Our public transport positives ...

[ozbob]

We do focus on improvements but what would you consider are successes and positives of our public transport network?

To get things rolling ..

1. Integrated ticketing - definitely a good thing.

2. Staff are generally very friendly and helpful I find,  train crew, station staff, bus drivers ferry crew and other support staff.

3. Frequency of buses on the busway system is generally good (some exceptions).

4. Peak rail timetables are generally adequate.

[somebody]

I differ on the "bus drivers generally helpful". Here's an example of what I am talking about: On a 170 O/B at the Cultural Centre, someone gets on and asks: "Does this bus go to Garden City?" Driver says: "Yes". Correct, but the more correct answer was: "Yes, but you should use a 111, 150 or 555 instead". In Sydney, I have certainly had the better answer provided.  Bus drivers do not know the system and cannot provide help to other pax, other than where their bus goes.  In Sydney, they do know.

I also differ on the peak rail timetables.  What is with all the fat in the express train's times, in particular.

[BrizCommuter]

4. Peak rail timetables are generally adequate.

BrizCommuter would question that one. 23min peak gaps at stations on the inner Ferny Grove, Cleveland, and Beenleigh Lines. 45 min gaps to Doomben. Even 30 min peak gaps to the Airport. Not good enough.

[somebody]

In spite of single track, the Cleveland line isn't that bad in peak.  Biggest gap I could see is 18 minutes.  It's a rare example of a line which meets Translink's rather feeble service standard.  The 23 minute gap for certain stations on the Beenleigh line leaving Central between 17:10 and 17:33 is a bit of a shocker, but that is the worst one.  The Ferny Grove line's 23 minute gap applies between 7:15am and 7:37am Central arrivals, I'd call that more "shoulder peak", but it isn't acceptable off peak and so it shouldn't be acceptable in peak.

You don't mention the worst one though, the >30minute gaps on the Shorncliffe line!  I view this as worse than Doomben (which is also unacceptable) as more people are affected.

[Fares_Fair]

We do focus on improvements but what would you consider are successes and positives of our public transport network?

To get things rolling ..

1. Integrated ticketing - definitely a good thing.

2. Staff are generally very friendly and helpful I find,  train crew, station staff, bus drivers ferry crew and other support staff.

3. Frequency of buses on the busway system is generally good (some exceptions).

4. Peak rail timetables are generally adequate.

I have always found QR station staff, guards etc. to be helpful, courteous and professional in all my dealings with them,
from lost property to guidance on travel arrangements through to announcements recognising commuters who retire or move on.
IMHO, they are second to none in terms of service. 

Clive, who we see at Central station most weekday mornings is another fine example of customer service.
He almost always say's "hello" if he isn't busy helping someone through the gates.

I did start a post here somewhere a little while back for acknowledgement of these situations.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]

I feel safe using the system, with guards on late night trains and CCTV cameras at stations.  I think those who clean and maintain the trains do a good job -- just look at the dirty trains in Sydney.  Cleaning staff did a fantastic job cleaning the work of vandals from trains after the floods.

[BrizCommuter]

In spite of single track, the Cleveland line isn't that bad in peak.  Biggest gap I could see is 18 minutes.  It's a rare example of a line which meets Translink's rather feeble service standard.  The 23 minute gap for certain stations on the Beenleigh line leaving Central between 17:10 and 17:33 is a bit of a shocker, but that is the worst one.  The Ferny Grove line's 23 minute gap applies between 7:15am and 7:37am Central arrivals, I'd call that more "shoulder peak", but it isn't acceptable off peak and so it shouldn't be acceptable in peak.

You don't mention the worst one though, the >30minute gaps on the Shorncliffe line!  I view this as worse than Doomben (which is also unacceptable) as more people are affected.

There are also 23 minute am peak gaps on the Cleveland (early am peak) and Beenleigh Line (late am peak). The 23min gap on the Ferny Grove is definitely peak, many car parks are full by this service and the 1st express service. I have seen up to 40 standees per carriage on the ex-Mitchelton train after the 23min gap.

[Golliwog]

On the topic of helpful bus drivers, some may not know, but I've had many who do. I was a Brookside a few years ago and looking to go to the city, and the next bus to pull in was the 361, when I bought the ticket form the driver (this was before the gocard-or at least I didn't have one yet) and I told him to the City, he recommended waiting for the 390. I didn't, as I was in no hurry, but certainly found out why.

Travelling on the busway and rail network is a breeze, stops are clearly marked, easy to use, and changing between services is simple (I've taken to at times catching a 139/169 to Buranda then changing to a city bus/77 when the lines/wait for a 109 is too long) travelling outside of the busway is also pretty damn good if you're on the frequent routes, or know which routes all travel to the same area (for example the 200, 204, 174 and 175 all travel through to Stones Corner/Mains Avenue so I know I can just jump on one of those at South Bank) though that isn't always well advertised or known. Not sure about the older busway stations, but I know the newer ones (and the new train stations) sign their exits/platforms better. So Grovely not only tells you where the exit is, but that it exits onto Dawson Pde or whatever that other street is. Don't think it directs to the bus stop though, but if you know the bus travels on Dawson Pde then you would find it pretty easily.

[ozbob]

Some peak timetables need improvements clearly, but in general terms adequate IMHO.  Adequate is a long way from good.

This thread is turning out to be useful to flesh out the specific areas for improvement in the peak as often we just focus on a blanket off peak increase.

[#Metro]

the BUZ!!!

[somebody]

Travelling on the busway and rail network is a breeze,

Could still be better on the busway.  My particular bone of contention is at Buranda/Greenslopes/Holland Park West, how are you supposed to know the 130/135/140/150 do not serve the station?

[somebody]

There are also 23 minute am peak gaps on the Cleveland (early am peak) and Beenleigh Line (late am peak). The 23min gap on the Ferny Grove is definitely peak, many car parks are full by this service and the 1st express service. I have seen up to 40 standees per carriage on the ex-Mitchelton train after the 23min gap.

Yes, ok, there is a 22 minute gap on the Beenleigh line for Salisbury, Moorooka, Rocklea and Banoon.  It would have been good if the Tennyson train could have been back-extended to start at Kuraby to address this one, given that it is not to serve Tennyson from 6 June.

And a 23 minute gap between the 7:13am and 7:36am arrivals at Central from Wynnum Central-Buranda.  A lot of workers in QLD start earlier than in the southern states, something which probably should be encouraged as it makes temporal spreading easier.

[BrizCommuter]

  It would have been good if the Tennyson train could have been back-extended to start at Kuraby to address this one, given that it is not to serve Tennyson from 6 June.

There will have to be a few minor changes to "the other lines" timetables due to removal of the via Tennyson trains. The via Tennyson trains must now start and end somewhere else. No word yet - maybe 3rd June? Oh wait, they are now up on TransLink's website, lets have a look...

[BrizCommuter]

...just Yeerongpilly starters now. Mediocrity shines again.

No other obvious changes to Beenleigh or Ferny Grove Lines timetables. At least the 07:06am ex-FG will now not get constantly delayed by the late running ex-Caboolture train.

[somebody]

Mediocrity shines again.

If you don't like it, I'm questioning if you can live in Qld!!

[BrizCommuter]

Mediocrity shines again.

If you don't like it, I'm questioning if you can live in Qld!!

To be honest, if BrizCommuter wasn't tied to SE Queensland due to personal reasons, he would be living elsewhere!

[somebody]

Mediocrity shines again.

If you don't like it, I'm questioning if you can live in Qld!!

To be honest, if BrizCommuter wasn't tied to SE Queensland due to personal reasons, he would be living elsewhere!

I have work reasons.  Enough that I am prepared to continue to persist in Qld for a while.