On the Buses

[techblitz]

^cant wait till some of the other privates take a leaf out of hornibrooks book and give those few extra minutes during peaks to make sure missed connections are minimised 

Ps: the i/b 680 a couple of hours later was around that 7 minute late mark as well. Caught it from strathpine. Also noted a 671 with (surprise surprise) 0 pax coming into strathpine 
Not the first time ive seen that...driver says its a hot and cold route...

[ozbob]

Mrs caught the 450 11.40am from QSBS to Mount Ommaney today.  She said up to around 12 pax on board, most pax off and on at Indooroopilly. Around 6 pax off at MO.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Natassia Apolloni ‏@NApolloni

The Bruce Highway has just reopened after a bus carrying 66 students exploded in flames. @WINNews_SCoast tonight



============

Couriermail --> School bus fire closes Bruce Highway near Nambour

... The bus was evacuated by teachers but all children are reported safe. It is believed the fire broke out at the back of the bus and quickly spread. It all sparked a grass fire ...

[ozbob]

Twitter

ABC News Brisbane ‏@ABCNewsBrisbane

Incredible pic shows school bus fully ablaze on Bruce Highway http://ab.co/1nPqsEN  Pic by Craig Burrows #qld

[STB]

Someone has posted this on the TransLink website this afternoon - a very overcrowded QUT KG station (platform heading inbound towards Roma Street).



https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10203507022571341&set=o.521288224563914&type=1&theater

[Simon Lovell]

Cough 393 cough

[James]

This isn't a 'no 393' issue. The issue is that QUT has started Uni (Week 1), yet folk at UQ/Griffith have not started Uni. This has partly occurred because of the way the days have 'fallen'. Unfortunately for TransLink, somewhere along the line they have failed to actually notify BCC that QUT is back at Uni. Consequently, 66s are running at half-frequency, and its possible that they're not HCVs either.

I bet if you chucked in two HCVs starting at QUT KG you could clear most of that backlog (which is what 5-minute 66 frequency would do). It is amazing how much even a regular bus can clear a crowd - you can go from what looks like a sea of people waiting for an Indro bus to just a few stragglers (and a very, very full 428) at UQ.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

25th July 2014

Brisbane bus network failing ...

Greetings,

A lot of bus ' no shows ' and late buses as reported by the TransLink twitter feed of late.

See -->  https://twitter.com/TransLinkSEQ

Yesterday at QUT KG complete meltdown:


https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10203507022571341&set=o.521288224563914&type=1&theater

Failure of communications?

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

^ Fairfax radio news have followed up, thanks for the interest 

[James]

Saw S5111 operating an inbound 445 service today at Toowong around 11:05am - one of the rare times a long bus operates in the western suburbs!

Now if only they could get those running 412s and 428s... a 14.5m bus down Swann Rd, that'd be an interesting sight!

[ozbob]

--> https://www.facebook.com/TransLinkQLD/posts/933675736658492

Facing the daily commute in Brisbane under our poorly planned, poorly operated and radically inefficient state government transportation system is like a nightmare in which one witnesses the death of seven unicorns, seven times a day, every day of the year for seven years.

I live in an area without a train line—one that is allegedly serviced very well by buses. Here we have a "BUZ", a "Rocket", a "CityGlider", and numerous additional regular services. This may make it appear to an outsider as though I live in an electorate of political significance—maybe even the Premier's own electorate—one that is so well serviced by public transport to appease the voters that it is perhaps even oversupplied. Yes, on the surface, this is how it may seem, but what happens when one tries the daily commute?

Every day I wait for a bus to show up. Most of the time, it'll show, but rarely as scheduled. Increasingly, the service for which I am waiting simply won't show at all. Every day I arrive to packed bus stops, a whole group of we commuters waiting to cram into a packed bus—if and when it arrives. Every day I stand at a major inner-city interchange, watching buses pass by. Most days, the number of "OUT OF SERVICE" buses outnumbers the number of buses that actually stop to pick up passengers.

Yesterday an outbound CityGlider arrived at Roma Street Busway to tired and frustrated passengers who had waited 20+ minutes for a flagship, "high-frequency" touted service. As passengers squeezed on, packing the bus to the brim, the same service arrived immediately behind, which I boarded to begin the journey with SIX passengers, following the first service for the entire journey.

This bus network is rooted. To those who opposed the proposed major bus network overhaul, which would have brought significant innovations in our network, alongside remarkable improvements in operational efficiencies—those who were involved in the "public outcry", throwing a tantrum because they would have had to walk an additional three metres for a bus that would have arrived three seconds less frequently, I say: I hope that you are electrocuted by three rainbows.

[ozbob]

Media release 27 July 2014

SEQ: Bus performance data hidden

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 said it is essential that bus on time and service turn out performance data be made available publicly for all bus operators.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"A limited superficial data set for public transport is made available in Queensland. Missing from this limited data is objective measures of bus on time performance and reliability."

"Lately, Brisbane bus network has increasingly become unreliable (1, 2, 3).  TransLink did attempt to sort out the Brisbane bus network in 2013 but politics and narrow self interest trumped proper policy sadly."

"Honesty is often the first step in fixing a problem. The failing bus network is a problem, continuing to hide mediocrity doesn't help anyone."

References:

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=195.msg144601#msg144601

2. https://www.facebook.com/TransLinkQLD/posts/933675736658492

3. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10203507022571341&set=o.521288224563914&type=1&theater

Contact:

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

Sent to all outlets:

25th July 2014

Brisbane bus network failing ...

Greetings,

A lot of bus ' no shows ' and late buses as reported by the TransLink twitter feed of late.

See -->  https://twitter.com/TransLinkSEQ

Yesterday at QUT KG complete meltdown:


https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10203507022571341&set=o.521288224563914&type=1&theater

Failure of communications?

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

Letter to the editor Queensland Times published 28th July 2014 page 21

Honesty the first step to help rectify 'failing bus network'

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow 5m

Langlands Park busway



Photograph R Dow 30th July 2014

[johnnigh]

One of the many slogans seen on the route name screens on Brisbane Transport buses: "Bus Queensland".

Is this advertising a conference, stating the obvious, or presaging a takeover bid?

[techblitz]

5.05 pm boggo rd bus station
4 minute window 209 and 29 both completely full with standees to front.
29 lost most of its pax at boggo rd

P.a hospital 5 mins later

66 4 pax onboard leaving p.a hospital....139 full bus leaving p.a hospital
Another 209 full bus leaving p.a

In a nutshell...the 209 has insane demand at pm peak!

Edit: then onto a sardine packed 100 (think 5.47 ex central) 

[techblitz]

Last  hourly GCL 598 betwen indro/ garden city
16 pax hopped on @ indro..mostly students heading past salisbury with a few off around rocklea station...

[James]

Had a decent load on board the 6:15pm (dep. Adelaide St) 411 this evening - 30 pax leaving Toowong! A shame that after 6pm on a Saturday that this bus drops to hourly frequency or worse until 6:30am on Monday morning!

[techblitz]

Guess someone finally got sick of it and posted to facebook...

BCC C2042 CityGlider, boarded at Bardon 8.36am.
Driver did not open the rear door for boarding, despite his staring at me in his mirror. This is not an uncommon occurrence--you need to have BCC remind its drivers, given that the rear boarding notion is heavily touted on their marketing material.
Upon boarding at the front, I encountered an extremely angry looking man, out of uniform, who did not respond when I said hello and asked how he was, having put aside the earlier incident. He then proceeded to drive very aggressively through heavy traffic in the small streets of Paddington, following extremely closely behind cars, resulting in urgent and extreme braking on numerous occasions. Very dangerous behaviour; very risky with a busload of people.

i can confirm this.....almost everytime i have attempted to board a maroon glider(blue gliders no issues) from the back the drivers have not bothered to open the rear doors..
Mostly happens at the CC where it shouldnt be happening to amount of buses coming through. What gives?

[SurfRail]

I find it really bizarre that BT isn't buying buses with twin glideaway doors like Sydney Buses, PTA-WA and even Clark's up here.  Would make it a lot easier to facilitate multi-door boarding than the poor excuses on virtually all standard-length buses in the council fleet now with the tiny single door.

Is having 2 extra seats really that important compared to clearing stations as busy as the Cultural Centre - which virtually every bus goes through at some point - quickly?

[aldonius]

Not sure if this is old news, but Cultural Centre platform 2 is now prepaid in PM peak.

I assume it's platform 2 anyway, I saw the advisory poster from inside a bus going through platform 1...

[James]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/19231/details

On Monday 25 August, changes will be made to routes 193 and 196 in New Farm.
Route 196 new terminus

Following Brisbane City Council consultation with the local community earlier this year, the current terminus for high frequency route 196 will move from Oxlade Drive to Mountford Road (near Sargent Street).

A new stop will be installed on Mountford Road.

This means route 196 will be extended to service the full length of Oxlade Drive.

As a result of the route change, there'll be some minor timetable changes. Check your new timetable for more information.
Route 193 to be removed

As a result of the changes on route 196, route 193 will be removed from service. The last route 193 bus will run on Friday 22 August.

You may be able to use the following alternative services:

    Kingsholme and Beeston Streets: route 470 (from the corner of Chester and Gibbon Street) or high frequency route 199 (from Macquarie Street)
    Gibbon Street: route 470 (from James Street)
    Crase Street: high frequency route 199 (from Macquarie Street)
    Mountford Road, Mark Street, Elystan Road: high frequency route 196 from its new terminus on Mountford Road, or stops along Oxlade Drive, Sydney Street, and Brunswick Street.

If you normally travelled to Teneriffe on route 193, you'll need to transfer to route 199 or the Blue CityGlider near Merthyr Road, New Farm.
Affected services
Buses

    Minor status update193
    Minor status update196

Softly softly... shhhh, don't wake grandma. No media about this at all, only popped up on the TransLink website today. Looks like BCC is feeling the pinch...

[HappyTrainGuy]

Softly softly... shhhh, don't wake grandma. No media about this at all, only popped up on the TransLink website today. Looks like BCC is feeling the pinch...

http://youtu.be/QP2uPNypJlE

[techblitz]

Gotta admire the comminication from griffith uni. Nathan campus have shut off the bus stop entrances for thier open day so buses cannot pull into the normal stops and there are no alternative stops...
bt drivers havent heard anything about it yet...TL not notified by the uni either

[BrizCommuter]

Someone has posted this on the TransLink website this afternoon - a very overcrowded QUT KG station (platform heading inbound towards Roma Street).



https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10203507022571341&set=o.521288224563914&type=1&theater

Whilst not as bad as a few years back, overcrowding and full buses are still an issue at QUT KG. When the 66 drops to half frequency out of uni semester the busway can be a basket case at times with 10min+ gaps in service, and buses being almost full leaving RCH Herston inbound pm.

[Otto]

I find it funny that Busways  people would be fully aware of the overcrowding as they would be monitoring the situation via CCTV at the BCC Traffic Control Centre.
The Guys from BT Bus Control would be sitting right behind them in the same room seeing the same.
Pre Translink, BT would just send more buses out to help clear the backlog, but nope, not these days. TL would need to approve the extra buses before any action can be taken. It's all too late by then..

[SurfRail]

There's clearly a case to be running more services out of semester then.

[techblitz]

On a chermside bound 77 1.20pm ex buranda 16 pax onboard.....gaining patronage it would seem...

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> City Glider to be re-routed

[techblitz]

Apparently to some...petitions are useless....1000+ signatures quite impressive.....if you irritate people with your bus stop locations or lack of...people will sign...petition obviously needed @ QUT kelvin grove for more 66 services...

[HappyTrainGuy]

Saw a P344 with 1 person onboard driving the bus during peak hour today going past Rode Road..... And yet us north westerners can't even get a 30 minute service. Easy to see why I prefer to drive everywhere 

[James]

Saw a P344 with 1 person onboard driving the bus during peak hour today going past Rode Road..... And yet us north westerners can't even get a 30 minute service. Easy to see why I prefer to drive everywhere 

The P344 only runs half-hourly in the first place. And this is the problem with all these pre-paid rockets being fired everywhere. Sure, if they were pre-paid frequent routes (e.g. every 10 minutes down a corridor with otherwise half-hourly or hourly service) they'd be alright, but so many of the P-rockets have awful frequency.

Unrelated: James saw a full 411 go through at around 5:50pm tonight - the first time in a long time that I've seen a 411 service with the words 'Sorry, bus full' on the front (especially an outbound 'commuter' service - sometimes it can get full if 412s start no-showing at Toowong in the Uni peak direction). Likely to do with a large service gap caused by the traffic delays on Coronation Drive.

[red dragin]

The P344 does a good job of avoiding useful destinations though.

Used to drop/collect wife at Carseldine Woolworths travelling to and from Stafford.

Normally about 6-8 got on at that stop at 7.14am, but she was normally the last on the bus that arrived at Woolworths at 5.09pm.

Now drop and collect from Aspley, many more options to Stafford.

Don't start me on Murrumba Downs to anywhere on PT!

I reckon a shuttle type bus from North Lakes to Carseldine station would be a hit at each peak.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Oh don't get me started on Murrumba Downs/Thompsons services

The gripe I have with the P344 is that every time in the afternoon peak i happen to pass one they are low numbers or driver only. The P341/343 is in the same boat (not getting into the peak 340/341 issue). And this is in corridors where there are buz or multiple routes. This is where the higher capacity buses and railway lines are better utilised (especially on the northside) instead of seeing them on random off peak/peak 334/338/370/374/375 runs or seeing some tiny bus that is already at capacity by the time it gets to the Queen Street portal. But this all comes back to the fundamentally flawed bus network with its poorly designed routes, frequencies and under utilisation of multiple railway lines. Time for a proper revamp!

Off topic but I personally think all buz services/busway stops should be PrePaid in peak hour direction to speed things up rather than firing off rockets everywhere. Nothing like having 1 bus blocking all the buses behind because someone has to buy a paper ticket.

[brissypete]

The City Glider makes a lot of sense, always seemed silly having a different inbound & outbound route at teneriffe.

[techblitz]

5pm roma st s/bound
2 minute window....3 buses
66 full with standees to front
333...same
Another 66 artic full with some standees
Amazing patronage levels!

[techblitz]

Intersting obs..
3.50pm inbound 115....14 people have just jumped on @ annerley junction...mostly ethnic passengers..really good to see them taking advantage of the bus services around this area....let me repeat...inbound service...

[James]

The changes on the 193+196 were obviously part of a wider re-adjustment of bus resources. Numerous services in my area (411/427/428/432) are now being operated by Sherwood depot services, when pre-August 25th were operated by the Toowong depot. Haven't really been looking at other routes, but I'm sure the 412 has also had changes.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Bowen Hills bus depot to be sold for $7.3 million

[techblitz]

My 680 arrives into petrie 16mins late....thought i would have a 15-20min wait for regular 4.13 inbound city/ipswich....no worries.....all stoppers starting petrie waiting on platform 3 and an express petrie to northgate then all stops to city waiting on platform 2.....talk about bonus lol
Amazng how late trains can throw things out so easily