Speaking of the SC Bus network. Claims that cuts/removal of duplication are real

[Arnz]

By opposition Transport Spokeswoman Jackie Trad. 

The "oppositions" list of their own routes to removal duplication, etc is in this article.

If the LNP pulls a "Ipswich FlexiLink" on the welfare routes that go through backstreets (eg 603 or 639), I can see the LNP losing Sunshine Coast seats fairly easily from the elderly population that uses the 'welfare' runs. 

As for duplication, eg 620/622 for example,  I can't see a 2 or 3 hr gap being too popular with either route either, considering at some times of the day, the 620 can be carrying fully seated loads.   

As for the opposition's list (highlighted in bold), the 605 shouldn't be there as it's a former TrainLink service that connects to rail at Landsborough.  Why the "601" didn't make the opposition's review list is beyond me, that route is a "air parcel" most of the time, and some parts of the 601 probably be easily merged in the 602 (and therefore some areas could get a weekend service).

Lets not forget the SCC taxpayer funded Free Bus period during the Christmas Holidays, buses on almost all routes (even many 'Welfare' backstreet runs) can go out full during that period.  Also, for revenue, like everywhere else in Qld, most operators have problems with the "No Child Left Behind" policy with quite a number of children across SEQ pulling off the " I Got No Money" excuse and saying "You have to take me" while repeatedly quoting off the Daniel case.

Source: http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2012/07/22/coast-bus-cuts-are-real-says-trad/

THE STATE Opposition is adamant it is not scaremongering with claims public bus services on the Sunshine Coast could be at risk as part of the government's quest to cut $40 million from the Translink budget.

However Shadow Transport Minister Jackie Trad conceded yesterday the claim was based on its own analysis of routes with "low patronage" rather than any secret government hit list.

Ms Trad rejected suggestions the warnings were scaremongering, suggesting that the pattern of government cuts to other programs proved bus transport was unlikely to be immune.

"The Opposition is doing its job. The minister has come out quite clearly and said that he is reviewing services," Ms Trad said.

"This says to me that bus routes will be cut. They'll be cut in the south-east Queensland corner. The minister needs to come out and say what services will be affected."

She said the Opposition had identified routes that were either duplicated services, had low patronage during off-peak times such as the middle of the day, and those routes that serviced suburban streets, which she believed could be at risk of redirection to main roads.

She suggested the at-risk bus routes on the Sunshine Coast included 602, 603, 605, 607, 609, 613, 614, 616, 617, 618, 619, 620, 622, 623, 626, 628, 632 and 649.

"In the face of savage cuts to Translink services, bus operators are likely to cut back on bus routes which are low frequency or costly, such as shopping routes that wind through streets to pick up and drop off locals without other means of transport," Ms Trad said.

"Locals rely on these types of services to access shops and services, their doctor or to visit family and friends.

"Many elderly and disadvantaged Queenslanders rely on these services to get around their community."

Attempts by the Daily to contact local MPs and the Minister for Transport for comment were unsuccessful.

[#Metro]

"The Opposition is doing its job. The minister has come out quite clearly and said that he is reviewing services," Ms Trad said.

"This says to me that bus routes will be cut. They'll be cut in the south-east Queensland corner. The minister needs to come out and say what services will be affected."

Not all cuts are bad, so we have to be very judicious at the analysis here. For example, route 197 New Farm to Fairfield Gardens was fully abolished, and this actually was a MAJOR improvement - frequency doubled, patronage went through the roof, and the network was made much simpler.

Maroon CityGlider should be cut - ruthlessly - nobody here would be sad to see it abolished.

Likewise there are a lot of safari services and legacy routings that are deadwood and deserve to have a full-setting steam iron go over them or be consolidated. The general transport network is not some kind of legacy routing memorabilia and nostalgia antique store.

That said though, I would be very very disappointed if cuts were made to span or to CFN services. There also does need to be coverage services as well in areas that are not going to be carrying heaps of pax. Not really sure what the purpose of 1 hour to 2 hour to three hour frequencies will do - no one will catch the service anyway at those frequencies and the driver will probably just have a longer break!!

[Arnz]

"The Opposition is doing its job. The minister has come out quite clearly and said that he is reviewing services," Ms Trad said.

"This says to me that bus routes will be cut. They'll be cut in the south-east Queensland corner. The minister needs to come out and say what services will be affected."

Not all cuts are bad, so we have to be very judicious at the analysis here. For example, route 197 New Farm to Fairfield Gardens was fully abolished, and this actually was a MAJOR improvement - frequency doubled, patronage went through the roof, and the network was made much simpler.

I have to agree with you, and I was only speaking from my own observations of the SC bus network and my contacts that work directly or indirectly on the network which do have information on how loads are on a daily basis.

Maroon CityGlider should be cut - ruthlessly - nobody here would be sad to see it abolished.

Likewise there are a lot of safari services and legacy routings that are deadwood and deserve to have a full-setting steam iron go over them or be consolidated. The general transport network is not some kind of legacy routing memorabilia and nostalgia antique store.

Some of them are "welfare" services which are required by the elderly population in some areas to hop across to the shops and back, or head to their local bowls club, library and so forth.  So some will need to retain their "back street" routing.

And like I said, I've also repeatedly called for cutting or merging of some routes which are air parcels, such as the Route 601, or some Route 649 services that duplicates at the same time as a rail service.

That said though, I would be very very disappointed if cuts were made to span or to CFN services. There also does need to be coverage services as well in areas that are not going to be carrying heaps of pax. Not really sure what the purpose of 1 hour to 2 hour to three hour frequencies will do - no one will catch the service anyway at those frequencies and the driver will probably just have a longer break!!

That we both agree on.  Sure some middle of the day, or services at 10pm for example may not carry much people, but as I've repeated, a large number of "services" on trunk routes subsidise the other services that don't carry much people.

[Gazza]

I've always wondered why a lot of the coverage routes that fall below a certain threshold can't just be farmed out to another operator who can do it cheaper and doesn't have to pay its drivers as much.

Flexilink sucked because of the booking requirement, but no reason you couldn't run a timetabled service, just not using full sized buses.
Obviously, avoid those unreiable pie cart type buses.
Get a toyota coaster instead.

That frees up full length buses for trunk routes.

[somebody]

That frees up full length buses for trunk routes.

The savings are hardly anything.  Better to have less types of buses.

[Gazza]

Are the licencing/training requirements less for something like this though?



Obviously fuel and maintenance aren't much in the end, but in some places those driving these sorts of services get paid less than those doing full sized bus runs...A recognition that they are doing easier work.

[STB]

Going by my past experience, I don't think smaller buses equal cheaper services from a TL and operator perspective.  You also have the issue of DDA requirements to consider.

The only thing I can think of is perhaps is either reducing the frequency of services and/or realigning the routes so it soaks up less KMs from the formula TransLink uses to calculate the $/KM/Cost per year.

Re: the 605, I don't know the area terribly in terms of patronage movements but I suppose it could be possible that could just run between Caloundra and Landsborugh perhaps?  If you wanted to continue north, catch route 600.  And the 603, instead of running it around the long way to Caloundra (from the racecourse), just run it straight down Caloundra Rd?  Or, take the 603 out completely and keep it contained on the eastern side of Caloundra?  While dropping the 603 into Little Mountain for that little loop around the streets?

[Arnz]

Out of the restructuring/duplication/removal of air parcels going on, here's a brief list from observations, contacts with those that work directly/indirectly with the contractor, and what IMO could be done.  This is just a draft thus far, though suggestions can be taken onboard.

Route 600: Minor changes, remove 2-3 minutes of fat.  I'm aware the the Nicklin Way has heavy traffic conditions/jams in and out of Maroochydore during the start and end of office hours, but a 5 minute dwell at Kawana in the middle of the day due to arriving earlier should be at least reduced.

Route 601: Axed due to very low patronage (duplicates 600 for the most part with some exceptions and skips Mooloolaba by running down the Sunshine Motorway).  Kawana Town Centre and Kawana Island to be served by the 602.

Route 602: Divert the 602 by serving parts of the 601 alignment to the Kawana Town Centre and Kawana Island

Route 603: Split into two.  Remove the Caloundra to Little Mountain/Racecourse half of the route.  Only serves between Bellvista and Caloundra.

Route 604: Steam ironed route to Racecourse via Caloundra High School and Aroona (Heron Drive and Seagull Avenue). Also diverts in Caloundra West (via Rosewood Drive, Moreton Bay Dr, Lancewood St and Greygum Drive).  Axed sections are Beerburrum St - Aroona,  Currimundi Marketplace and Parklands Blvd, Little Mountain.

Route 605: Scale route back to Caloundra (those continuing further between Caloundra and Kawana connect to the high frequency 600, along with those requiring 602-609 connections), have all 605 buses divert into Little Mountain and do a small loop (in place of the 603).

Route 607: Remove Alice Street, Currimundi diversion, have the route follow the 600 until Kawana Island Bouvelard, then follow current routing into University. Kawana Town Centre served by 602.

Route 613: Extended by picking up parts of the 622 (Using the 622 alignment between corner of Runway Drive/David Low Way and Birtwill Street, Coolum Beach) and frequency improved to hourly, which also improves frequency through the Twin Waters area.

Route 616: Extend to every 15 mins Mon-Fri, and every 30 minutes Sat/Sun.

Route 617: Scale back to terminate at Buderim only, North Buderim to University passengers will have to change in Buderim CBD for a improved frequency 616.  There are traffic lights/crossings in the area to cross the street.

Route 618: Picks up the Sippy Down loop from Route 617.  Passengers for Maroochydore/Sunshine Plaza would change at the University Bus Station for a high frequency 616.

Route 619: This is a elderly patronised route, although loads aren't looking very good on this run.  Perhaps look at reducing to every 90 mins?

Route 620: Increase to every 15 mins Mon-Fri (ideally funded by Council/SCC taxpayers under PT levy).

Route 622: Restructured (Bits between Sunshine Coast Airport and Coolum Beach axed and runs express on the Motorway between the Airport and Coolum Beach, turning off at Yandina-Coolum Road before continuing per existing 622 route to Peregian Springs and Noosa Junction).  Gets Tourists from the Airport to Noosa a little faster, while handing over parts of the suburb travel to the 613.

Route 623:  Remove this service from Bli Bli Road (covered by 612), and have it travel via Petrie Creek Road instead (currently unserviced by any PT).  Look at extending this run into Palmwoods via Nambour Connection Road and Woombye-Palmwoods road as a trial (covered by Council/SCC taxpayers under PT levy)

I'm not a familiar person with the Noosa area routes, as I usually don't head up that way often, but this would be my opinions.

Route 626/627: MERGE both routes - Every 15 minutes introduced further into the Tewantin and Sunrise Beach areas.

Route 628/629: Merge both routes - Parts of the 628 and 629 duplicate with 626/627, and those duplicated areas could probably be axed.  The buses from both routes can easily form 30 min frequency instead of hourly frequency on 2 different routes.

Route 630/631:  Convert 630 to a hourly local route servicing the hinterland towns along the route.  Route 631 becomes the "TrainLink" service that meets up with train departures, as that route is a lot quicker to get to Noosa.

Route 639: Axe and replace with FlexiLink style service around the Nambour area, due to low patronage.

Route 609/610/612/614/615 - No Changes needed.

[Fares_Fair]

FYI, from another thread...

Article: Empty buses on Coast routes
Sunshine Coast Daily
by Tony Moore
24th July 2012 at 4:36 PM

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2012/07/24/empty-buses-coast-routes/