Article: Fare cop not fair: Translink (bus discussion)

[david]

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/fare-cop-not-fair-translink-20111116-1nj4g.html#ixzz1duYOeawy

Mr Longland also gave other explanations for each of the 10 most declining bus routes, between July and October, offered by the council, which are listed below.

1. Route P461: Forest Lake to Heathwood - 34.86 per cent drop (19,016 down to 12,387)

"More than 1000 people a day now using the Richlands train station," Mr Longland said.

2. Route 462: Darra Station to Heathwood - 26.59 per cent drop (19,300 down to 14,234)

"In addition to the 462 (Darra to Heathwood route), TransLink introduced the feeder routes 465 (Richlands to Heathwood) running the same corridor in January 2011, feeding into Richlands station to meet demand in this growing area."

3. Route 111: Eight Mile Plains to Roma Street busway - 21.67 per cent drop (764,054 down to 598,449)

"The addition of the high-frequency route 88 (Eight Mile Plains to Indooroopilly) in December 2010 has relieved pressure and full bus loads on route 111 (Eight Mile Plains to CBD) and route 160 (Garden City to CBD)."

4. Route P458: Mt Ommaney to City (pre-paid) - 21.54 per cent drop (6498 down to 5104); and

5. Route 467: Sinnamon Park to Oxley station - 20.73 per cent drop (11,584 down to 9183)

"A significant upgrade to Ipswich line train services in more than 15 years has seen a number of people move from the route P458 (Mt Ommaney to CBD) and 467 (Sinnamon Park to Oxley) to train. These are peak commuters taking advantage of express and all stop trains running every six minutes from Darra."

6. Route 467 (sic - 201?): Carindale Heights to City - 20.6 per cent drop (67, 575 down to 53,653)

"Additional routes to Carindale – including the upgrade of route 222 (Carindale to CBD) to high frequency and peak routes 217 (Carindale to CBD) and 205 (Carindale Heights to CBD) – has provided an alternative to route 201 (Carindale Heights to CBD)."

7. Route 195: New Farm to City (all stops) - 20.37 per cent drop (36,291 down to 28,899)

"The upgrade of route 196 (New Farm to Fairfield Gardens) to high-frequency and a restructure of the New Farm services earlier this year provided an alternative to peak-only route 195 (New Farm to CBD)."

8. Route 417: Long Pocket to City (all stops) - 19.88 per cent drop (60,047 down to 48,109)

"Customers on route 417 (Long Pocket to CBD) also benefited from a restructure to services connecting to trains every three minutes through Indooroopilly station. The restructure involved UQ to Indooroopilly services – routes 427, 428 and 432 (all Kenmore/Chapel Hill to UQ)."

9. Route 135: Algester to City express service - 18.65 per cent drop (165,080 down to 134,299)

"Route 135 (Algester to CBD) services the Mains Road corridor which is also serviced by high frequency routes 130 (Algester to CBD), 140 (Browns Plains to CBD) as well as other peak hour services."

10. Route 160: Garden City to City busway service - 17.26 per cent drop (310,955 down to 257,298)

"The addition of the high-frequency route 88 (Eight Mile Plains to Indooroopilly) in December 2010 has relieved pressure and full bus loads on ... route 160 (Garden City to CBD)."

[david]

Mr Longland has a fair point with the P461, 462, 467.

For the 461, passenger numbers have collapsed since the opening of Richlands station, hence why I have been calling for its removal. With the 462, the passenger numbers have been shared with 465, plus the frequency of the 462 has quietly been reduced. I hope that Translink

Similarly, for the 467, I have been calling for the service to be diverted to Darra. Clearly, the passenger numbers now back up my views, and Mr Longland has admitted that many of the passengers who used to use the 467 now drive to Darra.

As for the P458, I have been calling for it to be diverted to Darra Station, with a slight route alteration. I have also called for the P459 to run to UQ.

I am not surprised at the fall in numbers for the 111 and 160. P88 is a better option for those travelling from the busway to the City, as it avoids the debacle that is Cultural Centre.

[Mr X]

Surprised route 198 isn't on that list.

Oh wait, you need to have had patronage originally to be able to record a decline. My bad! 

[Fares_Fair]

It is encouraging to see a detailed and thorough response by TRANSLink to all of the bus issues raised. 

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[MaxHeadway]

Route 135 (Algester to CBD) services the Mains Road corridor which is also serviced by high frequency routes 130 (Algester to CBD), 140 (Browns Plains to CBD) as well as other peak hour services.

WAT? [Insert giant rubber duck pic here] Routes 130 and 140 have already been BUZ routes for some time now, so they have nothing to do with declining ridership on the 135!

[somebody]

I posted this in the "New fare strategy thread":

Some of their explanations make sense, but some are spin.

458, 467 & 135 are particularly underwhelming.

I'd cite an alternate explanation for a decline in the 417 - Closure of the Indooroopilly Sciences Centre and CSIRO site next door.

Great to have some patronage figures.  Are they quarterly?  That's what it seems from the numbers.