Article: New CityGlider to link stadiums with entertainment precincts

[somebody]

 

They've certainly reached a new low with this route.  The re-entering the busway also allows serving W'Gabba, although they could do what the 250 used to do.

[Golliwog]

They've certainly reached a new low with this route.  The re-entering the busway also allows serving W'Gabba, although they could do what the 250 used to do.

I honestly think you'd get a better outcome if you just fixed the GCL (something like the 590 - frequent!) to provide a better connection Ashgrove-Jubilee Tce then canned the 222 and just run the 385 through along the busway to Stones Corner.

[techblitz]

quote:

The route will operate from Ashgrove to Stones Corner connecting major sporting, entertainment, shopping and dining precincts. Attractions along the route include Suncorp Stadium, Caxton Street food and cultural precinct, King George Square, Southbank Parklands and Stones Corner outlet shopping.

this is by the far the most benficial aspect of the maroon glider.Combined with the city glider it suddenly brings weekend all night access to brisbanes growing inner city nightlife (which will continue to grow)
.Im excited for one...... as it brings a more level playing field for the inner city restaurants,pubs who are not placed along the all night city glider route.

Will also be good to monitor the weekday peak hour numbers between the cultural center and ashgrove.

[Gazza]

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151229673971105&set=o.80836222708&type=1&theater

Im excited for one...... as it brings a more level playing field for the inner city restaurants,pubs who are not placed along the all night city glider route.

Why not more N services?

Would have been cheaper than a foam express bus right down Langlands park, with the only actual stop on Logan Road being here: http://goo.gl/maps/4Dazy
The only 'nightlife' I see there would be breaking into cars in that yard.

[beauyboy]

I still perfer a 175 BUZ with a N175 for the weekends.

Oh and if Culture isn't already a log jam at peak hour

[red dragin]

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151229673971105&set=o.80836222708&type=1&theater

Im excited for one...... as it brings a more level playing field for the inner city restaurants,pubs who are not placed along the all night city glider route.

Why not more N services?

Would have been cheaper than a foam express bus right down Langlands park, with the only actual stop on Logan Road being here: http://goo.gl/maps/4Dazy
The only 'nightlife' I see there would be breaking into cars in that yard.

There is an new apartment building at that stop, but hardly worth a bus route! The whole are was to redevelop, but the GFC and nicer places to live slowed that right down (hence the car storage yard).

[kazzac]

What about  Bulimba???Still waiting for a BUZ/Glider service. 

[somebody]

I suggest that they feel that the busway stations at Stone's Corner and Langlands Park are underserved.

Problem is failing to utilise them for the 200 and 204, as I said when it opened.

[Gazza]

Why not send the Maroon Glider down Deshon st and double back, and then redivert the 200 onto the Busway?

[SurfRail]

Why not extend the Maroon Cityglider to the Camp Hill Hotel.  Doesn't have an express stop out the front, so clearly another bus route is needed.

[ozbob]

Media release 9th February 2013

SEQ: Maroon CityGlider to debut but no BulimbaGlider in sight

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has highlighted the pending introduction of the Maroon CityGlider.



Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"TransLink has made radical modifications to the original Maroon CityGlider route, which now includes routing the service to travel via Cultural Centre for bus connections and the Inner Northern Busway.

"Although these changes are an improvement, fundamentally the Maroon CityGlider does not serve any people who do not have access to a frequent bus service already. What this means is that local residents of Brisbane's notorious public transport 'no-go' zones such as Centenary suburbs, the Northwest and of course, Bulimba, again miss out on high frequency, all day decent service."

"It also means that the bulk of passengers who will use this new service will be existing public transport passengers on existing TransLink services, rather than making any meaningful reduction in car use while at the same time increasing TransLink's operational costs."

"Suncorp Stadium already has a train station (Milton) with free buses put on game days anyway, Caxton Street food and cultural precinct has the BUZ 385, King George Square is served by multiple BUZ routes as is Southbank Parklands and Stones Corner outlet shopping has a brand new $465 million dollar busway station plus another busway station across the road with a train station on top of that as well."

"Compare this to Bulimba where decent, frequent bus services are unheard of and car parking chaos is common."

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org


Feedback on the lack of a BulimbaGlider and the Maroon CityGlider may be directed to Brisbane City Council at:

maroon.cityglider@brisbane.qld.gov.au

CityGlider Service Brisbane City Council Transport and Traffic Branch
GPO Box 1434
Brisbane Qld 4001

References:

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9356.0

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/calls-for-bulimba-glider-rejected-20120201-1qtbt.html

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7575.msg99168#msg99168

http://backontrack.org/docs/sea/sea_19dec12_p5.jpg

http://www.busaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=65472&p=840887#p840828

[BrizCommuter]

Is the actual start date of the Maroon SillyGlider known yet?

[somebody]

Is the actual start date of the Maroon SillyGlider known yet?

February 18th

According to ATDB.

[BrizCommuter]

Nothing like a last minute announcement then (again)!

[somebody]

Yep.  Looks like the carry on which applied under Bligh with changes not being announced until the Thursday before they were to start was as much the councils' fault as the Bligh govt.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Looks like the bus network review has done wonders.

[somebody]

Looks like the bus network review has done wonders.

Hasn't been implemented yet.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Looks like the bus network review has done wonders.

Hasn't been implemented yet.

My point exactly.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

CityGlider spreads its wings

CityGlider spreads its wings
February 12, 2013 - 12:01AM

It's been dubbed the $9 million 'food and footy' service, it's designed to run at fast-food speed and now City Hall has revealed when the much-touted maroon CityGlider bus service will kick off.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk will be joined by top sporting talent, including Brisbane Roar captain Matt Smith and Queensland Reds hooker James Hanson, on Tuesday to announce February 18 as the first day passengers can board the high-frequency Ashgrove to Stones Corner service.

Designed to link the city's major sporting and cultural locations and modelled after the popular blue Teneriffe to West End glider, the new pre-paid service operates for 18 hours Sunday to Thursday, and 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays.

And, like the blue glider, it will run every 10 minutes during peak periods and 15 minutes in off-peak times, while also operating through the night on Friday and Saturday every 30 minutes after midnight.
Advertisement

Cr Quirk said ratepayers would enjoy better connectivity and reduced traffic congestion as a result of the service which would "no doubt be popular with sports fans".

"We anticipate the service will be a real boost for local businesses, tourists and commuters," Cr Quirk.

Meanwhile Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said the frequency of the maroon CityGlider would make it attractive to passengers.

"The blue and maroon CityGliders will become two of the most recognisable and popular features of public transport in Brisbane," Mr Emerson said.

To mark the launch, fare-free travel will be offered on the maroon CityGlider until the end of February.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/cityglider-spreads-its-wings-20130211-2e8nj.html

[BrizCommuter]

6 days notice - how mediocre!

http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/maroon-sillyglider-to-be-introduced.html

[cartoonbirdhaus]

From the Brisbane Times:  "It's designed to run at fast-food speed"

It's like fast food alright: adding more fat to the system. As for the stopping pattern: There'll be all these people at Bardon and Paddington (Dowse St), watching a Moron Glider pass them by. Meanwhile, others at Caxton St and Paddo Tavern will be taunted by a 385 coming along but not stopping. In other words, no frequency increase at most stops (Paddington Central being the exception), and even more complexity. Charming.

[somebody]

Here is the list of stops on the inbound 375 route passed by the 375, 385 and Moron Glider:

MacGregor St at Bardon, stop 15    
MacGregor St at Tooth Ave, stop 14    
Latrobe Tce at Perrott Avenue, stop 13    
Latrobe Tce at Gilday Street, stop 12    
Latrobe Tce at Trammies Corner, stop 11    
Latrobe Tce at Paddington Central, stop 10    
Latrobe Tce at Old Ithaca Fire Station, stop 9    
Given Tce at Old Paddo Post Office, stop 8    
Given Tce at Great George, stop 7    
Given Tce at Paddo Tavern, stop 6    
Given Tce at Paddington, stop 5    
Caxton St near Chapel St, stop 4    
Upper Roma St near Quay St, stop 3    


385 stops are underlined, Moron Glider stops are bolded.

Does that show the issue clearly?

[cartoonbirdhaus]

Gilday St  (Stop 12) should be bolded, too.

[somebody]

Gilday St  (Stop 12) should be bolded, too.

Fixed.

[ozbob]

http://jp.translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/details/1360566459

Maroon CityGlider

Last updated: 1.41pm Tuesday 12 February 2013

From Monday 18 February, you'll be able to catch the new Maroon CityGlider, servicing:

    Ashgrove
    Paddington
    Roma Street
    Brisbane City
    South Brisbane
    Woolloongabba
    Stones Corner.

View the Maroon CityGlider route map (PDF, 946KB)

Super frequent services

The service runs seven days a week.

Catch the CityGlider every:

    10 minutes during peak
    15 minutes off-peak
    30 minutes on Friday/Saturday nights (after midnight).

Please use the journey planner to plan your journey - make sure you enter a search date that is after 18 February.

Friday and Saturday night service deviation

From 12am to 5am Friday and Saturday nights, the Maroon CityGlider will not service Roma Street or King George Square busway stations.

During this time the bus will follow an alternate route through the CBD, stopping at:

    stop 117 George Street or stop 121 Roma Street (heading towards Ashgrove)
    stop 125 Roma Street or stop 11 Ann Street (heading towards Stones Corner).

View the Maroon CityGlider route map (PDF, 946KB)

Free travel on the Maroon CityGlider until 28 February

Brisbane City Council is offering free travel on the new Maroon CityGlider service until the last service on Thursday 28 February.

Please note this may affect your eligibility for the 9 and FREE travel incentive or the daily cap for seniors, pensioners and gold repatriation card holders.

    Free travel on the Maroon CityGlider services will not count towards the weekly 9 and FREE frequent user discount.
    Free travel on the Maroon CityGlider services will not count towards the daily cap for seniors, pensioners and gold repatriation card holders.

It may also affect your ability to transfer.

    If you transfer to other services you should plan your journey.
    Travelling for free on the Maroon CityGlider service may affect your ability to transfer to another paid trip within the one hour transfer window.

Affected services:

    375
    385
    Maroon CityGlider
    P374

[somebody]

http://jp.translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/details/1360568555

King George Square busway station stop changes
Print increase text size reset text size decrease text size
More Sharing Services


Last updated: 10.44am Tuesday 12 February 2013

From Monday 18 February, there will be minor changes to bus stops inside King George Square busway station due to the introduction of Maroon CityGlider.

    Route 345 heading toward Roma Street will now leave from stop 1F instead of stop 1C
    Route 444 heading toward the Cultural Centre will now leave from stop 2A instead of stop 2D
    The Maroon CityGlider heading toward Ashgrove will depart from stop 1C and when heading toward Stones Corner it will depart from stop 2D.

We apologise for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience.

Affected services:

    345
    444
    Maroon CityGlider

So why is the P88 southbound not moving to the 111 stop, and why is the 345 not allowed to use 1b? (I'm guessing route 88 is a major reason for the latter.)

I give up.  Well, not really.

[ozbob]

A wasteful service which is going to inject more traffic into that congested busway corridor between Southbank and Cultural Centre

Indeed!

Some interesting blog comments on the BT yarn --> http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/cityglider-spreads-its-wings-20130211-2e8nj.html#comments

Many people understand the issues well ...

including this one ..

Behold, waste on wheels!

The only part of this route that doesn't already feature at least a turn-up-and-go 15 minute frequency service is the section between Ashgrove and Bardon, and it is really questionable whether that needs to be provided by a service linked to the city as opposed to say improving the Great Circle Line. It also appears to have a stopping pattern inconsistent with the 385 express, meaning that (as per usual with BT) passengers need to make a decision about where to wait rather than being able to catch anything that comes by. Same with the idiotic inclusion of the Kismet St stop on the 222 but not on the 200 even though every other stop is shared...

Meanwhile there is no 7-day a week reliable high-frequency service to:
- Spring Hill (only on weekdays until 6pm)
- The north-west (Everton Park, McDowall, Albany Creek, Eatons Hill)
- Bulimba
- The Wynnum Road corridor to Tingalpa, Manly West and Wynnum
- Centenary suburbs
- Hamilton Northshore
- Ipswich Road south of Moorooka
- Sandgate Road corridor
- Herston
- Most of East Brisbane and Kangaroo Point
- Most railway stations (both trains and feeder buses)

Really got your priorities sorted out, guys!

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/cityglider-spreads-its-wings-20130211-2e8nj.html

[huddo45]

I liked this one :-

"Not to mention this is the latest pork-barrel for CanDo's Ashgrove electorate..."

[kazzac]

the new Maroon Glider buses are at Carina  Depot i"ve noticed ,so they should be used for a Bulimba Glider instead.I feel sorry for anyone in Balmoral/Bulimba whom doesn't have a car ,especially on nights/weekends. Sundays a bus every 90?minutes!! Not everyone here is close to Citycat terminals,is that why there will never be a BulimbaGlider because BCC/Translink think the 230/235 services are enough?There"s the 232 also but it doesn't run on Sundays.I went for a drive one day to New Farm ,it is directly across the river from Bulimba and saw a 199 BUZ every 15 minutes, this was on a Public Holiday,they also have the Blue CityGlider.in the days when I didnt have a car I wished I was living in New Farm or West End instead because of the frequent PT services to these areas

[#Metro]

At 9 million dollars this is the most expensive bus yet. Forget gold plated, this thing is diamond encrusted! What a pity it could easily fund upgrades to existing routes to three buz routes. not surprised though, same council thinks bus lane removal is improvement, spent 700 million on clem 7, legacy way 2000 fantasy buses, cleveland non solution. As usual opposition is completely invisible.

[longboi]

At 9 million dollars this is the most expensive bus yet. Forget gold plated, this thing is diamond encrusted! What a pity it could easily fund upgrades to existing routes to three buz routes. not surprised though, same council thinks bus lane removal is improvement, spent 700 million on clem 7, legacy way 2000 fantasy buses, cleveland non solution. As usual opposition is completely invisible.

Yes, BUZ routes are clearly just as effective in generating patronage than a CityGlider. OTOH, BT would have been better off investing in:

1) 230 BUZ

2) 300 BUZ

3) Albany Creek via South Pine Rd and Old Northern Rd. Essentially the same as 359 sans the backstreet running along Theiss Dr and Albany Forest Dr. Removal of 357 would also facilitate funding for a feeder service and/or more 338 services for those streets and Eatons Hill.

[somebody]

A wasteful service which is going to inject more traffic into that congested busway corridor between Southbank and Cultural Centre

At least it could run via the Captain Cook Bridge.

[newbris]

A wasteful service which is going to inject more traffic into that congested busway corridor between Southbank and Cultural Centre

At least it could run via the Captain Cook Bridge.

Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of the glider a little...a highly legible bus joining up entertainment/shopping/sport precincts ?


(Tonight@Caxton St)

[nathandavid88]

^^ This!

Leaving aside the uselessness of the route as a whole for a moment, I personally don't like that they are running the Maroon Glider down through King George Square Station for a similar reason. I'd have preferred to have it stop in Adelaide Street just so as to have the two Gliders interface visually there. I know, the last thing we need is more buses down Adelaide Street, but just hear me out.

The CityGliders, and the Maroon one especially, are as much a way to try and boost trade in inner city areas as they are about providing better transport for locals. They're much more recognisable than most buses, which makes them very accessible to tourists or infrequent travellers who would might be turned off trying to navigate the city's multitude of buses. For this reason, the Maroon Glider should be above ground and visible in the CBD, and not hidden away under King George Square where it could be easily missed. 

What I would do is have the Maroon Glider travel up Adelaide Street and then, to make it a more worthwhile route, make it do a loop of Spring Hill: Creek Street -> Upper Edward Street -> Leichhardt St -> Wickham Tce (down past the Roma St Parklands/Wickham Park and old Windmill) -> Edward St -> Ann St -> Roma St, then run it along Roma Street to Petrie Tce. Not as direct a route now because of the detour, but I think the added benefit of servicing Spring Hill makes up for it. There is a fledgling cafe culture starting to emerge in Spring Hill, a decent bus service up there would help nurture that a bit I think. It could also render the Spring Hill Loop obsolete in the process.

[somebody]

I think you'll find that a lot of people will let a 375 go by inbound because they don't want to need to use Herschel St to access Adelaide St.

[longboi]

What I would do is have the Maroon Glider travel up Adelaide Street and then, to make it a more worthwhile route, make it do a loop of Spring Hill: Creek Street -> Upper Edward Street -> Leichhardt St -> Wickham Tce (down past the Roma St Parklands/Wickham Park and old Windmill) -> Edward St -> Ann St -> Roma St, then run it along Roma Street to Petrie Tce. Not as direct a route now because of the detour, but I think the added benefit of servicing Spring Hill makes up for it. There is a fledgling cafe culture starting to emerge in Spring Hill, a decent bus service up there would help nurture that a bit I think. It could also render the Spring Hill Loop obsolete in the process.

I actually think there are other ways to improve PT in Spring Hill. However, my suggestions may not make the loop obsolete:

Routing 379/380/381 (Or a merged, high-frequency variant) via Wharf, Boundary and College Rd onto Musgrave Rd or a merged 357/359 via the same but onto Kelvin Grove Rd via the Hale St ramp.

Another option which would also be good future planning for the RNA development and other development around Bowen Hills (as well as providing bus-rail interchange) would be a high frequency 306 service via Wharf, Boundary, Gregory and then Brookes, Hamilton, Campbell, Montpellier and then continue current route.

[somebody]

I actually think there are other ways to improve PT in Spring Hill. However, my suggestions may not make the loop obsolete:

Routing 379/380/381 (Or a merged, high-frequency variant) via Wharf, Boundary and College Rd onto Musgrave Rd or a merged 357/359 via the same but onto Kelvin Grove Rd via the Hale St ramp.

Latter idea prevents those routes' use of the busway, so I'm not a huge fan.

Interesting idea entering the city via Wharf St.  Seems a bit circuitous.  What's wrong with Edward St in and Creek St out?

[longboi]

I actually think there are other ways to improve PT in Spring Hill. However, my suggestions may not make the loop obsolete:

Routing 379/380/381 (Or a merged, high-frequency variant) via Wharf, Boundary and College Rd onto Musgrave Rd or a merged 357/359 via the same but onto Kelvin Grove Rd via the Hale St ramp.

Latter idea prevents those routes' use of the busway, so I'm not a huge fan.

Interesting idea entering the city via Wharf St.  Seems a bit circuitous.  What's wrong with Edward St in and Creek St out?

No particular focus on Wharf St, Edward/Creek is just as good.

I just felt it may provide more benefit to cover more of Boundary St as Edward/Creek are in closer proximity to Central.

[ozbob]

Media release 18th February 2013

Brisbane: Bulimba, Centenary and Northwest suburbs miss out as BCC WasteGlider begins



RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has highlighted the introduction of the $9 million dollar Maroon CityGlider.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Our objection to the Maroon CityGlider is that it does not serve any people who do not have access to frequent bus services already. It directs expensive, high frequency service to people who already have it and also light industrial and car sales yards along Logan Road. It will not reduce car congestion as it will simply result in a transfer of passengers from existing TransLink services."

"While Brisbane's Lord Mayor is on record as stating that 'We will always put the people of this city first', it has become increasingly clear that the suburbs of Bulimba, Centenary and the Northwest aren't being put first.

"In 2009, the residents of Bulimba raised public transport issues with Brisbane City Council's neighbourhood planning team, including the frequency of all bus services needing improvement and that cars were eroding the vibrancy of Oxford Street. In response to calls for a BulimbaGlider, BCC's response was indifference - their area was 'well served' and calls for a BulimbaGlider were rejected.

"Residents of the Northwest have also run petitions for more services. And in 2010 residents of the Centenary suburbs gathered 400 signatures in a petition for better bus services. Many western suburbs commuters are still awaiting delivery of the daily 2000 fantasy express buses down Legacy way promised by the BCC."

"More concerningly, it appears that Brisbane City Council now wants to block moves to remove waste, complexity, and low frequency legacy routing from its bus network. These pivotal reforms from the bus network review will result in a better quality network of services using recycled funds that would see more frequent, simpler, legible bus services and bus upgrades in suburbs that don't currently have decent, frequent services."

"We call on TransLink to report and carefully review the Maroon Glider route after 12 months, and after this time, consider routing the southern section from Wooloongabba down Oxford Street and into Bulimba to form a BulimbaGlider. In particular the number of new passengers versus passengers that have simply transferred from existing TransLink services should be carefully scrutinised."


Read more:

Calls for BulimbaGlider rejected
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/calls-for-bulimba-glider-rejected-20120201-
1qtbt.html

SEQ: Scrap Maroon CityGlider 'Waste on Wheels'
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=8428.0

Hundreds sign for more sustainable transport
http://www.thesatellite.com.au/news/hundreds-sign-for-more-sustainable-transport/575554/

SEQ: Northwest Bus Petition - Bad service equals bad patronage - you don't say!
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=8915.0

San francisco: sometimes cuts are an improvement
http://www.humantransit.org/2009/11/san-francisco-cuts-for-effectiveness.html

"Transferring" can be good for you, and good for your city
http://www.humantransit.org/2009/04/why-transferring-is-good-for-you-and-good-for-your-city.html

Reveal bus services changes, transport minister told
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/reveal-bus-services-changes-transport-minister-told-20130212-2ebc9.html

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[kingsjjk]

 
So with this new glider why did it not go to Enoggera interchange to link with the Rail.
Rather than clog up Stewarts Road, Ashgrove in Peak periods.
Also some of the stops worry me as the well patronised Old Paddo Cinema is not a glider Stop but the stop before inbound is which is a low patronage stop