On the Buses

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/MarkBaileyMP/status/1281470626964725763

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1281613840371732480

[Paul B]

was on an inbound 335 today and watched everyone get two fixed fares (once on and once off) from the back reader
Driver shrugged when i told him.
I thought when this happened (an entire trip of fixed fares and no one able to touch on)
it would be automatically adjusted a day or so later (at least thats what happens on trains, right?)

[ozbob]

I am walking up Queen Street Goodna just past Alice Street and a 524 desto Goodna Station passed by. Just a tad off route 

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1281339435267715072

There has been a temporary route change for the 524 since March 2020.  At this stage diversion is approved to the end of July.
Route diversion was done because of some problems with anti-social behaviours.

The route diversion is straight down Queen St, left into Alice St, right into Stuart and then right and back on normal route at Smiths Road.

5 stops are bypassed.  https://translink.com.au/service-updates/277631

Closed stops:

Stuart St near Bellevue Rd (Stop ID 312240)

Curnow St near Howard St, Goodna (Stop ID 317815)

Curnow St near Howard St, Goodna (Stop ID 317816)

Kingsford St near Howard St, Goodna (Stop ID 312226)

Stuart St near Bellevue Rd, Goodna (Stop ID 312242)

Curnow St is where I normally catch the 524.

Been extended to 17th August 2020  https://translink.com.au/service-updates/277631

[Cazza]

Spotted Willawong's 5057 TAG running an outbound 454 tonight, as well as operating a 451 earlier in the afternoon. Definitely an extremely rare occurrence seeing these buses on those runs.

https://anytrip.com.au/region/qld?selectedTrip=tripInstance%2F20200806%2Fau4:se:15261135-BT%2020_21-CRR_FUL-Weekday-02%2F0
https://anytrip.com.au/region/qld?selectedTrip=tripInstance%2F20200806%2Fau4:se:15263738-BT%2020_21-CRR_FUL-Weekday-02%2F0

[verbatim9]

Moggill Bus Terminus, Sunday 24 Aug

[Otto]

Heads up.
Roma Street Busway station will be reopening from first service on Monday September 14.
Platform 1 will be relocated to allow continued work on CRR.

[ozbob]

Waiting for a bus ... 

[aldonius]

20 years of busway today.

[ozbob]

ABC --> Brisbane City Council swaps 'exploding' gas-powered buses for diesel following gas cylinder explosions

Brisbane's eco-friendly natural gas buses are being quietly retired and replaced with new diesel-driven coaches.

The new diesel buses are a stopgap, with Brisbane City Council's long-term plans to use a mix of greener technologies, like electricity and hydrogen, still years off.

Explosions in 2008 and 2012 led to policies that restricted gas buses operating with half-filled tanks, which meant they needed to be refuelled more often.

The council is withdrawing the gas buses, which make up about a third of the fleet, and they will be off the roads by 2027.

Diesel stopgap before hydrogen, electric buses

Brisbane Public and Active Transport chair Councillor Ryan Murphy said natural gas "at its heart" was cleaner than diesel but the former had not progressed in two decades.

As a result, the Euro 6 standard diesels — the council's bus of choice — had "leapfrogged" gas buses, with lower particulate and nitrous oxide emissions.

Councillor Murphy said the council wanted electric and hydrogen-powered buses but needed to make sure they would work in Brisbane's climate and conditions, and at scale.

He pointed to the first Brisbane Metro bus that would arrive mid next year; an electric bus which could carry 150 passengers, reach 90 kilometres per hour, and fully charge in 4–6 minutes.

The United Kingdom and France want diesel banned by 2040, and India wants it off roads by 2030, but Counsellor Murphy says those countries are taking "some pretty big bets" on their future public transport fleets and Brisbane would be more conservative.

"By 2023 we want to have a procurement strategy in place that uses all those new technologies that we've been speaking about — hydrogen, electric — it's going to be a mix of different technologies, but it's got to work in Brisbane conditions," he said.

Bus plans should be more ambitious

Brisbane opposition leader Councillor Jared Cassidy said natural gas buses, introduced under Labor Lord Mayor Jim Soorley, had carried millions of passengers for two decades.

"At the time they were cutting-edge technology," he said.

Councillor Cassidy conceded it was disappointing that two gas cylinders had exploded in the fleet.

He supported the council's plan to import 60 electric buses for Brisbane Metro but insisted it needed to be more ambitious and power its entire 1,200-strong fleet with electric or hydrogen.

Councillor Cassidy said bus manufacturer Volgren, based in Brisbane, had the capability with its international counterparts to develop and build electric buses for the city's non-Metro routes.

"We've got a fleet of 1,200 buses," he said.

Councillor Murphy said replacing the city's diesel buses "overnight" would be financially irresponsible and leave working buses with "nothing to do".

[verbatim9]

Let's hope that the electric bus trial deems successful with one of the manufactures participating in the trial. Yes! Diesel is such a backward step. So many other regions around the world have already started the roll out of electric buses and infrastructure. Once again Australia and Qld is one of the last. You can really notice the air quality deteriorating during the week with the influx of diesel vehicles on the road.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Council to buy back bus depot that caused furious councillor to quit LNP

Brisbane City Council has decided to spend millions of dollars buying back a controversial bus depot site that a decade ago had led to a then-LNP councillor defecting from the party. ...

Sherwood bus depot. 

[verbatim9]

Townsville Bulletin---->State Government invests in new buses, stops, signs for Townsville

^^New buses and bus shelters for Townsville. Real time arrivals coming soon with smart ticketing.

[verbatim9]

$11.5 million for a new Chermside Bus Station southbound platform

Anyone have any info on this? I would assume they mean the current inbound stop on Gympie Rd (https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Gympie+Rd+at+Chermside,+stop+37%2F38/@-27.3864068,153.0313244,175m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x6b91580e61c8eb53:0x52c1d00c95170067!8m2!3d-27.3863571!4d153.0311711)

If anything, the whole bus interchange needs to be completely rebuilt further north (outside the Grill'd/food court entrance - https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-27.3843557,153.0310298,175m/data=!3m1!1e3) to accommodate more and longer buses, as well as provide an easier connection into the (hopefully eventual) Northern Busway tunnel. There is so much more space there to massively improve bus capacity. The current set up is so cramped and buses struggle to manoeuvre around each other and fit into the limited number of bays available.

It will also provide a much more central location to the shopping centre itself (as well as all the restaurants, cinemas and night-time trip generators), not tucked away in the bottom corner of the site. Walking from the northern end to the bus station now can take a good 10 mins for an abled bodies person, I'd say it would be pushing 15 mins+ for people with mobility issues.

This makes sense to reconfigure the bus station and build  the Southbound platform. Stop 37/38 and Stop 38 A will likely be closed, combined  and relocated to the new Southbound platform. This will allow easier transfers between services and decrease travel times due to decreased stopping patterns and dwell times.  I think this was also part of the Northern Transit way project.


^^I have also missed inbound buses frequently from there waiting for the pedestrian lights to change at Hamilton and Gympie Roads while seeing the inbound buses zoom away from the current Stop 37/38. Very frustrating this will hopefully alleviate this for many current and future commuters. I hope that we can add quick submission to ensure stop 37/8, 38A will be closed.  Just makes sense.

^^From the discussion at the Queensland Budget Thread.

[verbatim9]

The only service that currently stops at 37/38 that may be affected and need a solution is the 340  The 341 can use the new Southbound platform along with 330,331,333,335. Maybe stop 37/38 will have to be retained for the 340 unless they reroute this service to loop around the Chermside bus station to the new Southbound Platform, which could also work? It may add a minute to that service, but it would ensure that all Southbound buses stop at one boarding and disembarking point.

[Cazza]

Or just can the 340 altogether... Route 345 can be extended from Aspley to Carseldine Station if required, and have the 338 run via Webster/Hamilton Rds. Done. No major loss at all.

[verbatim9]

^^Let's make a submission with a couple of options.

[HappyTrainGuy]

My bus will be coming along soon...



Any minute now.... Any minute now...

*stretches* Arrrrrrrrr---hhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Any minute now.

*Looks at watch* Still just a few minutes away. I wonder how many buses are going along Gympie Road??

AAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR---HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. *Looks at watch*

My supervisor isn't going to be happy that I'm going to be a little late. Where is this damn bus? It has to be coming any minute now?

Oh those poor buggers. This stop could do with a little upgrade. It's starting to smell like p%ss. Anyway. My bus will be here in a few minutes.

It's evening already??? How long was I asleep for? Surely my bus will be coming along soon...

(Since the photo isn't available anymore it was a photo of one of the new bus stops on Bracken Ridge road installed when it was duplicated and widened with one of the key points being "improved bus services". Even had the rubber tiles for visual impaired users. It's yet to see a bus use it nearly a decade after the project was completed).

[HappyTrainGuy]

^^Let's make a submission with a couple of options.

Such as cutting the entire Northside bus network and reconfiguring it to actually be useful???

[verbatim9]

^^Let's make a submission with a couple of options.

Such as cutting the entire Northside bus network and reconfiguring it to actually be useful???

I was meaning more specific, just for this project only. Not bus reform.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/TransLinkSEQ/status/1349491469829218305

[achiruel]

^ The link to the journey planner from the page in their tweet is broken.

Link is https://translink.com.au/service-updates/jp.translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/journey-planner

Correct link is https://jp.translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/journey-planner

Just another example of the poor quality we've come to expect from the TL SM/web team. Not sure if it's the individuals to blame or their just overworked?

[ozbob]

^ thanks ...

====

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1349552670277738505

[achiruel]

^ I replied to the original tweet. Anyway, it seems the problem is now fixed.

[ozbob]

 

[nathandavid88]

Translink's tweet doesn't include any info about some changes to stops at Springwood and Loganholme, which I think may confuse a lot of people if they aren't aware:

At Springwood, the Outbound 555 services will now move from Platform 1 to Platform 2 - a sensible change, making Platform 2 the "Outbound Platform", but without good signage and maybe some Translink Customer Service people, I can see a lot of people waiting at Platform 1 wondering where there bus is, while the bus waits at Platform 2.

There are a few stop changes at Loganholme as well, including the 571. However, the 571 Inbound uses two stops at Loganholme - Stop B or C when it starts on the Cornubia Loop, and Stop D when it finishes the loop and runs into Brisbane, so I've actually posted a comment on the Translink FB post seeking clarification on which stop changes.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1351267379112624128

[nathandavid88]

^^ This is why we can't have nice things!

[achiruel]

Not sure how you go about preventing this, but surely the bus shelters should use toughened glass? Or are the vandals hitting it with a sledgehammer or something?

[Cazza]

For the number of glass bus shelters there are across the network, it doesn't really happen very often at all.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1351614614321078273

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/TransLinkSEQ/status/1358563272232898560

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ABCmag/status/1363723865096998916

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/SteveAustinABC/status/1366614133638979585

[tazzer9]

Noticed a new bus route the other day.  The Bus 28.  From UQ lakes stations to langlands park station.  Operating at 10 minute frequencies all day from about 7am to 6pm on university days only. 

While it does duplicate alot of the 209, I strongly welcome it as it takes alot of pressure of the 139, 169 and 209, and to a lesser extent the 66.   Especially with the amount of people transferring at buranda station. 

[achiruel]

Noticed a new bus route the other day.  The Bus 28.  From UQ lakes stations to langlands park station.  Operating at 10 minute frequencies all day from about 7am to 6pm on university days only. 

While it does duplicate alot of the 209, I strongly welcome it as it takes alot of pressure of the 139, 169 and 209, and to a lesser extent the 66.   Especially with the amount of people transferring at buranda station.

Not very new, it's been around since August 2019

https://campuses.uq.edu.au/article/2019/07/more-buses-uq

[ozbob]

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2021/41-2021.pdf

Question on Notice
No. 41
Asked on 23 February 2021

MR D PEGG ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS (HON M BAILEY)

QUESTION:
Will the Minister provide an update in relation to the new bus stops and bus turnaround on Gowan
Road?

ANSWER:

I thank the Member for Stretton for the question.

The Palaszczuk Government recognises the importance of continued investment in our public
transport network to enable Queenslanders to connect more easily to health services, education,
jobs and with each other.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) is delivering the Stretton bus stops and bus
turnaround facility project, which is currently scoped to include:

• an upgraded bus stop on Illaweena Street
• new bus stops and layovers on Gowan Road
• an upgrade to the bus turnaround facility on Gowan Road, including a new driver's facility
room and signalised intersection at Gowan Road/The Parkway.

These improvements will support the extension of the existing route 130 bus service, making it
easier for the Stretton community to access high-frequency bus services, and will also deliver
operational efficiencies within the local bus network.

Brisbane City Council (BCC) currently owns, operates and maintains the existing bus turnaround
facility. TMR has recently provided BCC with the final design for the new bus stops, turnaround,
driver's facility and intersection upgrades and is awaiting approval of these works on council's
road network. BCC has raised some concerns about owning, operating and maintaining the new
driver's facility room at the bus turnaround adjacent to Ming-Shan park, and TMR and BCC are
currently negotiating to resolve these issues. TMR is committed to delivering this project in its
current form and providing the maximum benefits for the local Stretton community. However, the
final design may need to change once negotiations with BCC are completed.

The Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program (QTRIP) 2020–21 to 2023–24
represents a record investment in road and transport infrastructure for the fifth year in a row, with
$26.9 billion in works committed over the next four years, supporting an average of approximately
23,600 direct jobs over the life of the program. Of this, approximately $3.65 billion is committed
across TMR's Metropolitan Region, which is estimated to support an average of 3100 direct jobs
over the life of the program.

With the pandemic impacting Queensland businesses and communities, significant road
upgrades will be delivered to help stimulate the economy as part of Unite and Recover:
Queensland's Economic Recovery Plan. These upgrades provide immediate economic record
benefits, support more jobs and deliver ongoing benefits of vital infrastructure for years to come.

The QTRIP 2020–21 to 2023–24 includes continued delivery of the $12.6 billion, 15-year jointly
funded program to upgrade the Bruce Highway, the continued delivery of more than $3.4 billion
in upgrades on the M1 Pacific Motorway, the commencement of the $1.53 billion Coomera
Connector (Stage 1) project between Nerang and Coomera, over $1 billion for dedicated and
targeted initiatives to bolster the Queensland Government's commitment to road safety, the
$709.9 million Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3 project, and a $1 billion new pipeline of rail projects
that includes making trains again in Queensland.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1377277207026884613

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1390781273807880192