BUZ 385 - A bus stop at Caxton Please!

[#Metro]

What the?

What will serve Payne Rd?

I'd want to see loading stats, and broken down into I/B and O/B for the rockets.

374 I'm inclined to agree that it should go.

I agree with Simon on this one. CUT!! 

[somebody]

I notice this bus service cuts back to 15 minute frequency from 8:20??

ridiculous!!

caught the 8:35 and by the time it was at paddington @ 8:55 bus was full with people having to hold onto the drivers seat & front gocard scanners.

Made a complaint to translink about it suggesting at least 10 minute frequency up till at least 9am.

It seems the little restriction of not being able to use the double/extended buses is now working against translink on this bus route and they are slowly running out of options (even with 5 minute frequency)  Whats next for the 385?

Please explain what the problem is with this.  A single service filling up within the area which is also served by the 375?  Does it fill up consistently?  Were people even left behind at all?  The 8:20 service arrives at KGSBS @ 8:47am.  10 minutes later you wouldn't be reaching any office in the city by 9am, and most people seem to start work before 9am here.

[#Metro]

Please explain what the problem is with this.  A single service filling up within the area which is also served by the 375?  Does it fill up consistently?  Were people even left behind at all?  The 8:20 service arrives at KGSBS @ 8:47am.  10 minutes later you wouldn't be reaching any office in the city by 9am, and most people seem to start work before 9am here.

These are good questions, but when I looked at the timetable I noticed a few gaps. Like there will be services every 5 min and then suddenly a gap of 10 mins or so. While it is true that most people get into the CBD by 9 am, workers, particularly government ones, might have flexible hours and start 9:30 or even 10 am???

Is there a reason why larger buses can't be used there?

[somebody]

Is there a reason why larger buses can't be used there?

A couple.  KGSBS stops won't support them, Toowong and Virginia depots don't have them.  And there isn't sufficient demand on the route for it from all reports.

[#Metro]

What, not even the rigid bigger ones?

[somebody]

What, not even the rigid bigger ones?

I don't think so, on both counts.  I'd also add that drivers at appropriate depots don't necessarily have the HR licence required for the 14.5m buses or bendies.

[#Metro]

I can accept this:

I don't think so, on both counts.

But this can be changed:

I'd also add that drivers at appropriate depots don't necessarily have the HR licence required for the 14.5m buses or bendies.

[Arnz]

I can accept this:

I don't think so, on both counts.

But this can be changed:

I'd also add that drivers at appropriate depots don't necessarily have the HR licence required for the 14.5m buses or bendies.

There is also the issue of depot room. 

If I do recall correctly, Toowong and Virginia depots are close to capacity and would require moving buses between depots to fit in 14.5s or (the Gas) Bendies.  All while at the same time having to train drivers from both depots.

[SurfRail]

What will serve Payne Rd?

Make this the 380 and make this the 385.

The western end of the 375 can just be served by an upgraded/extended 475 derivative. 

Easy.

[somebody]

What will serve Payne Rd?

Make this the 380 and make this the 385.

The western end of the 375 can just be served by an upgraded/extended 475 derivative. 

Easy.

Proposed the former myself at one point.  The 375/475 combo makes some sense, and I've mentioned it recently, but I imagine 375 people mightn't like not going through Paddington.  On the other hand, serving the Baroona Rd shops seems a reasonable alternative.  I'm not sure what way I'm inclined to go here.  There is also the issue with slowing down the 385 by adding more stops.

edit: mod training wheels, undid mistake

[SurfRail]

There is also the issue with slowing down the 385 by adding more stops.

By running a single route at higher frequency waiting times come down and volumes at what were previously express stops can dissipate a bit.  Shouldn't be a material difference, and this way everywhere has the same very high frequency instead of just the "white" stops.

To reinforce - I don't suggest painting all the white stops yellow.  I would want to improve the minimum spacing to something like 600m absolute minimum with limited exceptions for things like nursing homes, schools etc (which could probably be accommodated mainly just by sequencing stops properly and not doubling up).

[somebody]

Possibly.  A slower service could also trade off the higher frequency.  Depends on "how much?" of each.

[techblitz]

Regarding 385 numbers. If there is anyone else on this forum who uses the service regularly then please speak up.

I use the 385 service a few afternoons each week for connection to the 362 (4.56pm)

I catch it either from KGSBS & sometimes roma st. This is alway during the pm 5 minute peak hour services outbound.

If anyone has seen the lineups at KGSBS during this time its quite mindblowing. To the point where each 5 minute 385 bus is a sardine can before leaving KGSBS and if not then.....by the time it leaves roma st. I feel for those people who catch it from roma st as they are forced to stand (virtually always).
This bus route can get rough sometimes with all the hills etc. When standing on this bus service it is like a standing roller coaster ride.So to me this is unacceptable for the peak hour fares paid

and if anyone knows the area from paddington to the gap....it is still an apartment development hotspot so commuter population wont be declining in the near future. Its a demographics problem which needs to be looked at for this area. Current bus routes around paddington definitely need to be reviewed so as to ease burden on the 385 which to be honest has nowhere to go from here.

Like i said , in the sohrt term the least translink should do is review the 385 frequency. There is no shame in upping it to 3 minute frequency peak hour if need be. If it means less people standing on thier rollercoaster ride through the hills then so be it.

[#Metro]

Maybe they need to bite the bullet and pull 385 out of the bus station and make it stop on Adelaide street like it used to. Then you could use bigger buses. Have the rockets leave from the same stop. Put a BUZ 350 or 359 into KGSBS to replace it.

[techblitz]

Maybe they need to bite the bullet and pull 385 out of the bus station and make it stop on Adelaide street like it used to. Then you could use bigger buses. Have the rockets leave from the same stop. Put a BUZ 350 or 359 into KGSBS to replace it.

Kudos to translink for upping it to 5 minute frequency but in as little as 6 months it will be nowhere near enough. Your idea sounds like a step in the right direction Bigger buses will definitely help the situation! For my 385 inbound trips during a.m peak hour only a few people get off @ roma st and majority off @ king george.

[SurfRail]

BUZing the 380 and giving both services the same departure stands would help immensely.

[somebody]

Kudos to translink for upping it to 5 minute frequency but in as little as 6 months it will be nowhere near enough. Your idea sounds like a step in the right direction Bigger buses will definitely help the situation! For my 385 inbound trips during a.m peak hour only a few people get off @ roma st and majority off @ king george.

It's only 5 minute frequency outbound from 5:15pm to 5:20pm ex-Cultural Centre.  There's a couple of 7-8 minute gaps, but mostly it is 10 minute frequency.  It's only 5 minute frequency from 7:30am to 7:50am ex-Waterworks inbound.

http://translink.com.au/resources/travel-information/network-information/timetables/120123-382,383,P384,385,N385.pdf

Maybe they need to bite the bullet and pull 385 out of the bus station and make it stop on Adelaide street like it used to. Then you could use bigger buses. Have the rockets leave from the same stop. Put a BUZ 350 or 359 into KGSBS to replace it.

Only way I could support that if it used the Roma St/Turbot St/Queen St route inbound.  Anything else is just too slow!

When standing on this bus service it is like a standing roller coaster ride.So to me this is unacceptable for the peak hour fares paid

It's unacceptable to stand in peak hour?  Cry me a river.