On the Buses

[HappyTrainGuy]

Hopefully they don't ask when people in Strathpine/Warner/Bray Park have to wait for the local bus during peak hours 

[techblitz]

route 170 surprisingly, a near full busload by mater hill @ 7.30ish

[techblitz]

Saw a 412 UQ bound at around 11.45am this morning, too full to pick up 5 passengers waiting at the stop approaching Ryans Rd.

Also, traffic along Sir Fred is as bad as ever in the mornings. Back to Brisbane Street from the Coleridge Street round about most mornings.

wow,that is a serious numbers bus route.

[#Metro]

I suggest the following- Take the 402 and turn it into a PRE-PAID ROCKET ALL DAY. First stop Toowong and next stop UQ. End of story. Increase frequency will be automatic because the bus won't be so slow. Delete all intermediate stops from the journey - the 412 can do that

If this sounds too radical, I point out that in Melbourne, there is a bus from Huntingdale Station (Monash Shuttle 601) running every 4 minutes which is a rocket to Monash University. It's also a rocket, non-stop and the journey itself takes just 5 minutes to do.

Link: http://ptv.vic.gov.au/route/view/5627

This will free up a lot of space on the 412. A similar thing could be done with the 427/428 - one of them could be boosted and run direct non-stop to Indooroopilly train station and then Indooroopilly shopping centre where it would terminate.


http://ptv.vic.gov.au/assets/Maps/Routes/GIFs/5627_Bus601.gif

[ozbob]

Waaahhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

We are Queenslanders TT, how could we??

[somebody]

891/895 in Sydney to UNSW also operate in the same way.

I've suggested the same thing myself.

[techblitz]

put in a complaint to translink about the overcrowded 680 which arrives petrie at 3.45 pmish(departs chermside 2.52)
They said they will contact hornibrook over the matter.

Driver had to refuse 6 passengers and tell them to wait for the next one (half hourly service)
The problem is this service collects school children from strathpine,bald hills,bray park and petrie as well as arriving passengers on the trains plus some pram passengers.For last 3 times i have caught that service...same scenario....

Hopefully can get an extra 15 minute service out of this complaint which ideally would leave chermside 15 mins before or after the 2.52 service.

[Golliwog]

Got feedback from Translink today. I had put in a complaint about route 77 and that according to the JP it files from Buranda to Windsor rail in 3 minutes. The service had turns up 5 minutes partay then ended up being 5 minutes late into Windsor.

[techblitz]

Got feedback from Translink today. I had put in a complaint about route 77 and that according to the JP it files from Buranda to Windsor rail in 3 minutes. The service had turns up 5 minutes partay then ended up being 5 minutes late into Windsor.

argghhhh i see JPlanner still has the 77 arriving @ buranda :19 :49 when infact normal timetable is :14 :44.
They need to do a matchup review of the jplanner and pdf timetables listed on the main & mobile sites.

[Golliwog]

What was concerning was when they called me back, they were look with saying it was late getting to Windsor, but hehadno idea where I was getting the 3 minute transit time from. It was only when I explained that the 3 minutes was what the JP told me that he got concerned about that.

[longboi]

What was concerning was when they called me back, they were look with saying it was late getting to Windsor, but hehadno idea where I was getting the 3 minute transit time from. It was only when I explained that the 3 minutes was what the JP told me that he got concerned about that.

I don't find it that concerning, the bus was running 5 minutes late as you originally stated and the average customer only complains about a bus running late, not about the intricacies of scheduling.

I would say the call centre operator you contacted would have interpreted your feedback as "the bus isn't running to schedule" and sent off a late running complaint to the responsible BT depot. BT would have had a look, saw it ran 5mins late (as you said) and replied as such. The operator who called you back would have just been relaying the information he was given.

Yes, the original operator dropped the ball somewhat but people aren't perfect and some don't exactly have the same passion for PT as yourself and just work in the industry as a means of income.

[Golliwog]

I didn't call, I used their online feedback form and sent them this:

My feedback is on the route 77 that was meant to leave Buranda at 3:33pm on the 28/09. This was not the original 77 I was meant to catch as the JP recommended the 3:12pm one, however I missed it. Either way, this bus didn't turn up as scheduled, but at 3:28pm which is 5 minutes early. It then didn't arrive at Windsor rail on time as scheduled in the JP at 3:36pm, but instead arrived at 3:41pm, which only gave me just enough time to walk up to the train station and make my train to Ferny Grove. I'd like to ask what happened that this was so early, and then so late, but also to point out that the 3 minutes the timetable seems to allow for the 77 to get from Buranda to Windsor seems unreasonably short.

In their initial contact back to me, they wrote:

TransLink, together with our delivery partners, place great importance on providing a high standard of customer service and I am concerned to hear the feedback where you stated the bus departed early from the Buranda Busway Station. 

We strive to provide South East Queensland's public transport customers with a positive experience on every occasion, and as such the matter has been referred to our delivery partner, Brisbane Transport for their attention. 

With regards to the timetabling of this service and your enquiring about why route 77 was early at Buranda Station and then late to arrive at Windsor Rail has been forwarded to Brisbane Transport for their consideration and response. We will endeavour to provide you with the outcome of this investigation at soon as possible.

Sorry if I caused any offense nikko, none was meant. I don't think the ball was dropped by either of the operators that contacted me, the first one understood my issue, and the second was relaying the outcome. I guess what was concerning was in my feedback I specifically mentioned that they were JP times, which he said weren't the times the people who investigated it had looked at, hence why they weren't sure where I'd gotten the 3 minute travel time from.

[techblitz]

thanks golli for also putting a complaint in on this.
I myself also previously put in a complaint about this route turning up 5 mins early @ buranda from what is stated on the services/timetables/ jplanner website. It seems only the .pdf printable timetable is correct for route 77
The online timetable as well as the printed timetable at buranda are wrong.
I will be putting in another complaint tomorro and this time wont be so polite.
Whats concerning is that if 2 people on this forum miraculously have problems with the same route turning up early after using the JPlanner timetables or reading the info board....how many other people are missing this bus (and waiting 25 mins for the next one) simply because they use the JP from thier mobiles etc?
I spoke with ozbob yesterday at salisbury and he relayed  that its all about keeping them on thier toes....push them.....let em know thier slack and they will evetually get the message!!!!

[longboi]

Yeah, abuse people. That'll get it done faster 

PT must be perfect all the time, hey techblitz? God forbid a timetable is incorrect. There's an incorrect timetable at the bus stop near where I live. I filled in a feedback form, just like anyone else and used my own initiative to find the correct timetable. For the record it hasn't been fixed but somehow people have managed to survive. I haven't seen any skeletons being picked at by vultures sitting in the shelter.

...Of course it's not acceptable and needs to be fixed but there aren't just people sitting around twiddling their thumbs waiting to fix every little nitpicky thing you pick up. TransLink just lost 70-odd staff, remember that? People have other work to do and will get around to it eventually.

[Golliwog]

Yeah, abuse people. That'll get it done faster 

I know it makes people feel better when they get to vent, but it doesn't help anything.

[longboi]

I know it makes people feel better when they get to vent, but it doesn't help anything.

That's why I skip the "vent your spleen" section of the mX.

#firstworldproblems

[HappyTrainGuy]

Make that 3 people that have experienced it. I've only experienced it once a few months ago and that was due to me relying on the PIDs.... which are also wrong. I ended up getting on a 111+330 combo to get to Chermside.

...Of course it's not acceptable and needs to be fixed but there aren't just people sitting around twiddling their thumbs waiting to fix every little nitpicky thing you pick up. TransLink just lost 70-odd staff, remember that? People have other work to do and will get around to it eventually.

They may have recently lost staff but with those 70 people there it still took them about 4 weeks to fix the printed bus stop timetables, the .pdf timetables and the journey planner errors for the 280. Ring up translink and they gave you the wrong time as they used the journey planner. Use the journey planner and it had the wrong time. Look at the bus stop timetable and it was wrong. The .pdf was the only correct timetable and that was for every bus stop and the entire journey planner. This 77 issue is nothing new. Its been around for quite a few months now. They know the issue. Subtract the 6-8 minute gain between Greenslopes and Buranda. Print off a new timetable for Buranda and PA hospital stops and then fix the same issue for the journey planner. Done. Besides Buranda and the PA Hospital stops every other stop timetable is correct. 2 stops and a 8 minute gain shouldn't take this long to fix.

[techblitz]

nikko im not buying  your `go easy on staff they have it hard` or be nice like everyone else suggestions

I Ripped it up mt gravatt bus services about 2 months ago after they failed to act on my first complaint.
Which was when they failed to remove a 262/260 timetable from the second qe2 stop when it only needed to be displayed at the actual pickup/departure stop.

I would say my certain `tone/attitude` over the phone helped things along because they actually sent someone out within 1-2 hours and it was removed per my request.

i will work on translink about this dont you worry......2/5/7 complaints, dont really care how `stressed` they are after losing 70+ staff Infact i will turn up at a mangers door if this isnt fixed soon....

.Your right htg.....they would know the issue no doubt but they are obviously having immmmmmmmense problems fixing it (way down on the to do list'.Maybe its just too hard for them to adjust the online jp timetables and reprint the timetable @ buranda.

[longboi]

Ok techblitz, go on with your little tirade. I'll just mark you down as another one of those people who erode my faith in humanity.

Perhaps you need a hobby or medication if you feel you need to "rip up" people who are just taking down what you say and passing it on to those who are actually responsible.

[longboi]

Make that 3 people that have experienced it. I've only experienced it once a few months ago and that was due to me relying on the PIDs.... which are also wrong. I ended up getting on a 111+330 combo to get to Chermside.

...Of course it's not acceptable and needs to be fixed but there aren't just people sitting around twiddling their thumbs waiting to fix every little nitpicky thing you pick up. TransLink just lost 70-odd staff, remember that? People have other work to do and will get around to it eventually.

They may have recently lost staff but with those 70 people there it still took them about 4 weeks to fix the printed bus stop timetables, the .pdf timetables and the journey planner errors for the 280. Ring up translink and they gave you the wrong time as they used the journey planner. Use the journey planner and it had the wrong time. Look at the bus stop timetable and it was wrong. The .pdf was the only correct timetable and that was for every bus stop and the entire journey planner. This 77 issue is nothing new. Its been around for quite a few months now. They know the issue. Subtract the 6-8 minute gain between Greenslopes and Buranda. Print off a new timetable for Buranda and PA hospital stops and then fix the same issue for the journey planner. Done. Besides Buranda and the PA Hospital stops every other stop timetable is correct. 2 stops and a 8 minute gain shouldn't take this long to fix.

Again, it's not a magic "snap your fingers" and put everything else on hold because a RBOT forum member complained about something  It's not the only issue on the network, certainly not the most important one and you are not the only person living on this earth.

You work in traincrew or some such role, right? Next time my train is held at signals I will verbally assault the guard. How do you feel about that?

[HappyTrainGuy]

This isn't the same as a train stuck at signals. This is an issue about printed timetables. The buses run on time along the whole route but 2 bus stops have the wrong information. Your local stop might get away with its wrong timetabling but this also effects other bus routes including the Cleveland railway line as interchange times aren't correct for a major interchange. It's not a complex issue involving relays, track crews and all staff resolving issues on a public front. If your going to compare it to something involving trains then atleast compare it to the quiet carriage ad campaign or having all Gold Coast trains turn up at Loganlea 4 minutes early because someone made an error on the online jp. What's stopping them from putting a notice on their website about the issue or a a4 paper regarding the 77 departure times. They put out A frames about a bike ride along the busway but can't put a A4 notice at 1 busway stop and one small bus stop? Give me a break. If they are really struggling then bugger me this bus network review is going to be a absolute load of horse cr%p. I usually give people a break when it comes to issues and so on but in my view translink has always been very slow. 8 years its taken for the first major network review. The Nambour line Central departure fiasco. Buses are slower using the Northern Busway. Taking over 3 months to fix a minor issue like this is just slack in my books.

[techblitz]

+1 htg

i decided to easy on them today and just fill in an online complaint form.Will do a twitter post as well.Hopefully this can be sorted soon.

[Set in train]

i will work on translink about this dont you worry......2/5/7 complaints, dont really care how `stressed` they are after losing 70+ staff Infact i will turn up at a mangers door if this isnt fixed soon....

Good luck working out where to find this manager's door, but please let us all know if you do!      

[somebody]

Bus breakdown at Buranda outbound before 18:15 caused mass congestion.  Reduced when "Bus Control" advised drivers to use the platform in front of the broken down bus.

[techblitz]

Temporary road closure on henson rd between ainger and cripps sts putting salisbury interchange bus stop out of orderAffecting routes 125,124,599 All buses currently diverting down ainger sts

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Big brother on Brisbane buses

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Council bid to keep disability non-compliant buses

[O_128]

Brisbanetimes --> Council bid to keep disability non-compliant buses

This annoys me. Yes all buses need to be DDA compliant but we cant spend 250k on a bus that will be retired soon anyway. Just put the non DDA buses on more frequent routes so that the person doesn't have long to wait if they cant get on.

[SurfRail]

There are only 155 high-floor buses left.  If BCC was smart, they would be shared around depots so they only need to be used in peak hour and not at all on weekends.

[#Metro]

This annoys me. Yes all buses need to be DDA compliant but we cant spend 250k on a bus that will be retired soon anyway. Just put the non DDA buses on more frequent routes so that the person doesn't have long to wait if they cant get on.

Why not just Auction them off ASAP and get the $$$ from that to plow into new buses?

[ozbob]

No one will buy them, they are coming up to the end of their commercial life.  Once the buses reach a certain age they are taken off the road.  I think they can still be registered for private use but a lot of work has to be done on the buses.

[BrizCommuter]

Does Brisbane have the world's best bus drivers?
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/does-brisbane-have-worlds-best-bus.html

[#Metro]

No one will buy them, they are coming up to the end of their commercial life.  Once the buses reach a certain age they are taken off the road.  I think they can still be registered for private use but a lot of work has to be done on the buses.

SISILS bus lines doesn't seem to care! http://www.sisilsbuslines.com.au/page/night_bus.html

Lots of old BT buses in their fleet.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Hornibrook picked up a few old BT buses for their school bus fleet.

[Arnz]

Sisils are a charter operator with no scheduled services (be it passenger or school) under TransLink.   They do, however, do school charters from time to time as part of their charter business.

A lot of the charter operators can pick up the old route buses after they are withdrawn, provided they have work done on them to ensure they are in RWC, iirc.  From what I understand (more than happy to stand corrected on this).  From what I've seen, most charter operators use the old route buses mostly for school charters after refurbishment/checks.

[ozbob]

Does Brisbane have the world's best bus drivers?
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/does-brisbane-have-worlds-best-bus.html

  second that.  I have found the Westside crew tops as well.

[Set in train]

Massive amounts of water, waterfall style pouring out of the bottom of the tunnel fascia panels on the SE Busway tunnel between Mater Hill and Southbank.

Just north of the emergency exit door, midway. Water was gushing in there at 10pm Saturday night at the height of the storm.

Remember, this is almost in the middle of a 400m+ tunnel.

Right next to a utility cabinet. Happy days ahead for maintenance.

[SurfRail]

Hornibrook picked up a few old BT buses for their school bus fleet.

Thompsons actually - they bought 4 Volvos.

Hornibrook still have 5 of the high-floor Metroliners and 6 low-floor Mercs on loan from BCC.

[SurfRail]

No one will buy them, they are coming up to the end of their commercial life.  Once the buses reach a certain age they are taken off the road.  I think they can still be registered for private use but a lot of work has to be done on the buses.

Not a lot actually, and some other states have little or no restrictions on vehicle age for private use.  Case in point, Nuline Charter in Melbourne have picked up 2 just recently (photo from a Victorian enthusiast), interestingly enough with the council desto file still installed.

They are sold by auction via Manheim.

The points to be made are:

1. Selling off 155 buses in one hit is pointless because there just isn't that much demand for second hand buses in the current market.  You would still have them sitting around for quite a while.

2. Even if they could all be sold you would only net a fraction of the costs of replacing them one for one with new buses.  New buses are more than $500,000.00 apiece, and these would probably go for 5% of that at absolute best case.

3. Nobody has the capacity to deliver that many buses at once, even if they were budgeted for.

[Golliwog]

Does Brisbane have the world's best bus drivers?
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/does-brisbane-have-worlds-best-bus.html

I second this. Some of the drivers themselves are great, like 'The Happy Bus Driver" (based at Toowong I believe? http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Happy-Bus-Driver/160676727284364?ref=ts&fref=ts) who wishes everyone a happy day. Literally everyone. He's great. Also has a bit of fun, I had him on a 402 once going to UQ and he did a 2 laps of the round about at Chancellors place before someone hit the next stop button and he pulled off.

Massive amounts of water, waterfall style pouring out of the bottom of the tunnel fascia panels on the SE Busway tunnel between Mater Hill and Southbank.

Just north of the emergency exit door, midway. Water was gushing in there at 10pm Saturday night at the height of the storm.

Remember, this is almost in the middle of a 400m+ tunnel.

Right next to a utility cabinet. Happy days ahead for maintenance.

Not sure about how that tunnel in particular is set up, but every tunnel should be designed for leakage through the tunnel walls from ground water, so there would have been pumps to get that water out, and I'd be surprised if that utility cabinet didn't have something to at least keep some of the water out. I'm perplexed why it would all leak in at the one point rather than all the way along though. Busted stormwater pipe above it?

Either way though, I agree that there's probably going to be a bit of a mess in there for the maintenance guys.