Sunshine express test Coast route

[ozbob]

http://video.couriermail.com.au/2208783860/Sunshine-express-test-Coast-route

Sunshine express test Coast route

ELECTION COVERAGE: Trent Dalton tests out the Sunshine Coast's public transport system.

[Mr X]

I 'tested' it last week too   3h30 from UQ to Caloundra.
Sunbus trip from Landsborough to Caloundra was actually quite good. Fast, comfortable and direct with minimal stopping on the way!

[Arnz]

Which is why most people chose to drive to Landsborough or Caboolture stations during the weekdays.  More options.

Weekends, you have to check your TT to make sure your train is a express, which doesn't help the average/new rider/tourist.  

Weekends being only every 90 mins, expresses are every 3 hours/every 2nd train is a shuttle.  A full Nambour yard with excess trains stowed at Caboolture doesn't help.  

There is a way to eliminate the shuttles, but that would involve extending Richlands-Bowen Hills to Petrie and having that every 15 mins all stops, and 30 mins Cab-Ips express (with selected trains continuing to Nambour every 90 mins, it would give off-peak/weekend SC commuters access to Milton, Toowong, Indooroopilly, etc).  On top of that, it would mean moving the precision cross from Beerwah to Beerburrum (northbound train waits for City/Ipswich bound train).

[Mr X]

The "express" from Brisbane to Nambour runs every 2 AND A HALF HOURS during the day on a week day outbound too 

[Arnz]

The "express" from Brisbane to Nambour runs every 2 AND A HALF HOURS during the day on a week day outbound too  

Only between 5:30 and 8:00am and between 1pm and 3:30pm.  Outside of that its every 60-90 mins, and every 30 during peak.

Lack of counter-peak capacity on the express track between Petrie and Northgate given as the reason for the counter-peak shuttles  (eg priority goes to express trains in the peak direction)