On the Buses

[techblitz]

noted the 721 pulling into Ormeau 5 mins late.....right when the gold coast train bound train pulls in.....
That bus is timetabled to be at Ormeau at 10.22 with train departing Ormeau 10.27.
Honestly if they cant make the effort to get these hourly bus-rail connections accurate then I see no reason why people should even bother with buses.....might as well just build park and rides...

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> TransLink rejects calls to change bus timetables

A retiree says he was forced to walk 4.5km home due to poorly connected bus routes in this southeast Queensland suburb, as pleas to government fall on deaf ears.

CALLS by Bribie Islanders to change local bus timetabling have been rejected by the Queensland Government after a three-month review.

State LNP Member for Pumicestone Simone Wilson wrote to Transport Minister Mark Bailey on behalf of "around 25-30" bus users who had complained about poorly connected services on the island.

One of those was 76-year-old retiree John Grubb, who claimed he's been forced to walk four-and-a-half kilometres home from the Bribie bus interchange due to some services not matching up.

But Minister Bailey said the changes suggested by Ms Wilson would lead to delays of up to 20 minutes elsewhere - and they would sever connections between certain routes.

"TransLink has reviewed the suggestions put forward by Ms Wilson and decided against implementing them due to the wider impacts they would have on other services and the passengers who use them," he said.

"We aim to connect all services at all locations without transfer and wait times, but that can't realistically be achieved for every service on the network."

But Minister Bailey said the changes suggested by Ms Wilson would lead to delays of up to 20 minutes elsewhere - and they would sever connections between certain routes.

"TransLink has reviewed the suggestions put forward by Ms Wilson and decided against implementing them due to the wider impacts they would have on other services and the passengers who use them," he said.

"We aim to connect all services at all locations without transfer and wait times, but that can't realistically be achieved for every service on the network."

They really don't give a toss do they?   

[Cazza]

Bit of a random service update I have only just noticed updated today: https://translink.com.au/service-updates/235181

"Route 385 weekday express

On weekdays between 4.09pm and 5.59pm, route 385 (towards Enoggera) will run express from Roma Street to Bardon, not servicing Paddington or Paddington Central.

During this time, if you are travelling to Paddington, please take note of the alternative routes below."

First off, the 385 runs towards The Gap, and second, this peak express pattern has been going on for 5 years (basically since the MGLD started operating) so why are they updating it as of today?

[verbatim9]

412 and 66 will have their frequency increased

Brisbanetimes-------------->https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/more-buses-for-uq-routes-amid-reports-of-students-stranded-at-stops-20190702-p523ak.html

^^The article states 402 but I assume it's the 412?

More buses for UQ routes amid reports of students stranded at stops

LUCY STONE JULY 02, 2019

Extra buses will be trialled on some of Brisbane's busiest routes to and from the University of Queensland over the next two years amid reports of vehicles missing key stops and displaying "Sorry, bus full" signs.

Bus routes such as the popular 66 and 402 will increase in frequency, while the 66 and 169 will have operating hours extended.

[techblitz]

Extra buses will be trialled on some of Brisbane's busiest routes to and from the University of Queensland over the next two years amid reports of vehicles missing key stops and displaying "Sorry, bus full" signs.

Bus routes such as the popular 66 and 402 will increase in frequency, while the 66 and 169 will have operating hours extended.

The $1 million, two-year trial stems from a partnership between the state government and the university, after more than 3.1 million bus trips had been taken to and from the St Lucia campus in the past 12 months.

"Working together with UQ, these new bus services will cater for increased demand during key times and exam periods and complement existing high frequency routes," Transport Minister Mark Bailey said.


It follows anecdotal reports of UQ-route buses frequently being forced to put "Sorry, bus full" signs up and missing key stops around the Princess Alexandra Hospital and Boggo Road in Brisbane's south.

Brisbane Times requested data showing the number of times buses along the UQ routes had missed stops because of overcrowding, but Brisbane City Council would not provide it.

The council previously released "bus full" data monthly.

TransLink issued a statement on the overall patronage.



Monthly Go Card travel data shows thousands of users tapping on and off along the key UQ routes.

Routes 66 and 169 will have operating hours extended until 10.30pm to correspond with campus hours, and Saturday services will be increased on 12 exam period weekends.

Route 29 will be modified to create a new route 28 between UQ Lakes and Langlands Park, targeting the growing student accommodation locations at Buranda.

"UQ students and staff are among the growing number of Queenslanders who are backing public transport and on track to break last year's 182 million trips," Mr Bailey said.

"This trial forms part of the Palaszczuk government's commitment to supporting this public transport growth alongside major projects like the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail and $53 million Northern Transitway."



TransLink will monitor the two-year trial before any changes are made permanent to the UQ St Lucia bus services.

UQ chief operating officer Greg Pringle welcomed the announcement as a boon to staff and students.

"We're confident the extra public transport options, the additions to the late-night timetable and the extra services during exam Saturdays throughout the academic year will be quickly adopted," Mr Pringle said.

"The improved services are also part of UQ's ongoing commitment to sustainability, to encourage those commuting to and from campus to choose public transport."

All timetable changes will be published on the TransLink website on July 22.

good new across the board.....more people...more revenue resulting in extra services.....this is EXACTLY what people want and expect with T.O.D development 

[#Metro]

Why isn't there consultation * before * route changes or additions??

[techblitz]

I think in this case.....the data from the massive amounts of touch ons/offs takes precedence over running surveys etc.
The 66 frequency upgrade needed to happen and is definitely welcome...

I think the majority of focus needs to be on the langlands park extension....there are other routes involved/affected here...routes 209,maroon glider being the main two.

Certainly hope they don't overservice langlands park when other opportunities are overlooked eg: gabba to rbwh or 220/Wynnum rd buz to cannon hill or merging of logan rd routes...

[timh]

I think in this case.....the data from the massive amounts of touch ons/offs takes precedence over running surveys etc.
The 66 frequency upgrade needed to happen and is definitely welcome...

I think the majority of focus needs to be on the langlands park extension....there are other routes involved/affected here...routes 209,maroon glider being the main two.

Certainly hope they don't overservice langlands park when other opportunities are overlooked eg: gabba to rbwh or 220/Wynnum rd buz to cannon hill or merging of logan rd routes...

If they ever actually get round to building the Eastern busway properly (which is desperately needed IMO, no idea why it's not a priority. Eastern suburbs road are complete sh%t) then this 29 route has potential to become a metro route. Better still just Metro the 222 (Carindale-UQ)

[SurfRail]

You would have 3 metro routes - the 2 current planned ones, plus Carindale to UQ.  Definitely not Carindale to the CBD.

Take a leaf out of Vancouver's book - the busiest station is Commercial/Broadway, which isn't even downtown, and which is driven by people interchanging from 2 Skytrain lines to get the bus to UBC (99 B-line is North America's busiest individual bus route).

[timh]

You would have 3 metro routes - the 2 current planned ones, plus Carindale to UQ.  Definitely not Carindale to the CBD.

Take a leaf out of Vancouver's book - the busiest station is Commercial/Broadway, which isn't even downtown, and which is driven by people interchanging from 2 Skytrain lines to get the bus to UBC (99 B-line is North America's busiest individual bus route).

My thoughts exactly. Buranda would become a major interchange, could increase the TOD there too to incorporate some commercial development in addition to the existing residential development.

IMO you would then make a 4th route once Northern busway is fully extended to Bracken Ridge which is Chermside - Woolloongabba

Then in future if the full extension to Capalaba and Springwood are complete then you'd have 4 metro routes in the more distant future:

Metro 1 - Springwood-Roma Street
Metro 2 - RBWH-UQ
Metro 3 - Capalaba-UQ
Metro 4 - Bracken Ridge-Woolloongabba

[aldonius]

The Route 66 improvements are very welcome as an interim measure. I still think the 66 could support BUZ service levels. It's interesting that it'll go to 24h weekend service as a Metro line in a few years but stops still so early now.

I'm withholding judgement on the 29 changes for now. It's a big loss of service for Woolloongabba.

The inbound 412 has a tendency to empty out at Toowong, so I think boosting the short-running 402's frequency is the correct move (in the same way that the 29 has been running every 5 minutes in peak for several years now).

[achiruel]

Maybe 29 isn't get much usage? I'm not sure. But it does seem like a major problem with the network having to interchange twice in such a short space, especially if there's plans to terminate more routes at 'Gabba in the future.

[techblitz]

^ whenever I use the 29 intrapeak gabba-boggo rd between 12pm - 3pm it is ridiculously empty.....and there is never anymore than 3 people wanting to board at boggo going to UQ...
It is a big underperformer off-peak and needed to be looked at.

[achiruel]

^ whenever I use the 29 intrapeak gabba-boggo rd between 12pm - 3pm it is ridiculously empty.....and there is never anymore than 3 people wanting to board at boggo going to UQ...
It is a big underperformer off-peak and needed to be looked at.

Maybe it should be a peak-only route?

[aldonius]

^ whenever I use the 29 intrapeak gabba-boggo rd between 12pm - 3pm it is ridiculously empty.....and there is never anymore than 3 people wanting to board at boggo going to UQ...
It is a big underperformer off-peak and needed to be looked at.

You're catching it in the counterpeak direction at that time of day, it's just that it's such a short route they don't bother running it out of service. It's technically timetabled as a loop.

Maybe it should be a peak-only route?

The 29's primary purpose in life these days is to shuttle people between UQ and the Park Road trains (diverting them from the other routes). Servicing W'Gabba is mostly a side effect. Now, the 209 used to go via WG before the Eastern Busway came in, so the 29 going there had two reasons: filling the gap the 209 left, and WG was also the nearest turnaround east of Boggo Road.

Speaking of turnarounds, how will that work for the 28? The turnaround at Langlands Park is on the west side of the station.

[verbatim9]

^^The Glider used to terminate and turn around at Langlands park.

Be interesting to see what is done with the 402? If the frequency will be increased to at least every 20 minutes or better throughout the day? The 412 is still quite packed even after Benson Street Toowong,  but not like sardines. Articulated buses would be good on the 412 route. It would alleviate alot of overcrowding with that run.

[techblitz]

Ive done some number crunching on the 29 based on a 7 month uni semester/ 5 month non semester.....im not a uni student so I wouldn't have a clue of the exact spans 

But based on 7/5..... it works out to 25530 total 29 services per year....into 573k patronage...comes out to 22.5 passengers per full loop.....decent.....but still probably the most efficient route in SEQ when you factor in the short trip time of 20 minutes for a full loop...
Definitely betters the 66 and 412 for efficiency due to their longer trip times...

[James]

Long overdue - good to see the 66 is on the way to having its overcrowding issues fixed. Likewise the boosts to the 169 and 402 are welcome, hopefully students overcome their fear of the 402!

Route 28 is a bit of a funny one - I would just be running short-running 209s, it would achieve the same thing without making passengers for Carindale buses wait in two spots at UQ Lakes. I will be curious to see how it is implemented. If it just forms every 2nd 29 service in the peak and doesn't run off-peak, this is probably fine. If it forms every 2nd 29 service in the off-peak too (29 every 20 mins), it'll probably drive more people on to the 66 who currently get the 29 from Woolloongabba. The 28 is also yet another route, in an already complex network.

You would have 3 metro routes - the 2 current planned ones, plus Carindale to UQ.  Definitely not Carindale to the CBD.

Take a leaf out of Vancouver's book - the busiest station is Commercial/Broadway, which isn't even downtown, and which is driven by people interchanging from 2 Skytrain lines to get the bus to UBC (99 B-line is North America's busiest individual bus route).

This would also be a same-platform transfer for UQ - EMP and City - Carindale pax (and vice versa). I hope whenever the busway gets out to Carindale, that this would happen.

[aldonius]

Newspaper's lack of external linking strikes again.
Here's the thing from the TL website.

https://translink.com.au/about-translink/projects-and-initiatives/UQ-trial

From Monday 19 August you'll notice more bus services travelling to the University of Queensland's St Lucia Campus.

These changes are part of a two year trial to address the growing passenger demand to and from UQ.

This trial is a partnership between the Queensland Government and the University of Queensland.


Changes to services
Services to and from UQ are some of our network's busiest.

We'll be trialling the following changes to improve the travel experience for customers.

Full timetable and route information will be published from Monday 22 July. Check back then for details.


More services
We'll be trialling additional services on the following routes:

Routes 66
Route 169
Route 402
Additional 402 services will only operate during university semesters.


New early morning and late night services
Whether you're an early bird or a night owl, there will be more options that suit your travel plans.

There will be early morning route 169 services departing Eight Mile Plains from approximately 5.30am.

Routes 66 and 169 will have additional services running until approximately 10.30pm each night.


Introducing route 28
Route 28 will be a new dedicated short-trip service running between UQ Lakes and Langlands Park.

We'll be trialling this route to help reduce overcrowding on the busy Eastern Busway corridor.

If you're only travelling a short distance from UQ, use the 28 to connect to the train at Boggo Road or transfer to another bus service at Buranda.

Stops serviced
UQ Lakes
Dutton Park Place
Boggo Road
PA Hospital
Buranda
Stones Corner
Langlands Park
Route 28 will only operate Monday to Friday during university semesters.

Route 29 changes
Some route 29 services will be modified to create the new route 28.

These two routes will work together to manage the demand between UQ Lakes, Boggo Road, PA Hospital, Buranda (28) and Woolloongabba (29).


Saturday exam services
There will be extra route 66 and 169 services on selected Saturday's during university exam periods.

These services will run at higher frequency and for a greater span of hours to help students get to and from their exams.


How do I catch these new services?
The University of Queensland service change trial starts on Monday 19 August.

Pity the service changes don't start until after the busiest first few weeks of semester.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

UQ Bus Trials - An Ashgrove-UQ service?

4th July 2019

RAIL Back on Track welcomes the announcement of extra bus services to UQ, including the new route 28 between Langlands Park and UQ Lakes, and extra services during exam period (1).

The opening of the Eleanor Schonell Bridge, increased student accommodation options, the construction of the Boggo Road Busway interchange, and the merger of Routes 66 and former route 109 (a RAIL Back on Track suggestion) have all contributed to the huge demand for buses to UQ.

We would, however, like to see a UQ bus service from Mitchelton, Enoggera, or Ashgrove to UQ Chancellors Place trialled. This is a known gap in the bus network (2):

"Following the review being handed down I received a representation from a young constituent regarding bus services from the inner west suburbs. She raised the issue of bus routes from Ashgrove, Paddington and Bardon and the fact that there is no direct link between these suburbs and the University of Queensland. How crazy is that? All of these people living in the western suburbs cannot go directly to the University of Queensland. They have to travel into the city and then they have to travel out to UQ. I bet there are a lot of UQ students who would welcome that.

A huge number of students reside in these areas and attend UQ at St Lucia. Currently there are students living in these suburbs who are required to catch a bus to the CBD and transfer to a bus that goes back to the University of Queensland."

Such a bus service and could be achieved by extending the existing Route 402 through to either Ashgrove, Enoggera Rail Station interchange, or Brookside Shopping Centre.

We call on the State Government, UQ, and Brisbane City Council to consider trialling a direct UQ service for the northwestern suburbs of Brisbane.

References:

1. https://translink.com.au/about-translink/projects-and-initiatives/UQ-trial

2. Parliament House debates (Canberra) Monday, 27 May 2013
Private Members' Business - South-East Queensland: Public Transport
http://www.openaustralia.org.au/debate/?id=2013-05-27.166.9

Contact:

Robert Dow
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track

[#Metro]

Coming to think of it, one year is sufficient for a bus trial.

If they say, oops no money, just suggest shortening the trial for the other routes.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Crowd around: Hundreds of Brisbane buses pack to capacity each month

More than 3000 bus services across three of Brisbane's busiest bus routes have been at capacity and forced to skip stops in the past 12 months.

Figures released by Brisbane City Council show route 66, between the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital and the University of Queensland via Woolloongabba, reported being too full to pick up additional passengers 331 times in May alone.

In March, nearly 500 buses on route 66 reported being at capacity and were forced to leave commuters at bus stops.

The data was only released following Transport Minister Mark Bailey's announcement this week of a $1 million extension of bus routes that service UQ's St Lucia campus, despite requests from Brisbane Times to both the council and TransLink in the past months for figures revealing overcrowding across the network.

The council had in previous years released monthly data on buses that were at capacity, and TransLink would only provide a statement on overall bus patronage.

Lord mayor Adrian Schrinner dismissed the $1 million, two-year trial as "short-term thinking".

"Data doesn't lie. Hundreds of Brisbane's buses are full every month and we have a fully funded plan to fix it," Cr Schrinner said.

"The metro would more than triple the number of services on route 66 as well as significantly increase services to route 111 and 160."

Mr Bailey on Wednesday announced the state government was partnering with the University of Queensland to extend the hours of several critical bus routes, and adding extra buses to others.

Routes 66 and 169 will have operating hours extended until 10.30pm to correspond with campus hours, and Saturday services will be increased on 12 exam-period weekends.

Route 29 will be modified to create a new route 28 between UQ Lakes and Langlands Park, targeting the growing student accommodation locations at Buranda.

"This trial forms part of the Palaszczuk government's commitment to supporting this public transport growth alongside major projects like the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail and $53 million Northern Transitway," Mr Bailey said.

But Cr Schrinner demanded to know why the state was adding more services for a two-year trial, rather than giving the go-ahead to the council's $944 million Brisbane Metro project.

The metro has been the subject of controversy between the state and council after the state announced the planned Cultural Centre Metro station would have to be moved under the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in South Brisbane.

The announcement resulted in a spat between Cr Schrinner and Mr Bailey on the state's reasons for making the change, and the timing of the announcement.

"The state government's attempt to address the demand for high-frequency public transport with extra buses on routes 66 and 402 and extended hours on 66 and 169 will hopefully offer some temporarily relief to those overcrowded bus routes, but it's short-term thinking," Cr Schrinner said.

"All the state government can commit to is a trial to add a few extra buses to existing services.

"We want to build the long-term solution and deliver a fleet of 60 metro vehicles to service 18 stations."

Cr Schrinner announced last week Brisbane Metro would be delayed again owing to the necessary design changes, but insisted the service would be up and running by 2023.

[#Metro]

Further to this, I think further savings and better service could be provided on the Ashgrove - UQ bus concept if it ran express from UQ chancellors place to Toowong station, similar to the 601 shuttle bus at Monash Uni Melbourne.

The service would only stop at select bus stops, rather than all stops, to keep the speed up and counteract the slowing effect of road congestion in that metroad5 corridor.

It really is a no brainer - Indooroopilly, Chapel Hill and Kenmore get buses to UQ, why not Ashgrove?

Trains are 15 min at both Toowong and Enoggera, so perfect for connection in the mornings.

[aldonius]

The 66 improvements in particular aren't a trial. They're a stopgap until Metro arrives.


I did some more thinking about the routing of an "Ashgrove to UQ" service. If it's to serve as an orbital it needs to go at least as far as north as the 385, but terminating at MacGregor Tce in Bardon is not really possible. Ashgrove Village is known-feasible because the 61 does it.
I'm not convinced that further north is necessary; the Jubilee Tce stretch duplicates the Glider, and Wardell St has the GCL and the 350 and a few others in peak. Enoggera station is a perfectly fine terminus over Brookside IMHO, the train is frequent and the route already very congested and long.

My conclusion is that if we're ever going to see services direct via Metroad 5 south of Latrobe Tce, we need two bus stop pairs added to it; one at Norman Buchan Pk and one at the cemetery.
With those in place, only the 471 is missed as an easy connection; the other main services (61, 375, 385, 475) have a less than 100m walk.

[#Metro]

I agree Enoggera interchange is a good termination point.

[ozbob]

Heads up.  The DDG of TransLink (Matt Longland) is being interviewed after the 5pm news today on ABC Radio Brisbane Drive with Steve Austin.

[achiruel]

I agree Enoggera interchange is a good termination point.

I'm not so sure. It has awful road access since Wardell St read reconfigured some years ago.

[Cazza]

From the direction that this route will be taking, I disagree. There is a non-traffic lighted slip lane southbound into and out of the access road.

Plus, the 360 manages this fine, even coming from the other direction, in addition to the peak hour 390s, 372 school diversion and other dedicated school routes.

[aldonius]

Heads up.  The DDG of TransLink (Matt Longland) is being interviewed after the 5pm news today on ABC Radio Brisbane Drive with Steve Austin.

Copy of that available here.

[verbatim9]

Very good interview covered alot. Even the broken down escalators.

[AnonymouslyBad]

The 402 extension ideas are interesting. On the one hand, it is a gap that could do with filling. On the other, geography and the road network aren't exactly favourable. Has anyone crunched the numbers on how long an Ashgrove-to-UQ or Enoggera-to-UQ would take? And how often it could feasibly run? No point if it's not proper high frequency.
I used to do the Enoggera-->Toowong commute most days and you couldn't pay me money to do it on a bus. On paper the GCL was probably the fastest option, but... no. Just no.
So I'm coming from that context.

The Route 66 improvements are very welcome as an interim measure. I still think the 66 could support BUZ service levels. It's interesting that it'll go to 24h weekend service as a Metro line in a few years but stops still so early now.

I'm sure the 66 would carry some air parcels late at night. It should still have BUZ service levels though, because it's such a visible service providing connectivity across the whole network.

Right now it's sort of a poster child for 'PT investment in SEQ: where it all went wrong'. A world-class (probably over-engineered) busway forming a fast and reliable spine through the inner south ... and completely devoid of buses at night. Madness really.

[aldonius]

On further reflection, I wouldn't extend the 402 past the Toowong Depot. Not as the 402, at any rate.
Like with that idea of extending the 29 on the 234 route, the demand profiles are very different. The current purpose of the 402 is to handle extra demand along the St Lucia half of the 412 corridor, that's a rather different demand profile to a mid-ring orbital.

Has anyone crunched the numbers on how long an Ashgrove-to-UQ or Enoggera-to-UQ would take? And how often it could feasibly run? No point if it's not proper high frequency.
I used to do the Enoggera-->Toowong commute most days and you couldn't pay me money to do it on a bus. On paper the GCL was probably the fastest option, but... no. Just no.
So I'm coming from that context.

I'd estimate it at 35 minutes in peak and 25-30 off peak. That's taking car estimates from Google Maps and popping an extra 5min or so on to account for stopping. Not very scientific, but it's ballpark.
By way of comparison, the 599 is timetabled 22-24 minutes to go Toowong-Ashgrove in peak via a longer (but somewhat less congested) route. More like 17 offpeak. The 402 is timetabled 8 minutes for Toowong-UQ all day.

I'm sure the 66 would carry some air parcels late at night. It should still have BUZ service levels though, because it's such a visible service providing connectivity across the whole network.

Right now it's sort of a poster child for 'PT investment in SEQ: where it all went wrong'. A world-class (probably over-engineered) busway forming a fast and reliable spine through the inner south ... and completely devoid of buses at night. Madness really.

I reckon the 66 (and 169) new, later services will be pretty full by the end of this coming semester once people have a chance to adjust travel habits. There's been a few times I've been on the last 66 of the night and it's been packed. Keep in mind that a huge proportion of UQ students now live on the southside compared to before the Eleanor Schonell Bridge was built. UQ classes go as late as 8pm, a number of buildings are open 24/7, believe me when I say there are plenty of people on campus late at night.

I don't disagree with how sad it is that the busway is empty late at night. Given the lack of walkup for several of its stations I'm not massively surprised though.

[#Metro]

A good bus route combines multiple functions.

Whole idea of a trial is to test assumptions.

The same thing about demand profile was said about 66 + 109.

66 was a busway service terminating at the gabba, 109 was a uni service.

The timetables were quite different. Yet, merger was a success.

402 was created before 412 became a BUZ.

With express running between UQ and Toowong, it will do well.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

Add route 402 UQ - Enoggera bus service to TransLink bus trial

5th July 2019

RAIL Back on Track has called on Brisbane City Council, the Queensland Government, The University of Queensland,
and all Lord Mayoral candidates to support a trial of buses from Enoggera to The University of Queensland.

Travel to UQ from Ashgrove, Bardon, and Enoggera to UQ is a known gap in the Brisbane bus network (1).

Indooroopilly, Chapel Hill, Kenmore, and even Zillmere on Brisbane's Northside get direct buses to UQ, so why not Bardon, Ashgrove
and Enoggera?

With trains at both Toowong and Enoggera coming every 15 minutes, an extended route 402 service would be
perfect for UQ students and staff who want to avoid travelling all the way into the city and out again to get to UQ.

We expect the trip from Enoggera Rail station to take around 35 minutes.

Stops could include:

- Enoggera Station Interchange (connects to the Ferny Grove Line)
- Ashgrove (connects to BUZ 385, Maroon CityGlider)
- Bardon
- West Toowong
- Toowong Station (connects to Springfield, Ipswich and CBD)

Express running of the 402 between UQ Chancellors Place and Toowong Rail Station
will reduce bus crowding on the BUZ 412 service, taking just 9 minutes between UQ Chancellors
Place and Toowong Station.

The two year trial of new and extended bus services already announced by TransLink is
more than sufficient time, we believe.  Funding for an extended Enoggera 402 service could
be found by reducing the trial period for the other bus services.

A similar non-stop bus service operates in Victoria between Monash University Clayton and
Huntingdale station (2, 3). Originally put on by Monash University to prove demand for the service,
the 601 bus now carries over 7600 passengers per day, making it Victoria's most popular bus route.

We think we can replicate that success here.

Contact:

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

References:

1. Parliament House debates (Canberra) Monday, 27 May 2013
   Private Members' Business - South-East Queensland: Public Transport
   http://www.openaustralia.org.au/debate/?id=2013-05-27.166.9

2. 601 shuttle bus
   https://www.monash.edu/environmental-sustainability/campus-initiative/transport/601-shuttle-bus

3. The 601 Bus Service Remains Popular
   https://www.monash.edu/environmental-sustainability/news-and-events/latest-news/601-popularity

4. Proposed 402 bus route https://backontrack.org/docs/bus/402_Enoggera_UQ.png

Sent to all outlets:

UQ Bus Trials - An Ashgrove-UQ service?

4th July 2019

RAIL Back on Track welcomes the announcement of extra bus services to UQ, including the new route 28 between Langlands Park and UQ Lakes, and extra services during exam period (1).

The opening of the Eleanor Schonell Bridge, increased student accommodation options, the construction of the Boggo Road Busway interchange, and the merger of Routes 66 and former route 109 (a RAIL Back on Track suggestion) have all contributed to the huge demand for buses to UQ.

We would, however, like to see a UQ bus service from Mitchelton, Enoggera, or Ashgrove to UQ Chancellors Place trialled. This is a known gap in the bus network (2):

"Following the review being handed down I received a representation from a young constituent regarding bus services from the inner west suburbs. She raised the issue of bus routes from Ashgrove, Paddington and Bardon and the fact that there is no direct link between these suburbs and the University of Queensland. How crazy is that? All of these people living in the western suburbs cannot go directly to the University of Queensland. They have to travel into the city and then they have to travel out to UQ. I bet there are a lot of UQ students who would welcome that.

A huge number of students reside in these areas and attend UQ at St Lucia. Currently there are students living in these suburbs who are required to catch a bus to the CBD and transfer to a bus that goes back to the University of Queensland."

Such a bus service and could be achieved by extending the existing Route 402 through to either Ashgrove, Enoggera Rail Station interchange, or Brookside Shopping Centre.

We call on the State Government, UQ, and Brisbane City Council to consider trialling a direct UQ service for the northwestern suburbs of Brisbane.

References:

1. https://translink.com.au/about-translink/projects-and-initiatives/UQ-trial

2. Parliament House debates (Canberra) Monday, 27 May 2013
Private Members' Business - South-East Queensland: Public Transport
http://www.openaustralia.org.au/debate/?id=2013-05-27.166.9

Contact:

Robert Dow
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track

[verbatim9]

The 402 extension ideas are interesting. On the one hand, it is a gap that could do with filling. On the other, geography and the road network aren't exactly favourable. Has anyone crunched the numbers on how long an Ashgrove-to-UQ or Enoggera-to-UQ would take? And how often it could feasibly run? No point if it's not proper high frequency.
I used to do the Enoggera-->Toowong commute most days and you couldn't pay me money to do it on a bus. On paper the GCL was probably the fastest option, but... no. Just no.
So I'm coming from that context.

The Route 66 improvements are very welcome as an interim measure. I still think the 66 could support BUZ service levels. It's interesting that it'll go to 24h weekend service as a Metro line in a few years but stops still so early now.

I'm sure the 66 would carry some air parcels late at night. It should still have BUZ service levels though, because it's such a visible service providing connectivity across the whole network.

Right now it's sort of a poster child for 'PT investment in SEQ: where it all went wrong'. A world-class (probably over-engineered) busway forming a fast and reliable spine through the inner south ... and completely devoid of buses at night. Madness really.

^^Re 402 extension: I agree the route chosen won't necessarily make the trip any faster nor convenient. Still better to change to the 412 @ King George Sq. Even this forum supports transfers to direct services. It was discussed in depth.  "As a Public Transport Network matures so does the potential of transfers."  I still believe to alleviate over crowding on the 412 and 66 is to run longer articulated buses 100% of the time. But having the services extended to run later is a good move.

[verbatim9]

Hopped on another new indigenous wrapped 444 this evening. This time a maroon coloured theme. The centre doors on these new buses are now double doors, hence one less seat on the left side of the vehicle. Its a better interior layout with a bit more legroom inbetween seats which was really needed. 

https://www.facebook.com/BrisbaneCityCouncil/videos/1889573441142491/

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Bus boss unable to indicate on expansion rumours

A REGIONAL bus boss says his company remains a willing buyer if sellers are ready to deal, when it came to opportunities for expansion.

ComfortDelGro Australia CEO Wayne Jeff said provided the willing sellers were looking to offload "quality businesses that align with our broader group" the transport giant remained willing to deal.

But he couldn't comment specifically on rumours the Singapore-based international firm was eyeing off a move to acquire Sunbus.

ComfortDelGro bought Buslink Queensland in November, 2018, which provides school bus services on the Sunshine Coast, as well as operations in Gladstone.

But Mr Jeff couldn't say whether Buslink would remain the extent of interests his company would acquire in the region.

"As a listed entity CDC is not able to comment on market rumours," he said.

"CBD holds no other interests in the Sunshine Coast area.

"As in all of the areas that we operate, CDC's commitment is to deliver the highest standard of services to the Sunshine Coast, and to come to be recognised as an important community asset and community partner."

The company operates in the UK and Ireland, Australia, Vietnam, Malaysia and 11 Chinese cities.

Its global fleet comes to about 43,000 vehicles.

The company first entered the Australian market for bus services in 2005, through the acquisition of assets in New South Wales.

[techblitz]

mixed luck today on the buses...

Needed to get from archerfield to aerodrome rd caboolture..
Usually do 110 - roma st - route 640....when everything runs on time its a sinch to do..

But just my luck out of every servo in the friggin city the one 50m up the road from my local bus stop decides to have an 81c/litre fuel promo.
110 ended up being delayed 15 mins meaning we then have to start sweeping up passengers waiting for the 115...
I would count at least 70 touch ons by the gabba where there was 7 more waiting....bus too crowded which meant more dwell time...

I had 12 minutes to make it from the gabba to platform 9 roma st......so i said bugger it bus im off this bus......exited & flagged down an arriving 125 where we managed to jump ahead of the 110 @ southbank......then trailed a 66 bus....got some luck at the CC lights(the trailing 110 wasnt so lucky).....both 66/125 pulled into the cc together....sprinted onto the 66 and made it to platform 9 with 2 mins to spare.......the plethora of turn up and go options along our busways allowed me to bus hop gabba - roma st in quick succession.....saving me a 1 hour wait. 

[nathandavid88]

Over the past few weeks, I've noticed/heard something interesting about one of the Logan express buses which I wondered if anyone here could confirm. I had been noticing that the 7:05am (or thereabouts) P569 hgas been arriving at Loganholme station already half full.

As a reminder, the P569 is a peak express that is supposed to originate at Loganholme Station, and it always arrives as a P569, never as another route that teminates and changes over. Also, it doesn't empty completely - the majority of passengers remain onboard for the trip into the city. Now, a random woman (commuter) on the platform this morning said that it was a route 566 that changes over to become a P569 at Loganholme - which sounds very strange if true considering both are city expresses that are identical except for payment (P569 is a cash free service).

Has anyone heard of this and can confirm or deny it? 

[achiruel]

Maybe the drivers are changing their route # to avoid picking up cash fares from Loganholme north? It probably wastes far too much time, especially considering go card top ups are allowed.

I'm not sure if such a practice is 100% above board, or is even happening (just pure speculation on my part), by IMO tickets shouldn't be sold at all in buses at busway stations or major interchanges with ticket machines.