17 Jun 2012: SEQ: Core Frequent Network: Job well done - Northern Busway

[ozbob]

Media release 17 June 2012

SEQ: Core Frequent Network: Job well done - Northern Busway



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 welcomes the opening of two brand new busway stations - Lutwyche and Kedron Brook, and major service upgrades to the northside region (1)

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"In addition to the two new busway stations opening, bus lines 330 and 340 will be upgraded to become BUZ services. We have long argued that the fastest, cheapest way to improve bus public transport in Brisbane is by upgrading services along main arterial roads because that's where the speed and directness that passengers want, is."

"A major improvement is the introduction of the new cross-town 369 which will travel east-west across Stafford Road in the northern suburbs from Mitchelton railway station to DFO Brisbane Airport (2, 3, 4, 5). RAIL Back On Track has been campaigning for this bus line for over a year now and we are very pleased that this no-nonsense, maximum simplicity, direct, frequent all-day service will be put on from Monday. With this essential cross-town link, residents of Mitchelton, Everton Park, Stafford, Kalinga, Kedron and Wooloowin will now be able to travel in any direction through a single, short connection to almost any north-bound bus or train service. We think that in time, consideration should be given to extending the 369 northern cross-town to Great Western Super Centre and The Gap Shopping Centre."

"Busways work because they take buses out of traffic congestion and speed up services which results in major operational cost savings. In a time where money for new infrastructure is scarce, and both fares and subsidy levels for public transport are some of the highest in the world, we strongly believe that the T2 lanes on major arterial and sub-arterial roads in combination with new direct BUZ services to Bulimba, Centenary and the Northwest, upgraded essential cross-town services (slicing up the Great Circle line) and recasting general services to feed a Core Frequent Network will result in major improvements for a fraction of the cost of new infrastructure and much sooner as well."

"We also hope that decent branding and marketing is undertaken - a 'Core Frequent Network' map would be invaluable (6). The previous government failed to communicate the concept of a city-wide core frequent network, particularly on rail*, despite examples of such (non-official) maps being available (7). Come election time, they couldn't explain all the changes and improvements they made overall, to their loss."

"It is very costly to continue to prioritise single occupant vehicles using the highest cost, lowest capacity mode - cars. Congratulations to TransLink, Queensland Government and AirportLink Consortium on a job well done."

Contact:

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

References:

1. http://jp.translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/details/1337063833

369 Cross-Town

2. http://translink.com.au/resources/travel-information/network-information/timetables/120618-369.pdf

3. http://jp.translink.com.au/travel-information/network-information/buses/369

4. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=8357.0

5. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5018.0

Basics - the case for frequency mapping

6. http://www.humantransit.org/2010/08/basics-the-case-for-frequency-mapping.html

Core Frequent Network Map - Brisbane

7. http://flic.kr/p/cQGsMU

* Upgraded rail services on the Ipswich and Darra lines were printed in two separate timetables, obscuring
the fact that services were improved, plus, high-frequency rail branding similar to the 'BUZ' or 'CityGlider'
services was not adopted.

[cartoonbirdhaus]

Core Frequent Network Map - Brisbane

7. http://flic.kr/p/caReNb

Please note that the URL has changed; it's now
http://flic.kr/p/cQGsMU

Sorry about that!

[ozbob]

Thanks for the update!

[Gazza]

Did you make that MaxHeadway?

I reckon on a future version show the walking connection between UQ Lakes, and Chancellors place.

[cartoonbirdhaus]

Did you make that MaxHeadway?

Yep. Good old Inkscape. Quite a blast—assuming it doesn't crash. 

I reckon on a future version show the walking connection between UQ Lakes, and Chancellors place.

So you don't think it's too much of a walk? According to Google Maps, it's more than 800 m (i.e. roughly ten minutes); although it may be a bit less in reality.

[Edited to add:] Here's a map with more info. I've just added the UQ pedestrian link to it.

[Dead link removed]