2010 Transport Wishlist

[#Metro]

Wishlist

• All major train lines to have off peak frequency of 15 minutes
• 109 + 66 combined and extended
• Translink to put their data into Google Maps and geocode their stops
• Buy more trains and buses
• Print and table Translink Annual Report (hopefully earlier!) with actual data, not spin

feel free to add more...

[O_128]

-Station upgrades begin to progresivley heighten platforms, modernise stations, TODs etc
- line upgrades
-finalisation of cross river study route aswell as tendering the project]
- Go card caps

[somebody]

All major train lines to have off peak frequency of 15 minutes

Let's hope so, but on Beenleigh & Cleveland we would need to content ourselves with 4tph on the inner parts.  Ipswich, Caboolture, Ferny Grove could go to the end.

This is something that I really don't think there is an excuse for not achieving, or at least making progress towards.

109 + 66 combined and extended

Mon-Fri you should replace service to Woollongabba, and you could live with only half of the 109+66 run going to RB&WH and probably only in peak times.
On Sunday, it could terminate at Roma St.

Translink to put their data into Google Maps and geocode their stops

Any form of map is something that should be achieved.

Buy more trains and buses

Aren't they already doing so?  I thought they can't build them any faster.

[O_128]

te]
Aren't they already doing so?  I thought they can't build them any faster.

or they can buy more from overseas

[#Metro]

Well apparently it takes 3 months or so to construct a bus. And they have 500 coming online.
IMHO there is a need for more trains for Australian Cities and NZ. I wonder if there is a case for opening a plant or something to construct new trains.

Aren't they already doing so?  I thought they can't build them any faster.

So how many are on order for 2010? I estimate the cost of a shiny new 3 car train is around ~ $8.8 million ea (in 2004 dollars). But they last 30+ years.

http://www.railpage.com.au/f-t11307061.htm

Mon-Fri you should replace service to Woollongabba, and you could live with only half of the 109+66 run going to RB&WH and probably only in peak times.
On Sunday, it could terminate at Roma St.

Good idea. 109+66 makes sense. That's why it won't be implemented.

[#Metro]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Western_Australia

WA has the same trains and the same gauge IIRC. don't think they'll loan us one though.
Melbourne has trams on loan from France for the St Kilda-CBD line (yes, Melbourne again...)

[somebody]

Good idea. 109+66 makes sense. That's why it won't be implemented.

But it wasn't mine.  I was just hammerring out some of the finer points.

[stephenk]

1) Route 66 (or another frequent busway only service) extended to RBWH.*
* This is still on my 2009 wishlist.
2) 15 min daytime Mon-Sun off-peak inner-suburban service (to Darra, Kuraby, Ferny Grove, Manly, Northgate or Petrie).
3) Target of no more than 15 min gaps during peak period on major lines.
4) At least 30 min service at all other times, such as late night and early Sunday am.
5) Daily and/or weekly capped Go-Card fares.

[Arnz]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Western_Australia

WA has the same trains and the same gauge IIRC. don't think they'll loan us one though.
Melbourne has trams on loan from France for the St Kilda-CBD line (yes, Melbourne again...)

TransPerth/WA trains are basically built in Qld, same facility where QR Passenger trains are built.

[#Metro]

Isn't there another facility in Geelong, Victoria?

[somebody]

Good idea. 109+66 makes sense. That's why it won't be implemented.

Here's an alternate idea:
Abolish the 66 & 160.  Convert current 160 runs into 111 runs and extend the 111 to QUT KG Mon-Sat.  Leave the 109 alone.  Extend 333 to Woolloongabba Mon-Fri.  Put returning 331/332/341 + any others into service between RB&WH & Roma St.  Perhaps extend half the 111s Mon-Fri to RB&WH if required.  Use the space freed up in QSBS to consolidate all Ipswich Rd services into QSBS, and probably the 222.

I think this would save more money than just combining 109+66, and a common stop (KGSBS) for a frequent SE busway service, combined with freeing up space in KGSBS would both be good things too.

[david]

More ideas:

- Able to track where your bus is via mobile
- More feeder services into train stations
- Fix up messy bus routes near Algester/Parkinson
- Fix up bus routes to UQ on Toowong/Indooroopilly side
- Create two standard (longer) express patterns on Ipswich line
- Start planning for a Western Busway
- Upgrade 3-car services on Beenleigh and Cleveland lines
- More peak-hour train services on all lines

[somebody]

- Able to track where your bus is via mobile

Isn't that a bit unrealistic.  I'd be happy if they just got the dynamic displays working properly.

- Fix up bus routes to UQ on Toowong/Indooroopilly side

What's wrong with the bus routes?

- Create two standard (longer) express patterns on Ipswich line

Definitely.  Two patterns for peak, probably different pattern(s) for off peak.

[p858snake]

- Able to track where your bus is via mobile

Maybe a decent mobile web interface for the translink site and then put the data in a open format resource so that anyone can use it for anything.

[ozbob]

On time train performance > 98% 24/7.

15 minute train frequency 5am to 8pm Mon to Fri, outside that 20 minute.

Capping and periodical options on the GO card.  Functional equipment for the go card.  

[#Metro]

Isn't that a bit unrealistic.  I'd be happy if they just got the dynamic displays working properly.

Bus tracking might be possible. I think in Melbourne, you put in the stop code and it will tell you what is coming to that stop.

Newer phones have GPS and triangulation installed as well as maps. If there were some way the data could be received by these phones, rather than just go to the displays at selected bus stops, then every stop could be turned into one with a display (by using a person's iphone or whatever).

If this caught on, there wouldn't be a need to print so many timetables and install/repair/fix vandalised and malfunctioning displays at major stops.

[david]

- Fix up bus routes to UQ on Toowong/Indooroopilly side

What's wrong with the bus routes?

It's not the routes as such. It's the timetable. At the moment, 402's and 412's leave whenever they want and there's no predictability to their timetable. If you're lucky, there could be a bus 1 minute away, but if you're not, then there's a 15 minute wait (possibly 30 if the bus is too full) The 427/428/432 also have this problem from Indooroopilly. At the UQ end, they're all bunched up and all three routes leave within 5 minutes of each other, leaving a 30 minute to 1 hour wait for the next service. I personally think that they should leave in 20 minute intervals.

[stephenk]

Good idea. 109+66 makes sense. That's why it won't be implemented.

Here's an alternate idea:
Abolish the 66 & 160.  Convert current 160 runs into 111 runs and extend the 111 to QUT KG Mon-Sat.  Leave the 109 alone.  Extend 333 to Woolloongabba Mon-Fri.  Put returning 331/332/341 + any others into service between RB&WH & Roma St.  Perhaps extend half the 111s Mon-Fri to RB&WH if required.  Use the space freed up in QSBS to consolidate all Ipswich Rd services into QSBS, and probably the 222.

I think this would save more money than just combining 109+66, and a common stop (KGSBS) for a frequent SE busway service, combined with freeing up space in KGSBS would both be good things too.

Sounds a bit complex. Due to the variable and sometimes very long dwell times at QUT KG, it makes sense that the primary route serving it is a relatively short route with no knock on effects to other users travelling from the CBD to Southside.

[dwb]

@stephenk

Sounds a bit complex. Due to the variable and sometimes very long dwell times at QUT KG, it makes sense that the primary route serving it is a relatively short route with no knock on effects to other users travelling from the CBD to Southside.

What about reducing just dwell times, prepaid-multi-wider-door-buses?

[dwb]

my wish is they don't change fares until they've some consultation/engagement on it, resolved issues and implemented a value based monthly post-paid cap.

others include:
-shifts toward metro style operation (values of frequency, speed, reliability, ease of understanding, access to info etc)
-bus lanes to address buses caught in traffic
-real realtime info
-maps at stops, on net, in timetables

[david]

Here's an alternate idea:
Abolish the 66 & 160.  Convert current 160 runs into 111 runs and extend the 111 to QUT KG Mon-Sat.  Leave the 109 alone.  Extend 333 to Woolloongabba Mon-Fri.  Put returning 331/332/341 + any others into service between RB&WH & Roma St.  Perhaps extend half the 111s Mon-Fri to RB&WH if required.  Use the space freed up in QSBS to consolidate all Ipswich Rd services into QSBS, and probably the 222.

I think this would save more money than just combining 109+66, and a common stop (KGSBS) for a frequent SE busway service, combined with freeing up space in KGSBS would both be good things too.

Interesting idea. I wouldn't go as far as abolishing the 160. It has its merits - firstly, it's a good sweeper service for the 111 and secondly, the route is useful as a way using buses getting back to/originating from Garden City Depot to transport passengers and reduce dead running.

I still would like to see the 109+66 idea come to fruition. It could give excellent connections to all the major institutions (QUT, RBWH, Mater, PA, UQ), tourism attractions (City, South Bank) and give the Boggo Road busway a full-time service to the City. I can see why Translink are reluctant to move the 109 into the Boggo Road Busway though. They're probably afraid that the intersection between the SEB and EB/Boggo Road won't be able to cope with the increased traffic (not to mention the Wolloongabba junction). Also, once the Boggo Road Village opens, I suspect they would want more people to use trains than buses.

The 333 extension to Wolloongabba should make up for the loss of the 66.

More items to add to the Wishlist:

- Replace PIDs at Roma St with the new LCD ones
- Sort out QSBS mess - consider moving more services to KGSBS
- More ticket machines at popular stations (especially Roma St)
- More go card readers, fare gates at selected high-use stations
- Commitment to Springfield Line
- More commuter input into timetables - earlier release of timetables for feedback before implementation

[Emmie]

- Fix up bus routes to UQ on Toowong/Indooroopilly side
What's wrong with the bus routes?

The 402 only operates during 'term time' - which means for staff, the service declines horribly as soon as semester ends.  UQ is a big EMPLOYER, not just a destination for students.  Translink defines 'term time' to the barest minimum, too, although many students do summer courses, pre-term orientation courses, etc.

Toowong is a very unsatisfactory interchange - okay on the outbound journey from train station to bus stop via an overpass, but terrible in the opposite direction with a busy road to cross, and a bus stop that blocks the free flow of traffic turning left.

Toowong railway station is unmanned from 7pm.  This is much too early, since some lectures end at 7pm, and the library is open until 8pm.  Security is an issue.

There are no 402 buses by evening, and the 412 is always hugely overcrowded at 7pm.

There are no through services on the Shorncliffe line after 6.38pm.

The 412 leaves on the dot of the hour - which is cunningly designed to miss any students and staff finishing lectures at (allegedly) 10 minutes to the hour. - and cunningly designed to miss the X.08 Shorncliffe service.

There is nowhere to buy tickets at either bus station at UQ - GO cards can be topped up at the news agent, but only during business hours.

Need I go on?

[Fares_Fair]

How about a transport system that works without regular major disruptions.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[somebody]

Sounds a bit complex. Due to the variable and sometimes very long dwell times at QUT KG, it makes sense that the primary route serving it is a relatively short route with no knock on effects to other users travelling from the CBD to Southside.

If you flesh out the details messing with the 66 is always likely to get complex.  It's a route which covers surge capacity, combining it with anything that is required to provide a full time service would require 2 terminuses for said route.  The annoying part about my proposal is if you do, in fact, need to extend some services to RB&WH.  That makes 3 terminuses.

It would be nice to have QUT KG provided by a short route, I guess.

Interesting idea. I wouldn't go as far as abolishing the 160. It has its merits - firstly, it's a good sweeper service for the 111.

Never heard the term "sweeper service" before I came to Brisbane.  The 111/160 are fine heading inbound except for only providing a 10 minute peak frequency to Roma St from the SE busway.  If you are going to the city, you can just get on the next service.  The problem comes when you are heading outbound.  Are you going to go to KGSBS or QSBS?  Obviously, in the weekday you are going to QSBS and probably getting on a service which will be leaving the busway.  This makes the 111 not that useful, because it's frequency isn't that good really. I would defintely abolish the 160, unless you abolish the 111 and increase frequency on the 160 instead (which would probably need to go to 8 mile plains).  Two routes doesn't make sense.

and secondly, the route is useful as a way using buses getting back to/originating from Garden City Depot to transport passengers and reduce dead running.

I don't believe that this point is any sort of a reason to keep the 160.  Also, that stop is also served by the 150.

I still would like to see the 109+66 idea come to fruition. It could give excellent connections to all the major institutions (QUT, RBWH, Mater, PA, UQ), tourism attractions (City, South Bank) and give the Boggo Road busway a full-time service to the City. I can see why Translink are reluctant to move the 109 into the Boggo Road Busway though. They're probably afraid that the intersection between the SEB and EB/Boggo Road won't be able to cope with the increased traffic (not to mention the Wolloongabba junction). Also, once the Boggo Road Village opens, I suspect they would want more people to use trains than buses.

Only if the 109+66 is deviated via the busway, which would slow down service to UQ.

- Sort out QSBS mess - consider moving more services to KGSBS

I wouldn't like this.  In an ideal world the KGSBS should be able to hold all Kelvin Grove Rd service, all western services, and all services to the Gap and the 350+352 should also go along for the ride.  But it's not that big, so wasting the space on SE busway services which are better off in QSBS or on Adelaide St isn't a good thing.

The part I would like them doing is putting services to the same place leaving from the same location.


Regarding the bus routes between Toowong and UQ, so the main problem is frequency then.  Perhaps the 428 should be sacrificed after 7pm or some time like that.  It's not that much harder to get to Indro via Toowong.

There are no through services on the Shorncliffe line after 6.38pm.

Yes, that's only another problem with the general tight fisted running of the rail system.

[somebody]

Due to the variable and sometimes very long dwell times at QUT KG

Isn't this something they could do something about, by having a timetabled dwell at QUT KG like what they do at QSBS.

[Sunbus610]

I wouldn't mind seeing some improvement/upgrades done to the Sunshine Coast's major bus interchange Sunshine Plaza (Maroochydore) in 2010.

[O_128]

I am really hoping that 2010 will be the year of 15 min off peak frequency but of course the election isnt until 2011