition

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/petitions/petition-details?id=3377

Provide better public transport to western Ipswich suburbs

TO: The Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland

Queensland citizens draws to the attention of the House that the Ipswich western suburbs including Karalee lack the proper public transport services required pursuant of the Commonwealth Government's Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (Transport Standards), further, the Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994 s 2(3)(b) says the State has an obligation to: provide a system of public passenger transport in the State that - (i) is responsive to community needs; and (ii) offers an attractive alternative to private transport in a way that reduces the overall environmental economic and social costs of passenger transport; and (iii) addresses the challenges of future growth; and (iv) provides a high level of accountability; and (v) provides public passenger services at a reasonable cost to the community and government. The Translink Transit Authority Public Transport Infrastructure Manual at 1.1.1.1 says: "The Translink Network Plan sets the long-term strategy and identifies the importance for public transport to be safe, secure and accessible to all." Ipswich West area population is approximately 55,000, Karalee population is approximately 4,600, the current public transport infrastructure and services do not meet the needs of the residents or the required standards. The Queensland Government appears in breach of both the Act and the Standards in providing public transport in the Ipswich western suburbs.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to call on the Transport Department to meet its legal requirements and provide a compliant public transport service to meet the needs of the residents of Ipswich's western suburbs.

[ozbob]

^

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/apps/E-Petitions/Home/DownloadResponse/cf322d8b-9ac2-463f-acd6-20205aea9ad3

Our ref: PET 38489

Your ref: A600272

8 October 2020

Mr Neil Laurie
The Clerk of the Parliament
Parliament House
George Street
BRISBANE QLD 4000

Dear Mr Laurie

I refer to petition 3377-20 lodged with the Legislative Assembly by Mr Steve Andrew MP,
Member for Mirani on 8 September 2020 about providing better public transport to the
Western Ipswich suburbs.

As the Government is currently in caretaker mode, I am unable to provide a substantive
response to the petition at this time. Therefore, under Standing Order 125 6 (a), I am
providing this letter as an interim response to the petition.

In accordance with s 59 A of the Parliament of Queensland Act 2001 and Standing Order 31,
I request that this interim response be tabled during the period that the Legislative Assembly
is dissolved.

Yours sincerely
MARK BAILEY MP
Minister for Transport and Main Roads

====

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1221943601887924224

Queensland Times --> State's smallest bus gets surprising result $

THE smallest bus in south east Queensland has been warmly welcomed by commuters in Ipswich's rapidly growing south east pocket, with an increase in the number of people jumping on board despite many turning away from public transport during COVID-19.

Patronage numbers dropped drastically across the city during the pandemic but the 18-seat Hino Poncho bus in Springfield is carrying more passengers now than it did at the same time last year.

The mini bus was introduced in January last year for the new 533 Spring Mountain route. ...

[Cazza]

I'm heading out west to the transport museum tomorrow morning with a 9am booking. Due to hourly train services at that time and non-aligned bus connections, my journey by public transport from Ashgrove to the Rail Workshops Museum (should I be insane enough to take it) will take an absolutely whopping 2hrs, 14mins

Some notable highlights of the trip include the 6:30am start from my house (for a 9am booking), a 32min connection wait between train and Route 515 bus at Ipswich Station (with a 2.1km walk being the quicker, but much less appealing option) and the journey planner showing differing times than the train timetable. The JP shows the train will depart Roma St for Ipswich at 7:04am, yet the TT shows 7:00am. What makes this worse is that my bus from Newmarket gets into Roma St at 6:59am, meaning what would be an alleged 5min connection is in reality just an unknowing and impossible 1min sprint from platform to platform. With 1 hour gaps between trains at this time means that I would have been standing at the platform at Roma St in complete disbelief. It would also mean that I'd then have to catch bus 15 mins earlier from Newmarket, taking my journey total to 2.5hrs. At least I would have time to catch the bus back home from Roma St, jump in my car, then drive out to Ipswich and still be there earlier than if I were to make the train.

But back to the main point, having a train line out to a train museum that I can't even realistically use due to a complete neglect in public transport services is pretty poor, especially when services on a Saturday run every 30 mins at that time of the morning, but for some reason, Sundays aren't cool enough yet to even get the most basic level of service. Such is life, back in the car I get. It's not hard to see why we live in such a car dominated region...

[Cazza]

The mini bus was introduced in January last year for the new 533 Spring Mountain route. ...

Literally the most pointless type of bus out there. It costs pretty much the same amount to run the same level of service as a standard bus, but just at such a lower capacity. Especially in these COVID times, I really do wonder why they bother bringing these things inter service, apart from making people say "Wow, look at it, it's so cute! But, heck, I'm never actually going to use it because it runs on a route with hourly weekday service frequencies and 2 hours on weekends with shambolic operating hours!"

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/DarrenDavis10/status/1406131999241166858

[achiruel]

The mini bus was introduced in January last year for the new 533 Spring Mountain route. ...

Literally the most pointless type of bus out there. It costs pretty much the same amount to run the same level of service as a standard bus, but just at such a lower capacity. Especially in these COVID times, I really do wonder why they bother bringing these things inter service, apart from making people say "Wow, look at it, it's so cute! But, heck, I'm never actually going to use it because it runs on a route with hourly weekday service frequencies and 2 hours on weekends with shambolic operating hours!"

Wasn't the reason because the route was too difficult to negotiate using a standard 12.5 metre bus? Or do I have it confused with something else?

[ozbob]

^  yes, not impossible but very difficult.