Bus delays, cancellations ...

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

Half of Brisbane's bus fleet taken off the road after gas explosion at depot

Half of Brisbane's bus fleet taken off the road after gas explosion at depot

    by: Lara Lauth and Suellen Hinde
    From: The Courier-Mail
    January 22, 2012 1:37PM

THE Brisbane City Council is still unsure of what to do about public transport on Monday, after a council bus exploded at the Virginia depot.

A gas pod on one of the council buses exploded at the depot at 1.20am on Saturday during refilling, and damaged another  bus nearby.

The blast  forced the Council to take all buses that use natural gas fuel off the road today as a safety precaution.

Workers at the bus depot were refilling the gas cylinders on a bus at 1.17am Saturday when the gas pod exploded, a department of Community Services spokeswoman said.

On Sunday morning, emergency services have closed off several roads around the area to vent gas from the site of the blast.

Zillmere Road between Sandgate Rd and Bilsen Rd has been closed since 7.30am.   

"No one was injured and while fire crews attended to contain the gas there was no fire," she said.

With the start of the working week and many young students' first day back at school, the state of the city's public transport system is a concern for many.

Queensland Fire and Rescue Services duty manager Ken Harrison said fire crews have been onsite overnight, making sure that the affected bus is safe.

He said that they were still decantering the natural gas fuel from the one affected bus, and would continue the process into the afternoon.

"It takes a long time to decanter a cylinder....everyone's been here overnight," he said.

Mr Harrison said that keeping the high pressure natural gas stable and cool was the main aim at this stage, while it was still being removed from the bus.

"We had to put liquid nitrogen in the cylinders to equalise the pressure so it doesn't blow up."

"(The liquid nitrogen) makes it stable and we decanter the gas and liquid nitrogen out of the cylinder (through a small hole)."

"(Liquid nitrogen is) non-combustible, so it's not going to explode or catch fire."

The Council will announce their plans for public transport tomorrow at a press conference this afternoon.

"As a precaution following the incident, no gas powered buses will operate today while investigations are undertaken resulting in approximately half of council's bus fleet being non operational today," the council spokeswoman said.

"Commuters can expect significant disruptions to bus services throughout the weekend and are advised to leave plenty of time ahead of their journey to account for delays or make alternative transport arrangements such as trains."

TransLink said the following high-frequency services would be operating under reduced frequency:

    100 - Forest Lake to City
    111 - Eight Mile Plains to City
    120 - Garden City to City
    130 - Parkinson to City
    140 - Browns Plains to City
    150 - Browns Plains to City
    180 - Garden City to City
    196 - New Farm to City via Fairfield Gardens
    199 - West End to New Farm
    333 - Chermside to City
    345 - Aspley to City
    385 - The Gap to City
    412 - University of Queensland to City via Toowong
    444 - Moggill to City
    CityGlider - West End to Teneriffe

For more information visit the TransLink website or phone 13 12 30.

Public transport lobby group Rail Back on Track said the sidelining of half the bus fleet was disruptive but necessary.

However spokesman Robert Dow said: "Queensland Rail should also plan for some additional rail services on all lines if the gas buses are not returned to service on Monday."

[ozbob]

Hopefully will know around 3pm or so if gas buses back on track ...

[Mr X]

Buses back to normal tomorrow -> http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/gas-pressure-is-off-buses-to-return-for-monday-commuters-20120121-1qbkn.html
Good news!
33 buses off the road.

[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes click here!

(Gas) pressure is off: Buses to return for Monday commuters

(Gas) pressure is off: Buses to return for Monday commuters
Daniel Hurst
January 22, 2012

Brisbane buses will return to normal timetables tomorrow but each vehicle's gas pressure will be reduced following yesterday's gas cylinder explosion at a depot.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk this afternoon said most gas-fuelled buses, which made up nearly half of the 1175-strong fleet, would return to operation tomorrow.

Cr Quirk said the barometric pressure of those buses' gas cylinders would be reduced to about three-quarters the normal amount, as a safety precaution ...

Read more: --> http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/gas-pressure-is-off-buses-to-return-for-monday-commuters-20120121-1qbkn.html

[ozbob]

Does anyone definitely know if reducing the tank pressure to 3/4 normal does this reduce their effective ranges enough to cause issues?

However, 33 buses with cylinders from the same batch as the one that exploded would remain out of operation for the time being, he said.

Cr Quirk said the problem cylinder was believed to be a "rogue cylinder".

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/gas-pressure-is-off-buses-to-return-for-monday-commuters-20120121-1qbkn.html\

Will the non-availability of 33 buses cause much of an issue?

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/images/common/campaign-primary/brisbane-transport-fleet-delay.jpg

[BrizCommuter]

http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com/2012/01/pressure-is-off.html
Back to usual according to the press.
Still waiting for a TransLink update.
Oh, and a video of an exploding CNG bus.

[somebody]

Will the non-availability of 33 buses cause much of an issue?

I expect in school and uni holidays it won't.

[BrizCommuter]

TransLink have finally released info.
http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1327089696

[ozbob]

From ABC 612 Brisbane click here!

Most gas buses back today, new CityCat terminal opens

Most gas buses back today, new CityCat terminal opens

23 January 2012 , 9:03 AM by Spencer Howson

Teneriffe residents from today will be able to better use the river to commute with the opening of the suburb's new CityCat terminal.

Our reporter Stacey Milner is at the new terminal on Commercial Road this morning. With her is Brisbane City Council's Chair of Active and Public Transport, Cr Julian Simmons, discussing the ferries as well as yesterday's gas explosion at the Zillmere Bus Depot.

Then, Monash University engineer and pressure vessel specialist Dr John Price responds to yesterday's gas tank explosion:

[achiruel]

Will the non-availability of 33 buses cause much of an issue?

I expect in school and uni holidays it won't.

School resumes today.  Uni not for a bit longer though.

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1327298781

Sandgate Road bus delays at Virginia

Outbound 310 and 315 buses may be delayed up to 10-15 minutes due to heavy traffic congestion on Toombul Road and Sandgate Road at Virginia.

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1327368720

Flooding delays

Due to localised flooding, services are being diverted in the following areas:

    Sandgate Road, Albion
    Abbotsford Road, Albion
    Sydney Street, New Farm

The Tenneriffe bus interchange has been temporarily closed due to flooding from the high tide. 

Customers should expect minor delays to services.

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1327368720

Bus delays due to flooding

Due to localised flooding on the following streets, buses are currently using local diversions.

Brisbane:

    Sandgate Road and Abbotsford Road, Albion -  Routes 300; 306; 307; 308; 310; 315; 320; 321; 322; 325; 326; 327; 358; 598; 599
    Northey Street, Windsor - Routes 346, 353, 335, P339
    Widdop Street, Clayfield (near Toombul Shopping Centre): 300, 322, 306, 303.
    Hoyland Street, Bracken Ridge - Routes 326 and 327

Logan:

    Holmview Road, Holmview - Route 565, stops on Avonmore Road, Grove Road and Holmview Road will be missed
    Clarks Road, Loganholme - Routes 553, 553 and 566, stops on Clarks Road will be missed 

Moreton Bay:

    Beaconsfield Terrace, Brighton (outside Eventide) - Routes 690 and 695

Due to diversions some stops may not be serviced.

Customers should expect minor delays to services.

[STB]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1327368720


***UPDATED***

Bus delays due to flooding

Due to localised flooding on the following streets, buses are currently using local diversions.

Brisbane:

Sandgate Road and Abbotsford Road, Albion -  Routes 300, 306, 322,  326 and 327
Widdop Street, Clayfield (near Toombul Shopping Centre) - Routes 300 and 307
Hoyland Street, Bracken Ridge - Routes 326, 327 and 330
Lemke Road, Fitzgibbon - Route 326, 327 and 330
Rafing Ground Road, Moggill - Route 435
Logan:

Holmview Road, Holmview - Route 565, stops on Avonmore Road, Grove Road and Holmview Road will be missed
Clarks Road, Loganholme - Routes 553, 553 and 566, stops on Clarks Road will be missed  
Fryar Road, Eagleby - Route 563, diversions will mean that the section of Fryar Road between Sunscape Drive and River Hills Road will not be serviced
Moreton Bay:

Beaconsfield Terrace, Brighton (outside Eventide) - Routes 690 and 695
Old Gympie Road, Elimbah - Route 649
Arthur Drive, Burpengary -  Route 660
Sunshine Coast:

Claymore Road, Sippy Downs - Route 617. The road is cut between Fitzwilliam Drive and Albany Street.
Redland Bay:

South Street between Wellington Street and Drevesen Avenue, Redland Bay - Route 272, services are being diverted along Panorama Drive
Nelson Road, Pitt Road and Tulloch Road, Redland Bay - Route 225. Inbound buses are being diverted from Allenby Road, Wellington Point, to Main Road, left onto Marlborough Road, turning around at the roundabout then returning the route along Marlborough Road. Outbound buses are being diverted at the roundabout at Hardy Road, where they return along Marlborough Road to turn right at Main Road and continue down Main Road until returning to the normal route on Allenby Road.
Serpentine Creek Road, Redland Bay - Route 280, terminating and starting at the corner of Phillip Street and Serpentine Creek roads. Bus stops impacted on Serpentine Creek Road, Oakland Avenue, Rusbrook Street, Junee Street and Shanahan Street.
School of Arts Road, Redland Bay (between Donald Road and Collins Street) - Route 280, terminating and starting at corner of School of Arts and Queen Street. Stops will be missed on Collins Street, Torquay Road, McWilliam Street and Phillip streets.
Due to diversions some stops may not be serviced. Customers should expect delays.

Note there are a few errors above, probably due to them trying to get the info out quick.  Route 225, should be route 255.  And I suspect that Redland Bay should be Cleveland.  Not sure about the other locations, but I'd suggest others have a quick glance to see if there are other errors and typos in that update.

By the way, computer models have been going for about 300mm+ across SEQ and Central Qld for the past several days, as a storm chaser in my spare time, and allowing me to have a heads up well before the event, this was expected !  And I'm loving it!  There's likely to be a second major event after this one, but is still been talked about among the Chasers and BOM, no updates yet as such in that regard.

EDIT: I've notified TransLink so hopefully errors will be fixed.

[ozbob]

Public transport delays and service alterations, being updated regularly --> http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1327368720

[ozbob]

Twitter

TransLinkSEQ TransLink SEQ
Brisbane City bus delays - Adelaide Street closed. http://t.co/bzW3UKbP
3 minutes ago

[ozbob]

Twitter

TransLinkSEQ TransLink SEQ
Brisbane City bus delays - Adelaide Street closed. http://t.co/bzW3UKbP
3 minutes ago

Burst water main it seems ..

[ozbob]

Twitter

TransLinkSEQ TransLink SEQ
Bus delays South Bank - Cultural Centre <10min due to heavy traffic conditions.
13 minutes ago

[WTN]

The infamous Southbank-Cultural Centre busjam was back this morning around 9am. Buses were lined up to Southbank TAFE.

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1327901887

Main Myrtletown Road bus delays at Pinkenba

The 302 and 303 bus in both directions may be delayed in excess of one hour due to heavy congestion caused by a stationary truck on Main Myrtletown Road (at Lomandra Drive) at Pinkenba.

[somebody]

The infamous Southbank-Cultural Centre busjam was back this morning around 9am. Buses were lined up to Southbank TAFE.

The Cultural Centre platform 3 proposal IMO would aid this, albeit in an indirect way.  Should reduce the conflict with other buses when they leave the Melbourne St portal.

When uni goes back, the upped 66 will increase this congestion.  Is there any other route which will add to it?

[#Metro]

The Cultural Centre platform 3 proposal IMO would aid this, albeit in an indirect way.  Should reduce the conflict with other buses when they leave the Melbourne St portal.

Third platform will only take out the CityGlider, 199, 192, 196, and 202 from the Cultural Centre. That's quite a few slots freed up, and also could get the non-BUZ routes out of there as well by terminating them before they reach the CBD.

However, this said, that might only free up 20 slots (removing west end services), maybe a bit more if terminators (300 series and 345 are moved to the third platform).

Long term solution is a Subway IMHO - this would also solve the 'rockets everywhere' and 'air parcel rockets' issue.

[somebody]

The Cultural Centre platform 3 proposal IMO would aid this, albeit in an indirect way.  Should reduce the conflict with other buses when they leave the Melbourne St portal.

Third platform will only take out the CityGlider, 199, 192, 196, and 202 from the Cultural Centre. That's quite a few slots freed up, and also could get the non-BUZ routes out of there as well by terminating them before they reach the CBD.

However, this said, that might only free up 20 slots (removing west end services), maybe a bit more if terminators (300 series and 345 are moved to the third platform).

Long term solution is a Subway IMHO - this would also solve the 'rockets everywhere' and 'air parcel rockets' issue.

Yes, but preventing conflicts resulting in a shorter traffic light cycle (or longer phases within the same length cycle) would aid the Cultural Centre.

[#Metro]

I'm not arguing that it wouldn't but let's face it - at 180+ buses per hour, Cultural Centre is saturated.

[somebody]

Unless people are actually getting on there shouldn't be much delay per bus.

[Mr X]

Currently on IB 196, big bus jam out of SE busway at melb st portal inbound.. groan!

[#Metro]

Currently on IB 196, big bus jam out of SE busway at melb st portal inbound.. groan!

I suspect that they changed the light sequence so the 2 big buses would not smash into each other. I've noticed that when buses turn, one lane is held while the other is turning... this adds more delay.

[ozbob]

Twitter

TransLinkSEQ TransLink SEQ
Buses South Bank - Cultural Centre delayed <10mins due to heavy traffic.
1 hour ago

[somebody]

Currently on IB 196, big bus jam out of SE busway at melb st portal inbound.. groan!

I suspect that they changed the light sequence so the 2 big buses would not smash into each other. I've noticed that when buses turn, one lane is held while the other is turning... this adds more delay.

Take space from the northern footpath to widen the available turning circle?  <Ducks>

[ozbob]

Twitter

TransLinkSEQ TransLink SEQ
Buses through the western suburbs of Brisbane are experiencing delays due to congestion from an earlier traffic crash. http://t.co/HZRAFeCR
55 seconds ago

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1328480224

South East Busway delay

Inbound buses on the South East Busway are experiencing delays of up to 10 minutes, due to an earlier issue with traffic lights on the Melbourne Street intersection in South Brisbane.

[#Metro]

I was on the busway this morning 8:30 am or so at Buranda - nice bus pileup about 8 buses deep and blocking the double intersection to the Eastern Busway.

Love to see how the busway will cope when the full and proper E busway begins emptying thousands more people into the system.

They need to paint lines at the busway stations - all of them - and perhaps look at getting sensors for the spaces so that when a space is vacated
buses behind can see the slot and move into it.

Long term solution - North-South Subway
There should be NO metro anywhere in Brisbane until there is one on the SE Busway.

[somebody]

I was on the busway this morning 8:30 am or so at Buranda - nice bus pileup about 8 buses deep and blocking the double intersection to the Eastern Busway.

Love to see how the busway will cope when the full and proper E busway begins emptying thousands more people into the system.

They need to paint lines at the busway stations - all of them - and perhaps look at getting sensors for the spaces so that when a space is vacated
buses behind can see the slot and move into it.

Long term solution - North-South Subway
There should be NO metro anywhere in Brisbane until there is one on the SE Busway.

I can remember predicting these problems post Eastern Busway.  Not 100% sure if I did on this site, although I think so.  Previously these buses bypassed the busway completely in the AM and just used Stanley St. 

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1328510862

Long delays: crash near Donaldson Road, Rocklea

Route 100 and 118 outbound buses are delayed more than 20 minutes due to a crash on the Ipswich Motorway near Donaldson Road at Rocklea.

Several lanes are blocked.

Customers should consider catching a train on the Ipswich/Rosewood line wherever possible.

[somebody]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1328510862

Long delays: crash near Donaldson Road, Rocklea

Route 100 and 118 outbound buses are delayed more than 20 minutes due to a crash on the Ipswich Motorway near Donaldson Road at Rocklea.

Several lanes are blocked.

Customers should consider catching a train on the Ipswich/Rosewood line wherever possible.

Only one reason why the 103 should be extended.

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1328515365

Cultural Centre busway station delays

Buses heading south through the Cultural Centre busway station are delayed up to 10 minutes due to heavy traffic congesion this afternoon.

Earlier delays through King George Square busway station have now cleared.

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1329114713

Clarks Logan City buses on diversion

Route 553 and 566 buses are affected by flash flooding of Clark Road at Loganholme. As a result, buses in both directions will operate between Drews Road, Loganholme and Beenleigh using the Logan Motorway, then the Pacific Motorway. The two stops on Clarks Road and the stop on Drews Road near Ascot drive will not be serviced.

Route 550 and 551 buses are affected by flash flooding at Pauline Street and Kurrajong Drive at Marsden. Inbound buses will travel First Avenue, left onto Browns Plains Road, left onto Blue Gum Drive and right onto Cypress Drive and right on Barklya Place, right onto Chambers Flat Road and back to normal route. The Homestead Street/ Kurrajong Drive and Tamarind Street (Marsden Park Shops) stop will not be serviced.

Outbound 550 and 551 buses will travel down Chambers Flat Road, left onto Tamarind Street, left onto Cypress Drive, left onto Blue Gum Drive, right onto Browns Plains Road and right onto First Avenue. The Homestead Street/ Kurrajong Drive and Tamarind Street (Marsden Park Shops) stop will not be serviced.

Route 552 buses are affected by flash flooding at Shailer Road, Daisy Hill. More information on the diversion will be provided shortly.

These diversions will remain in place for the rest of the evening.

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1329115063

Sandgate Road bus delays at Boondall

Buses in both directions may be delayed up to 10-15 minutes due to a traffic crash on Sandgate Road (and Roghan Road) at Boondall.

Outbound 325 buses are on diversion as a result. They will turn left from Sandgate Road, right onto Holroyd Street, right Lyndhurst Road and left onto Roscommon Road before returning to normal route.

[Golliwog]

I didn't see an announcement for it, but at about 3.30pm there was a broken down artic at the front of the outbound South Bank busway station. Not sure why as I was observing from my office building, but buses were being restricted to accessing the platform one at a time at the rear of the stop. Needless to say, there was quite a queue of buses.