On the Buses

[#Metro]

Route 29 exists because route 66 can't handle then all.
Other way of thinking would be to cancel route 29, and
use any buses freed up to run more 66's

[techblitz]

Theres been some good suggestions posted.....
I think we can all agree when we say the best cost effective way is to just entice people to NOT catch the 66 and use other routes/bus stops.

[James]

do we really need to be running more 66`s through the cultural centre when its at its absolute worst??
Its the most BASIC solution....

Remove one of the air parcel services then... 203, 172 etc.

It is only an extra 2-6bph on top of the 100s of bph going through the Cultural Centre, and no doubt if there's a problem down at UQ, there is probably also a problem up at QUT KG with full buses. We're only talking about running these for a month every semester until loading quietens down - not all year.

Can Brisbane Transport run a bus service more than every 5 minutes?

[SurfRail]

Buy enough of the new B8 artics to run most 66s with them and run all other 66s with 14.5m rigids or the MAN artics, set-up all door-boarding, make all busway stops prepaid 24/7.  This before wasting any money on bandaid network changes please.

[Cazza]

Can Brisbane Transport run a bus service more than every 5 minutes?

State Transit in Sydney runs buses every 5 mins or better on plenty of routes. And some still struggle with overcrowding issues.

And something crazy- Route 891 running between Central Station and Uni of NSW express runs EVERY 1 MINUTE at times. https://transportnsw.info/documents/timetables/18-891-PrePay-Only-UNSW-High-Street-to-Central-20180301.pdf

Now that's a real Turn Up and Go service

[#Metro]

TransLink should have bought the bus 10 years ago:

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/super-bus-trial-for-brisbane/news-story/4a23a8e5c8068718e7cabd0e9d1b3259?sv=572afb9ec168b6d4bee736701bf7dc9d

UP TO three 25m-long super buses that can carry 200 passengers could be trialled on Brisbane's busways, Transport Minister Paul Lucas revealed today. Contrary to earlier reports on brisbanetimes.com.au, south-east Queensland would not be trialling 200 of the buses.
Similar buses, called LighTrams, run in Switzerland and are used as trolley buses powered by overhead cables.

Anna Edwards, CourierMail
July 12, 2007 12:00am

[Otto]

In the interim, before Metro starts, just reroute 340's to UQ Lakes instead of the Gabba. This will also provide a BUZ to UQ Lakes and avoid adding more congestion at the CC busway stop.

[aldonius]

The issue at the moment is that everybody is actually attending classes (and only classes). It'll quieten down and spread out in a couple of weeks.

If it didn't, UQ Lakes station would arguably deserve another upgrade.

People have most certainly been told to use the 29 for Boggo Rd if they can.

[BrizCommuter]

Just passed a 16 bus queue southbound into Mater Hill. Ouch!

[techblitz]

did one my rare trips between archerfield and Waterford shops. So 115 - Salisbury - Loganlea - 562.
Everything ran to timetable in both directions 
However noticed a couple of issues at Loganlea station.

1. No maps at the bus stops which is confusing if your new or don't have a smartphone.......not only was I confused about which side to catch the 562 but there was another person also asking the bus driver how to get to springwood.

2. There was 20+ people waiting at the bus stop opposite Loganlea station.....there is only seating for 5 people.
  Time for translink to sort out the bus stops at this station and make them more user friendly.

[Cazza]

https://translink.com.au/service-updates/168246

"Gemvale Road, Reedy Creek - stop removal

On Monday 12 March, the following stop will be removed due to DDA compliance.
If you normally travel on route 759, 3033 or 3119, please use the alternative stop below."

And I think it's clear to see why:

https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-28.0991444,153.3995648,3a,75y,93.39h,63.32t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s5vHA1Q76e22-n0pf6cql9A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Call by Brisbane City Council for bus stop No. 117 in Desgrand Street to be reinstated

THE Brisbane City Council and opposition councillor Steve Griffiths are calling for bus stop No. 117 in Desgrand St, Archerfield, to be reinstated.

Cr Griffiths said he had received complaints after Main Roads closed the bus stop.

"Residents have said they are now required to walk 10 minutes to Beaudesert Rd to catch the bus,'' he said.

"I am advised that many elderly residents will be severely affected by this change as will local schoolchildren.''

Council's Transport chairman Adrian Schrinner said the redirection of the 117 bus service at Archerfield was a state government move to facilitate its road upgrade nearby.

"TransLink redirected the 117 bus service away from Desgrand St to facilitate an upgrade of the Boundary and Beaudesert Rd intersection," he said. "Council shares the concerns of residents and requested a review of the change as a matter of priority. Council will be raising the matter with the Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey, and I encourage Cr Griffiths to get in touch with his state government colleagues and do the same."

A TransLink spokesman said: "as a part of the Safer Roads Sooner project, upgrades are underway at the Beaudesert Rd and Boundary Rd intersection that limit right turns''.

"There are no viable alternatives that would allow route 117 to service Desgrand St which would not negatively affect other passengers and increase overall journey time. Route 122 continues to service Desgrand St and provides a connection to Garden City.''

The spokesman said passengers could transfer at Garden City for high frequency services to the CBD

[techblitz]

Poor and essentially irrelevant response by TL....
Why would they want to get to the city via garden city anyway....when the 122 has to go through 2 major intersections [kessels/mains,Qe2/kessels] AND the coopers plains LX? (Which btw is going to be just lovely during the comm games)

The spokesman should have simply stated the best option for 117 users is to take an opposite direction 122 from desgrand to acacia ridge shops and connect to the 117...

eg: 122 arr AR/shops 1240 // i/b 117 dep same place 12.53

o/b 117 arr AR/shops 1.20 //  122 dep same place 1.32

Gee how hard was that?? An actual relevant response...

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/977938537097019392

[Cazza]

Just an observation of the 11 am inbound 380 this morning. Probably had about 20 people on it by The Gap Village, easily hitting 30-35 by Ashgrove. Around 10-15 got off at the two main Ashgrove stops (stops 17 and 16) and then had about 30 from there. As I got off at Ashgrove, it would have easily been standing room only on approach to the City, given the inner Waterworks Rd/Musgrave Rd is the busiest section.

Pretty impressive for an hourly route! This just goes to show how much off peak demand is present down this corridor and how beneficial a BUZ service down Hilder/Kaloma Rds and through Ashgrove/Red Hill would be.

[Paul B]

I've noticed full standing loads on inbound 230's on weekends also (when it is running hourly or every 90 mins). Same with inbound 325s, 300s when hourly. Does Translink not want to every upgrade these to half hourly like they do with some routes? (eg 370 goes half hourly when busy, then back to hourly) Perhaps they are scared of increasing frequency = increased demand ?

[SurfRail]

TransLink is about suppressing patronage, not growing it.  It will take a government that knows what it is doing to fix this, so it will never happen.

[ozbob]

TransLink is about suppressing patronage, not growing it.  It will take a government that knows what it is doing to fix this, so it will never happen.

Ha.  I was just about to post something similar.  TransLink is anti-public transport.  Disconnected, dysfunctional, pseudo-elite, trapped in a bubble of mediocrity. 

Sorry, but that is how I see it.

[tazzer9]

Just an observation of the 11 am inbound 380 this morning. Probably had about 20 people on it by The Gap Village, easily hitting 30-35 by Ashgrove. Around 10-15 got off at the two main Ashgrove stops (stops 17 and 16) and then had about 30 from there. As I got off at Ashgrove, it would have easily been standing room only on approach to the City, given the inner Waterworks Rd/Musgrave Rd is the busiest section.

Pretty impressive for an hourly route! This just goes to show how much off peak demand is present down this corridor and how beneficial a BUZ service down Hilder/Kaloma Rds and through Ashgrove/Red Hill would be.

The 380 really annoys me. It is my local bus, and i've found that the timing is really inconvenient for me.  This and the 381 should both be 30 minute frequency combing for a 15 minute frequency from payne road onwards.  Along with removal of half the bus stops between normanby and west ashgrove.   Bus stops within 100m of eachother should be banned.

[achiruel]

I've noticed full standing loads on inbound 230's on weekends also (when it is running hourly or every 90 mins). Same with inbound 325s, 300s when hourly. Does Translink not want to every upgrade these to half hourly like they do with some routes? (eg 370 goes half hourly when busy, then back to hourly) Perhaps they are scared of increasing frequency = increased demand ?

The Bulimba pensinsula has been horribly underserviced for at least a decade. See numerous proposals on this board for a Bulimba Glider, but instead BCC put in some stupid feeder route to Morningside Station which took absolutely forever and then deleted it when no-one used it (shocking!)

[#Metro]

The Bulimba pensinsula has been horribly underserviced for at least a decade. See numerous proposals on this board for a Bulimba Glider, but instead BCC put in some stupid feeder route to Morningside Station which took absolutely forever and then deleted it when no-one used it (shocking!)

RBOT needs a wooden spoon award. *GONG*

[Golliwog]

Just an observation of the 11 am inbound 380 this morning. Probably had about 20 people on it by The Gap Village, easily hitting 30-35 by Ashgrove. Around 10-15 got off at the two main Ashgrove stops (stops 17 and 16) and then had about 30 from there. As I got off at Ashgrove, it would have easily been standing room only on approach to the City, given the inner Waterworks Rd/Musgrave Rd is the busiest section.

Pretty impressive for an hourly route! This just goes to show how much off peak demand is present down this corridor and how beneficial a BUZ service down Hilder/Kaloma Rds and through Ashgrove/Red Hill would be.

The 380 really annoys me. It is my local bus, and i've found that the timing is really inconvenient for me.  This and the 381 should both be 30 minute frequency combing for a 15 minute frequency from payne road onwards.  Along with removal of half the bus stops between normanby and west ashgrove.   Bus stops within 100m of eachother should be banned.

I don't usually catch the 380 or 381 through Ashgrove, but do sometimes catch the P384 (much fewer stops  ) however what's always bugged me is the traffic it always gets stuck in through the approach to the Jubilee Tce and Steward Rd intersections with Waterworks Rd. The T2 lanes disappear and all the single occupant vehicles spread out. BCC is proposing an upgrade (plans on their site) but doesn't do much for peak hour traffic. At least that's my take.

I've wondered how the Translink trial of the Midi bus down Beenleigh way is going and whether they are looking to implement more routes that use these smaller buses. I'm sure there's parts of The Gap that could be reached by those much more easily than a full size 380 or 381.

[Otto]

TransLink is about suppressing patronage, not growing it.  It will take a government that knows what it is doing to fix this, so it will never happen.

Totally agree 110%... I get so angry when I think of what we had pre Translink and the shambles we have now where I live.

[James]

I've noticed full standing loads on inbound 230's on weekends also (when it is running hourly or every 90 mins). Same with inbound 325s, 300s when hourly. Does Translink not want to every upgrade these to half hourly like they do with some routes? (eg 370 goes half hourly when busy, then back to hourly) Perhaps they are scared of increasing frequency = increased demand ?

I think the hourly loads on some of these routes are because there are so many people out there who have no other means of transport (aside from taxis), and because there is only one service an hour, everybody is crammed onto these services. I have seen standing loads on routes like the 411 and 430 on weekends, yet TransLink has zero interest in introducing more services.

The 370 is just a relic - it was the Gympie Rd high-frequency route before the 333 BUZ got introduced over the top, and then the other BUZes came in too. A number of bus timetables in the western suburbs (4XX) will be turning 21 next year... a bit sad really!

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/BenPennings/status/979960664897740800

[Otto]

Some angry people down at Redland Bay.. No more buses for the day.. #shaftedbytranslink
After some digging for info, we have just found out that Transdev are on a Sunday timetable during Saturday whilst all other major private bus operators ( Bus Queensland, Caboolture Bus Lines, Clarks Logan City, Hornibrook Bus Lines, Park Ridge Transit, Sunbus, Surfside, Thompson Bus Services, Westside Bus Company ) are running Saturday timetables.
I'm taking some friends down to Cleveland to get the train as they were stranded . Can't blame them for being angry when all the other main providers are running a normal Saturday.

[techblitz]

8am 444 outbound ex CC..
Around 30 pax boarding.....0 on 0 off at kgbs
2 off 3 on @ roma st.

=== good demand between cultural center and coro drive 

also an announcement from bus control telling drivers to watch the clocks and not run early while its school holidays.....

[verbatim9]

The 444 is always packed. Caught it to Coronation Drive at 2030 last night and almost full load standing only. Same goes for the 412. They both have good loads ex CBD to Toowong/St Lucia and Indooroopilly/Kenmore respectively.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/981075411055525889

[HappyTrainGuy]

I've noticed full standing loads on inbound 230's on weekends also (when it is running hourly or every 90 mins). Same with inbound 325s, 300s when hourly. Does Translink not want to every upgrade these to half hourly like they do with some routes? (eg 370 goes half hourly when busy, then back to hourly) Perhaps they are scared of increasing frequency = increased demand ?

I think the hourly loads on some of these routes are because there are so many people out there who have no other means of transport (aside from taxis), and because there is only one service an hour, everybody is crammed onto these services. I have seen standing loads on routes like the 411 and 430 on weekends, yet TransLink has zero interest in introducing more services.

The 370 is just a relic - it was the Gympie Rd high-frequency route before the 333 BUZ got introduced over the top, and then the other BUZes came in too. A number of bus timetables in the western suburbs (4XX) will be turning 21 next year... a bit sad really!

335 is one of the oldest routes still operating on the Northside. It just keeps getting extended every few years to bump up its patronage numbers haha.

[Cazza]

UQ Lakes last night at around 8pm was pumping. A 169 (toward 8MP) went across the bridge full leaving people behind. Queue for 66 was at least 50 strong. 209 was boarding as I rode past and looked like it was going to hit capacity. Only the 66 was a big bus (the new bendy) with the 209 being an old Scania and the 169 a MAN (in the downtown loop livery- G1522 I believe).

Surely being the start of the term that the 14.5m Volgrens could be rostered on for the uni routes.

[James]

UQ Lakes last night at around 8pm was pumping. A 169 (toward 8MP) went across the bridge full leaving people behind. Queue for 66 was at least 50 strong. 209 was boarding as I rode past and looked like it was going to hit capacity. Only the 66 was a big bus (the new bendy) with the 209 being an old Scania and the 169 a MAN (in the downtown loop livery- G1522 I believe).

Surely being the start of the term that the 14.5m Volgrens could be rostered on for the uni routes.

It's not start of semester though. It is Week 7. It's not one of the lowest weeks in the calendar, anecdotally that's around Week 10, but it's not anywhere near as bad as the first few weeks. After 7pm, the 66 is at 4bph. All it takes is one service being cancelled (bonus points if it is a bendy bus) for things to blow out.

The network crapped itself last night, that was the problem. My regular 30-35 minute commute blew out to an hour due to congestion over the Victoria Bridge and delays to both services I catch.

[techblitz]

Surely being the start of the term that the 14.5m Volgrens could be rostered on for the uni routes.

They have to balance them out unfortunately....there are other southside routes which also need them...such as the Parkinson,browns plains routes which also get ridiculously busy between 3 - 5.
Anyway at 6pm today I saw an extended axle ex UQ 66 pull into southbank...completely full with lots of standees.....25-30 hopping off at southbank alone.
Patronage between these two points is helped along nicely by all of the apartments in the area...you can get a feel for it just by monitoring the foot traffic between the busway and merivale/vulture sts...expect the bus patronage around southbank to get better as more apartments go up.

[techblitz]

interesting obs at inala plaza
In the space of 10 mins have seen two extended axles pull into/leave inala for forest lake.
Have previously noticed them but thought they were just random one offs....looks like they might be permanently assigning them to tackle the overcrowding.

[Cazza]

I have seen them doing I/B peak hour runs on the 100 over the past few years as the route is serviced by Willawong depot. I guess it's just down to which services they are assigned to.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Bus body manufacturer Volgren has ramped up production at its Brisbane factory, adding 45 new staff to handle a major order from Transport Canberra

BUS body manufacturer Volgren has ramped up production at its Brisbane factory, adding 45 new staff to handle a major order from Transport Canberra.

Volgren won the contract late last year to produce an additional 30 buses this year.

It already has a long-term contract with Brisbane City Council to manufacture 60 or so bus bodies annually.

Volgren CEO Peter Dale said the company, which now employs 88 workers at its Eagle Farm factory in Brisbane, was on track to deliver 20 low-floor rigid and 10 articulated "banana" buses to Canberra by the end of September.

"Queensland is an important part of our manufacturing capability and we're proud that the facility is now producing buses not just for Brisbane, but for a critical market in the ACT," he said.

"It's exciting to see two full production lines running in Eagle Farm."

He said the Brisbane City Council had also ordered 20 of the articulated buses this year.

Melbourne-based Volgren, which is owned by Brazilian bus manufacturing giant Marcopolo, employs 500 workers nationally at three factories.

The skilled workforce, which includes welders, boilermakers, body builders and electricians, turns out about 550 buses a year.

The chassis come from Swedish manufacturer Scania.

"Across our three manufacturing sites in Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane we have the flexibility and expertise to comfortably satisfy high delivery demands from operators all around the country," Mr Dale said.

"In the last five years we've completely transformed the business by adopting smarter and more efficient manufacturing techniques, which have helped halve the time it takes to build a bus.

"We set the target of building a bus body in 500 hours, which at the time was hard for employees to conceive. But training people at all levels of the business to question process efficiency and to look for opportunities to save time or costs meant we were able to achieve the goal in just four years."

Mr Dale is hopeful the Brisbane factory will pick up more orders from Transport Canberra providing longer-term employment opportunities for staff. "We know they need more and we are in the hunt for that ongoing work," he said.

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Logan's Ella Reid wins Translink's People's Choice Bus Driver of the Year

Logan commuters can now lay claim to having the best bus driver in Queensland.

Ella Reid, 58, from Tanah Merah, took out TransLink's People's Choice Bus Driver of the Year award last night.

Out of a pool of five finalists from across the state, Ms Reid secured over 1000 of the total 3000 public votes.

Ms Reid, who was blown away by the award, is known for going above and beyond with customers.

She once, after noticing a lost young girl crying at the back of her bus, didn't hesitate to take a detour to drive her home.

But Ms Reid said she only did what many other drivers do everyday.

"A lot of our bus drivers do that," she said.

"This is award is on behalf of all bus drivers, we're all out there doing the same thing."

Ms Reid has been a Clarks Logan City Bus Service driver for the past three years.

"I love bus driving, I love my job," she said.

"Everyday is different and there are a lot of familiar faces so you get to build relationships and friendships with people."

She says the secret to being a good bus driver is in the smile.

"It's always about greeting people with a smile — it's amazing what a smile can do," she said.

Clarks Logan City Bus Service also took out two other awards — employer of the year and the company's CEO Graham Davis was awarded for his significant contribution to the industry.

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2018/5/8/queenslands-best-bus-driver-recognised

Media Statements

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Mark Bailey

Tuesday, May 08, 2018

Queensland's best bus driver recognised

The people have voted and the results are in, with Ella Reid from Clarks Logan City Bus Service taking out TransLink's People's Choice Award for the best bus driver in the state.

The trophy and accompanying $1,000 prize money were presented at the Queensland Bus Industry Council's (QBIC) gala dinner over the weekend (6 May).

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey congratulated Ella on her outstanding efforts and receiving the support of the community.

"Ella has gone above and beyond to provide exceptional service to passengers in Logan – this award is well deserved," Mr Bailey said.

"Winning this accolade shows that Ella really is the 'people's choice', receiving the most votes of the five shortlisted finalists.

"High public interest and participation in the award highlights that the community cares about their bus drivers.

"It's not often enough that we get the chance to recognise the bus drivers and staff that keep our public transport moving.

"I would also like to commend our five finalists and 257 nominees. The fact there were so many worthy candidates in contention speaks to the high quality of our bus drivers."

Member for Waterford and Minister for Employment, Small Business, Training and Skills Development Shannon Fentiman thanked Ella for the important contribution she makes to Logan communities.

"Our bus drivers play a vital service in Logan, getting our kids safely to school, linking residents with vital services and connecting our communities," Ms Fentiman said.

"I would like to congratulate Ella on receiving this award, and thank all Logan bus drivers for the work they do."

Public nominations for TransLink's People's Choice Award opened in December 2017 and closed at the end of January 2018, with 257 drivers nominated.

Five finalists were shortlisted by an industry-led panel, with a focus on areas including positive customer impact, excellence in customer care and having a customer-focused attitude.

Public voting on the finalists was open from 3 - 30 April, supported by an extensive social media promotional campaign which included video profiles of the drivers.

More than 4,300 people voted on the finalists, with Ella Reid receiving more than 1,000 votes.

Ella has worked at Clarks Logan City Bus Service for three years.

ENDS

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Bus stop forces buses to park across Brisbane family's driveway

A BRISBANE couple are barred daily from using their own driveway when buses pull into a nearby bus stop.

Graham Quaite lives on Station Rd at Burpengary, and says his driveway is routinely blocked by buses.

"We've got the high school just down the road from us, so the buses pull up at the bus stop out the front of our place and they sit there," he said.

"We might have two buses lined up out the front of our place."

Mr Quaite said he was advised that an upgrade of the bus stop was imminent, and lobbied Moreton Bay Regional Council and TransLink for it to be moved.

"I just wanted it moved a couple of doors down where there's ample room for a bus to pull up without parking across anyone's driveway," he said.

"Council told me if the bus is stopped in your driveway, you'll just have to go around the block and come back," he said.

"We've got traffic that's bumper to bumper through Station Rd and there's just no room for myself or my wife to pull up safely and turn into our driveway with a bus there. You can pull up behind two buses some days and you have to wait for them both to move before you can pull into our driveway."

Mr Quaite said he didn't see why moving the bus stop was so problematic.

"It's just a sign with 'bus stop' on it. I wouldn't have thought it was that difficult," he said.

"I'm just concerned about the safety of my family getting in and out of our driveway. It's getting busier and busier."

The bus stop is due to be redeveloped in June.

A TransLink spokesman said they had instructed school buses not to block driveways for extended periods of time during the afternoon school pick-up.

"Where possible, TransLink attempts to avoid placing bus stops where buses will block driveways while picking up or dropping off passengers. However, in some instances, this is unavoidable and a bus may briefly block a driveway," he said.

Under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management—Road Rules) Regulation 2009 Part 12 Restrictions on stopping and parking section 198, buses are permitted to stop across driveways when servicing a bus stop.

"A bus stop is required in this location in order to provide convenient access to public transport for the surrounding community," the spokesman said.

Moreton Bay Regional Council Division 2 Councillor Peter Flannery said while determining bus stop locations was ultimately a matter for Translink, he supported relocating the Station Rd bus stop to ensure buses won't block the Quaites' driveway.

"Council is currently rolling bus stop upgrades across the region, including along Station Rd, Burpengary, to improve accessibility and ensure older stops comply with disability legislation," he said.

"I recently got in touch with the Quaites to discuss their concerns, and I've now asked council staff to place the Station Rd bus stop upgrade on hold so Translink can investigate the matter. I've also discussed the matter with the local state MP Shane King, who has indicated he's also supportive of relocating the bus stop."

[Cazza]

Is this really what news these days has come to? I live at the end of a dead end street and when my neighbours turn around and block my driveway for a few seconds, you don't see my sad little story in the Westside News.

https://jp.translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/stops/311705/timetable/2018-05-28

This is this stop he is complaining about; it has 29 weekday services, 16 Saturday services and only 6 Sunday services. None of the routes start or terminate here and there would be no reason for buses to use this stop as a holding bay.

They would only be stopping for 15 seconds at the very maximum. Try living with a coal line running across your driveway up near Mt Isa having to wait upwards of an hour sometimes for a freight train to pass. Then you have something to complain about.

Just use a bit of perspective. You aren't in a war-torn country with a shortage of food and water and the fear of being blown up each day. It's gonna be ok mate, I think you can get through.