Ministerial Statement: Newman Government to improve bus networks

[somebody]

649 has an absurd timetable.

299 is a counter peak route so would be just dead running if it didn't operate in service.

514 - isn't that the Flexilink replacement?  Interesting.

[ozbob]

Yes, the 514 seems a bit odd.  When I have seen it has had a lot more than 5 pax on it ...

The 514 has recently had the timetable updated, this might make it a bit more useful as well.

http://translink.com.au/resources/travel-information/network-information/timetables/120716-514.pdf

Check out the route, it is a classic ...

[colinw]

    299: Rochedale-Brisbane Technology Park

Wow, there's a surprise. A bus route that is really a school service for Redeemer College & Rochedale SHS, and which runs the wrong direction for peak travel is under-performing.  That's what happens when you, either deliberately or due to incompetence, set something up for failure.

As we in the Tech Park have repeatedly told TransLink, the 299 service runs the wrong bl**dy way to serve the park!  In the morning, it runs through the tech park, THEN to the busway at Eight Mile Plains. In the evening it services EMP busway station, then the tech park, then takes the best part of an hour to the city via Griffith Uni!

Imagine you are working at Brisbane Technology Park at Eight Mile Plains. Here is your bus service:

Morning:

Elizabeth St & Albert St (stop 85)	7.21	7.51	8.21
Creek St & Queen St (stop 149)	7.24	7.54	8.24
Ann St & Creek St (stop 7, Central Stn)	7.26	7.56	8.26
Ann St (stop 10, King George Square)	7.28	7.58	8.28
William St & Margaret St (stop 107)	7.34	8.04	8.34
Buranda busway station (P2)	7.39	8.09	8.39
Greenslopes busway station (P2)	7.41	8.11	8.41
Holland Park West busway station (P2)	7.43	8.13	8.43
Griffith University busway station (P2)	7.45	8.15	8.45
Griffith University, Nathan Campus (Stop B)	7.51	8.21	8.51
QE II Hospital (Troughton Rd)	7.57	8.27	8.57
Sunnybank Plaza	8.03	8.33	9.03
Brisbane Technology Park (McKechnie Drive)	8.16	8.46	9.16
Eight Mile Plains busway station (P1)	8.19	8.49	9.19
Rochedale High School (opposite)	8.23	8.53	9.23
Redeemer College	8.25	8.55	9.25

Afternoon:

Rochedale High School (opposite)	3.19	4.19	4.49
Redeemer College	3.21	4.21	4.51
Eight Mile Plains busway station (P2)	3.25	4.25	4.55
Brisbane Technology Park (McKechnie Drive)	3.31	4.31	5.01
Sunnybank Plaza	3.42	4.42	5.12
QE II Hospital (Troughton Rd)	3.48	4.48	5.18
Griffith University, Nathan campus (Stop B)	3.54	4.54	5.24
Griffith University busway station (P1)	4.00	5.00	5.30
Holland Park West busway station (P1)	4.02	5.02	5.32
Greenslopes busway station (P1)	4.04	5.04	5.34
Buranda busway station (P1)	4.06	5.06	5.36
Elizabeth St & Albert St (stop 85)	4.15	5.15	5.45
Creek St & Queen St (stop 149)	4.18	5.18	5.48
Ann St & Creek St (stop 7, Central Stn)	4.20	5.20	5.50
Ann St (stop 10, King George Square)	4.22	5.22	5.52

Normal office hours here are 8:30AM to 5:00PM but sometimes need to work later.  Who is going to use this bus?   

But this is what TransLink came up with!

[ozbob]

Updated poll at Brisbanetimes ...

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/polls/queensland/seq-buses-under-review-20120724-22ljt.html

3pm 24th July 2012

[nathandavid88]

The 544 isn't really surprising... it's a loop to ferry people in Hillcrest and Forestdale to Grand Plaza. Not everybody wants to go to Grand Plaza, and it's not exactly a densely populated area. Maybe, as opposed to just looping in back to Grand Plaza, they should continue it along to Forest Lake, then give it the Carole Park loop portion of the 534 route, leaving the 534 to be a quicker, direct Browns Plains – Forest Lake – Springfield connection?

[somebody]

Hmm, I've never even thought of those issues Colin!

You'd think that between the 134, 135, 155 GU wouldn't be too badly served and the 299 has the wrong city stops for those locations anyway.  Interchange from those routes to the 120 (or direct on the 135) could work for QEII hospital.

[Arnz]

In regards to the Sunshine Coast Region, although I've already posted this elsewhere in the local SC Daily thread, iut 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 609/610/612/614/615/632*/636 - No Changes needed.

*632 is covered by the SCCC PT levy until deemed otherwise by Council.

[somebody]

I'd like to know what the 10 worst performing routes operated by Brisbane Transport are.

I think they're all on the north side.

[Mr X]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the 314 yet!

[ozbob]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the 314 yet!

I had better go for a ride and take some photographs, sooner than later .. 

[SurfRail]

^ 609 could be a little better, surely?  Maybe split into 2 and have both running between Caloundra and the Pelican Waters shops.  Two options:

1. Split into an eastern and western service.  When one service (say the "608") gets to Pelican Waters, route changes to 609 and it goes back the other way - and vice versa - so you can just remain on board.

2. 608/609 loop - identical arrangements in practice but follows TransLink's usual arrangement so one route number per direction.

1 is better in my view because you only need to remember a single route number to get to any given stop on the circuit.  (This is one of Jarrett Walker's little trade tips.)

[STB]

I actually feel for the 299 as it's actually a handy alternative to the overloaded 134/135/155 services out of the city for those coming from the eastside.  I think the sad thing for the 299 is that it's not actually that well known to the students and workers at the university (Griffith) who I'm sure would use it if they knew what it did.

Re: Route 529, I'm a little surprised that's there as I caught it on a regular basis last year and it actually did get decent loads especially out of Lowood, although mind you because the drivers knew the locals, a lot of them got on with just a wave from the driver with an all good, I know you, when they were going too slow with getting their cards/change out.

[HappyTrainGuy]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the 314 yet!

Hands off! The 314 is to be the next buz route

I'd like to know what the 10 worst performing routes operated by Brisbane Transport are.

I think they're all on the north side.

Sounds about right. But that's because of how poor the network is run up this way. Take the 338/357/359 in peak hour. The 338 is a real fkn joke of a route. Depending on the time of day it will go this way, if its a private school term it will go over there, if its a public school term it will go there, if its holidays for both private and public schools it goes this way, when it finally goes back to resuming its full route it quickly terminates back over there, in the middle of peak hour a transfer to another route is forced to get to the same destination the bus would have usually gone a couple hundred metres up the road - if your lucky... otherwise you'll have to go via Aspley/Chermside/City. 3.40 5.05 5.35 6.05 don't make it to Strathpine.

Google the location of St Pauls Private school for a massive laugh for a scenic detour

Then there's the 327 which like its cousin the 338 decides to stuff up your day but not doing the full route when you want it too. The JP still tells you to catch the 337 to get to Strathpine.... its just its the inbound 337 to Geebung railway station to get the train to Strathpine.


Its younger brother the 326 isn't as bad but in key areas they are like a plague that no one at all catches. Zillmere Road/station to Hamilton Road both carries air due to them saying hello to the trains at the same so no one can interchange between them without a 30 minute wait along with the 325/336/337 running just before it.

There are some good family members like the 336/337 that should stay. The only reason they have poor patronage is because of the operating hours and frequency. Starting after morning peak and finishing at the start of arvo peak running every 2 hours. The first and last services which border on the peaks do get pretty decent loads as the route utilises 2 bus interchanges, 1 railway interchange, passes 7 or 8 schools, 4 key major shopping areas along with other points of intrest such as the Geebung RSL/shops along Gympie Road. The 354 is another weirdo in the family. Running every two hours between Mitchelton and Chermside. Key points, services multiple shopping centres, quick access to the PCH, right idea, very poor execution. http://translink.com.au/resources/travel-information/network-information/timetables/120618-354.pdf . The 328/335 needs to be merged and culled at Boondall Railway station. 326/327/330 needs a rethink of the whole area. A link connecting Strathpine directly Sandgate so people can utilise it as a one seat journey (currently 327+326 to get there with a ~20 min wait to Sandgate/~50 minute wait to Strathpine with no sunday services). 340 should have a look at a Rogan Road to Boondal Station extension. 310/315 merged with the 310 route fulltime.

The northside has good coverage but it just got jumbled up in a mess of stupid routes that operate at poor frequencies, poor span of hours, operator zones, long scenic tours with duplication from head to toe that go all the way to the city while not utilising any of the nearby railway lines which is why I hate it so much that Translink buz'd the 330/340, extended the 335 to Sandgate, pulled the 328/329 out of thin air before they had a good look at the other problems that were in that area.

[somebody]

I actually feel for the 299 as it's actually a handy alternative to the overloaded 134/135/155 services out of the city for those coming from the eastside.  I think the sad thing for the 299 is that it's not actually that well known to the students and workers at the university (Griffith) who I'm sure would use it if they knew what it did.

Perhaps but you would only use it from Buranda and South.  You'd never board it in the city unless you knew the timetable by heart. 

A better answer is a BUZ 135 IMO, running at 10 minute frequencies in both directions in the peaks.  Review Sunnybank-Algester.  Either chop it off onto another route, continue along Algester Rd rather than duplicating the 130 along Ridgewood Rd or both.  Chopping it has merit in that you could start from the south side of Sunnybank rail and serve a currently poorly served area between Hellawell Rd and Sunnybank rail.

[STB]

I actually feel for the 299 as it's actually a handy alternative to the overloaded 134/135/155 services out of the city for those coming from the eastside.  I think the sad thing for the 299 is that it's not actually that well known to the students and workers at the university (Griffith) who I'm sure would use it if they knew what it did.

Perhaps but you would only use it from Buranda and South.  You'd never board it in the city unless you knew the timetable by heart. 

A better answer is a BUZ 135 IMO, running at 10 minute frequencies in both directions in the peaks.  Review Sunnybank-Algester.  Either chop it off onto another route, continue along Algester Rd rather than duplicating the 130 along Ridgewood Rd or both.  Chopping it has merit in that you could start from the south side of Sunnybank rail and serve a currently poorly served area between Hellawell Rd and Sunnybank rail.

Perhaps, but it would be best for it to stop at Buranda now that it's a major interchange with those coming from the eastside.  If you do that, might as well truncate the 155 to Griffith Uni Nathan only perhaps, although I'm not sure on what the patronage is like and the movements.

[Stillwater]

Lookee here, the 649 Caboolture-Nambour 'rail' bus is one of the 10 least-used routes, as revealed by brisbanetimes.com.  Is it because people would prefer to catch a train instead?

[STB]

Yes, the 514 seems a bit odd.  When I have seen it has had a lot more than 5 pax on it ...

The 514 has recently had the timetable updated, this might make it a bit more useful as well.

http://translink.com.au/resources/travel-information/network-information/timetables/120716-514.pdf

Check out the route, it is a classic ...

Yes but if you trawl back through the threads, TransLink uploaded the data of the old route 505/510, which showed that the patronage only really spiked in the morning (around 9am) and then again in the afternoon around 4pmish.  During the day it only recorded minimal patronage.  I wouldn't be surprised if it's mostly pensioners and elderly using it, like Mufreight.  I'm sure TL could re-release that data with a FOI request.

[STB]

I will admit, there is some good points regarding these low performing routes in the below comment.  And what's with the lack of BCC data?  Is BCC withholding the patronage data to TransLink perhaps (wouldn't surprise me).  I'm assuming the Minister approached TransLink to release the data to him and not BCC.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/worst-performing-bus-routes-revealed-20120724-22mck.html

I am not surprised that no BCC routes feature in this list. (Probably sanitised as hell - have a look at BT's Route 313 and 314 timetables...)

    Let's look at the specifics on these in context.

    652 - the ONLY bus service for the swathe of Caboolture to the east of the hospital. Remove this and you cut thousands of people off from any PT.

    676 - this is the off-peak version of the 675. It does not run in the peak - the 675 does and people actually use that to connect to trains at Petrie. Singling this route out is like saying that off-peak services on the 125 or 370 or any other all-day route do not pull their weight compared to the peak hour services on those routes, so they should only run in peak.

    681 - same as the 676. This is just the off peak version of the 682.

    529 - there are only 2 services per day per direction, and again there is no alternative PT.

    514 - this service was brought back to replace the FlexiLink debacle after the 2010 Ipswich restructure. Guess which party lost virtually all of its seats in Ipswich recently after trying to axe this?

    508 - this route is a tiny extension of the 515 and serves some caravan parks with no alternative PT.

    649 - this route replaces regional train services between Caboolture and Nambour because of the repeated failure of all governments in recent decades to duplicate and properly serve the line with actual TRAINS.

    299 - explained above.

    544 - this route is very short and runs infrequently.

    I hope the review process involves some actual community consultation, something BCC and TransLink (especially BCC) are woeful at doing properly, or indeed at all.

Commenter
    Surak
Location
    Kir'Shara
Date and time
    Jul 24, 2012, 03:41PM


Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/worst-performing-bus-routes-revealed-20120724-22mck.html#ixzz21WXvsZ00

[somebody]

I doubt that BCC would be able to withhold patronage data for its routes from TTA.  TTA control the go card which is the major source of patronage data.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Translink should have all the data. Its up to them if they publish the data or not. Similar to QR passenger trackers.

[STB]

I doubt that BCC would be able to withhold patronage data for its routes from TTA.  TTA control the go card which is the major source of patronage data.

I doubt that BCC would be able to withhold patronage data for its routes from TTA.  TTA control the go card which is the major source of patronage data.

So why is BCC data mysteriously missing?  Surely there are low performing routes in the BT area.  *puts on tin foil hat* (conspiracy theory time!)

[somebody]

I actually feel for the 299 as it's actually a handy alternative to the overloaded 134/135/155 services out of the city for those coming from the eastside.  I think the sad thing for the 299 is that it's not actually that well known to the students and workers at the university (Griffith) who I'm sure would use it if they knew what it did.

Perhaps but you would only use it from Buranda and South.  You'd never board it in the city unless you knew the timetable by heart. 

A better answer is a BUZ 135 IMO, running at 10 minute frequencies in both directions in the peaks.  Review Sunnybank-Algester.  Either chop it off onto another route, continue along Algester Rd rather than duplicating the 130 along Ridgewood Rd or both.  Chopping it has merit in that you could start from the south side of Sunnybank rail and serve a currently poorly served area between Hellawell Rd and Sunnybank rail.

Perhaps, but it would be best for it to stop at Buranda now that it's a major interchange with those coming from the eastside.  If you do that, might as well truncate the 155 to Griffith Uni Nathan only perhaps, although I'm not sure on what the patronage is like and the movements.

I'm comfortable with it non stopping Buranda.  To get between Buranda and Griffith Uni you can use the 77, 88, 111, 139, 160, 169, 555 + a few peak hour routes.  I think it's frequent enough.

So why is BCC data mysteriously missing?  Surely there are low performing routes in the BT area.  *puts on tin foil hat* (conspiracy theory time!)

To assist the LNP in council?

[STB]

So why is BCC data mysteriously missing?  Surely there are low performing routes in the BT area.  *puts on tin foil hat* (conspiracy theory time!)

To assist the LNP in council?

Most likely, but that is quite annoying, targeting those who live outside the BCC boundaries.

[#Metro]

PUBLISH THE WORST BCC ROUTES PLEASE!!

Testify! Testify!!

[triplethree]

What I would like to know is this: What metric is used to gauge which bus routes are the worst-performing?

Is it raw patronage? Raw patronage doesn't tell you much. If the Spring Hill Loop gets 10 passengers, but the 250 gets 11 passengers -- how is this statistic useful? It doesn't take into account distance or time or population density.

Is it passengers per service hour? It could possibly be.

Is it passengers per service kilometre? This is my guess. This would explain why the 649, 529 and some of the Bribie area routes appear in the list. Because they're LONG, and they go through lots of countryside. There is no market to board a bus in the middle of strawberry fields, pine forests or Lake Wivenhoe. The demand is concentrated at each end (e.g. Bribie routes) or in scattered towns along the way (e.g. 649, 529), and spread over a longer distance, resulting in a lower "passengers per kilometre" statistic.

Passengers per service kilometre is probably the "least worst" metric when trying to gauge whether a bus route is getting bang for the buck. But let's not compare apples with oranges! Don't judge rural routes some of which, despite low patronage, do play a valid role in connecting people to places against the yardstick of frequent routes through the inner city like the 199 Hipster Hopper.

And about the 544 Browns Plains loop. I have a friend who lives in Heritage Park, not on the 544 but on a route with a similar level of service. He'd love to be able to leave his vehicle at home and catch a bus to Grand Plaza or the station and catch the 140 or the train into uni. But he can't. To get the last bus home he has to leave uni at some ridiculously early hour. So he doesn't catch it. He drives to a Beenleigh Line station and catches a train. And then some people scratch their head and look at those Browns Plains local routes and say "Underperforming route! Unsustainable! Maybe we should cut it!" Without bothering to ask themselves whether, if it ran more often (even every 30-40 mins) and later at night (until, say, 8pm), more people would catch it and it wouldn't end up on these sorts of lists. Ditto for the Petrie/Strathpine local routes.

[#Metro]

What I would like to know is this: What metric is used to gauge which bus routes are the worst-performing?

A very valid point triplethree. WORST ROUTE is actually subjective, just like 'Top 10' or 'Bottom 10'.

A coverage route isn't trying to get passengers. Its trying to be a lifeline.
A patronage route isn't trying to cover areas, it's trying to move the masses (all CFN lines should fall into this category).

There are lots of scope for feederisation, steam ironing and simplification and consolidation of services.

[david]

I'd imagine people who catch one of those "worst-performing" routes will get together a group of people to catch the bus everyday and spike the patronage during the 6-month review period 

And thank goodness that the Minister has pointed out what a waste the P461 is. Good riddance!
In fact, I think it would be best to review anything with a "P" in front of it. I regularly see near empty pre-paid rockets leaving the City in the afternoon.

For the Centenary Suburbs in particular, get rid of P455, P456, P458 and P459 - if people want a "faster" trip into the City, they should be prepared to catch the 452 and transfer to the express trains at Darra. If they want the one-seat journey, they should be willing to put up with the longer 453/454/457 service.

[Gazza]

I regularly see near empty pre-paid rockets leaving the City in the afternoon.

Get in here Simon!

[Arnz]

Here are 2 Route 649 services the Newman Government should look at directly axing in the first round of cutting and merging (carries mostly air and it clearly duplicates the train)

The 3:15pm ex-Caboolture (Nambour train departs Caboolture 8 minutes later at 3:23pm)
The 5:52pm ex-Caboolture (Nambour train departs Caboolture 6 minutes later at 5:58pm)

I'm aware of the "dead running" which may occur from axing those 2 services, so handing the following 649 services:

5:22pm ex-Nambour departure and the 7:27pm ex-Caboolture departure (to Landsborough) - could be operated by the Caloundra depots of either BusLink or Sunbus
7:20pm ex-Nambour departure and the 8:15pm ex-Caboolture departure (to Nambour) - could be operated by Sunbus Marcoola or BusLink Kunda Park depots

to either Sunbus or BusLink would reduce the "dead running" for KBL.

[ozbob]

Media release 25th July 2012

SEQ: Bus review - the one we have been waiting for ...

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 supports the recent announcement by the Government that bus routes will be reviewed (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"In any public transport system the city it serves changes over time. Some routes become needed, but at the same time some become irrelevant. What might have been a logical route design 10-20 years ago might not recognise current travel patterns. New routes that are progressively added over time eventually become a jumble, and a full review becomes the only way to clean things up and provide a proper network."

"In Brisbane there are many cases where there are several variations on a particular bus route which are only a little bit different to each other.

"Trying to cater to every possible niche makes the network more confusing - with bundles of routes, and means very few of the routes get enough resources to make them frequent enough to be useful."

RAIL Back On Track supports a shift to a Core Frequent Network model, a simpler network of fast, frequent, direct routes down main roads, supported by short run local routes that feed into core routes at interchanges. This operates in conjunction with the rail network (2).

"There is much scope to find efficiency through a smarter overall network design."

"We welcome the suggestion of bringing logic to the city stop locations.  This has always been sadly lacking.  Ideally this should remove the break up of routes along operator lines which currently applies.  They are all TransLink services."

However, RAIL Back On Track would like details on the following significant potential issues:

- Assurances that late night buses of routes will be retained, even if the last few runs of the day are nearly empty. Whilst it may sound counter intuitive at first, the presence of late night services improves patronage overall, and allows people to avoid buying extra cars. The peace of mind knowing you won't be stranded late at night if you are stuck late at work, or the unplanned happens gives people the confidence to rely on the service in the first place, and incorporate it into their day to day life.

- Assurances that routes that provide primarily a social service (such as the elderly or the mobility impaired) will exist in some form, for example as Paratransit (3).

"Community consultation needs to be a cornerstone of this review."

"A number of bus routes presently operate in direct competition with rail and this is inefficient.  More frequent feeder bus services into core frequent services, bus and rail with a wider span of hours is needed, this also helps with parking issues."

"Redeployment does not mean cutbacks, it means providing more opportunities for frequent, efficient, direct services."

References:

1. http://www.scottemerson.com.au/media-releases/newman-government-to-improve-bus-networks.html

2. Building a Core Frequent Network http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5173.0

3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paratransit

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

[somebody]

I regularly see near empty pre-paid rockets leaving the City in the afternoon.

Get in here Simon!

I think my point has been established.

For the Centenary Suburbs in particular, get rid of P455, P456, P458 and P459 - if people want a "faster" trip into the City, they should be prepared to catch the 452 and transfer to the express trains at Darra. If they want the one-seat journey, they should be willing to put up with the longer 453/454/457 service.

Not 457? 

I wouldn't go that far, but fold the 455-459 into two routes, which can easily be done in the AM just by tagging the city precincts service onto the end of the 455/456.

[Fares_Fair]

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/

SUNSHINE Coast bus routes feature among some of  south-east Queensland's worst-performers,  according to the Department of Transport.

Transport Minister Scott Emerson this morning announced a six-month review of all southeast Queensland services, after the latest bus patronage figures had declined on 13 of southeast Queensland's 16 bus companies.

Mr Emerson said some Gold Coast bus routes had not been revisited since the 1990s, while singling out southeast Queensland's 10 "worst performing" bus routes.

"They cost more than $5 million a year, but less than 5 per cent of the cost is paid for through fares," Mr Emerson said.

THE 10 worst performing bus routes identified were:

652: Caboolture-Beachmere
676: Petrie-Murrumba Downs
681: Mango Hill-North Lakes
643: Bribie-Caboolture
529: Toogoolawah-Ipswich
514: Tivoli-Booval
508: Yamanto-Willowbank
649: Nambour-Caboolture
299: Rochedale-Brisbane Technology Park
544: the Browns Plains loop

More on this story at Brisbanetimes.com.au

Mr Emerson said  the latest data showed patronage had declined on 13 of south east Queensland's 16 bus providers following Labor's ongoing 15 per cent fare hikes.



"To attract people back to public transport we must improve services, so I've told TransLink to work with all operators and passengers for the next six months to start building a better network," Mr Emerson said.

"The LNP will invest more than $30 million this year to improve the frequency of bus services and restore affordability, including free travel after nine journeys.

"We also need to improve the reliability of the network, particularly where there are buses that are so full they need to leave passengers behind yet other areas have buses carrying less than three passengers a trip.

"Those 10 worst performing routes cost more than $5 million a year with less than five per cent of the cost paid for through fares.

"In Brisbane there are roads with more than 25 different bus routes, yet all stop at different locations within the CBD.

"On the Gold Coast there are some bus routes that haven't been reviewed since the 1990s."

The network review will include:

·Eliminating service duplication

·Managing the infrastructure capacity (eg Cultural Centre busway station congestion)

·Getting more people on public transport by simplifying the network

·Getting better connectivity between services and modes

·Redirecting resources to routes where there is overcrowding

Why do you think our buses are so empty? Have your say below

[#Metro]

"We welcome the suggestion of bringing logic to the city stop locations.  This has always been sadly lacking.  Ideally this should remove the break up of routes along operator lines which currently applies.  They are all TransLink services."

I agree. Stupid how 555 stops outside the Myer Centre, 160 stops underneath it (hur hur!!) and 111 stops in KGS and P88 stops in KGS 50 meters from the 111 stop!

USELESS!! :prI often find myself thinking "Well, I wonder where the bus will come to first- KGS? QSBS?
I often give up and just get a 199/CityGlider/196/anything to Cultural Centre and then change again there.

[somebody]

What is annoying about this is that they seem to be intentionally only targeting the non-BT routes.  Whether this is only in public and they will indeed review BT routes in private remains to be seen.

[#Metro]

Yes, the release was VERY INTERESTING! Completely sanitised of any and all BT routes!! I am surprised that more people catch 314 than these bus services. How is that possible...?

299 runs all the way to the CBD. For heaven's sake, cut the thing off at Griffith University busway, and use the released funds to boost the span and frequency on the service!

134 Griffith Uni Rocket should also be cut into a high frequency shuttle service. This bus leaves the CBD and goes ALL the way to Griffith Uni Busway station - why put this service on when you can catch ANY bus to Griffith Uni busway station and then interchange? It is actually faster because there are buses every 2-5 minutes all day on the busway.

[somebody]

I don't support either.  Both of those are counter peak routes - leave the CBD link alone!  Without it, you would only be dead running anyway.

[Mr X]

I say dump the network and start again. Clearly the former mob were not up to the task.

Bit rich for Jackie Trad to be whining about cutting services to isolated communities when the ALP were involved in the disastrous Ipswich Flexilink...

[STB]

134 Griffith Uni Rocket should also be cut into a high frequency shuttle service. This bus leaves the CBD and goes ALL the way to Griffith Uni Busway station - why put this service on when you can catch ANY bus to Griffith Uni busway station and then interchange? It is actually faster because there are buses every 2-5 minutes all day on the busway.

Er, have you seen the loads on the 134?  In 2010 when I was going to Griffith Nathan nearly everyday, every service coming from and heading out of Griffith Uni was packed, not just the 134 but also the 135, 155, 260 and 262.  I used to catch the 260 when I was heading down there (except at night), and it would be packed with standees out of Griffth University busway station after a half empty bus filled with students heading to the university.   The platform reminds me a bit of Cultural Centre where there is near constant use of it with large numbers of students and staff trying to get between the two campuses and to/from the Nathan campus itself (the largest campus by student numbers, other than the Gold Coast campus). I wouldn't be surprised if that is still the case.

Regardless on what happens, Griffith University is still a major attractor and will need high frequency services to service it.  If you trawl the university based forums, one of the number one complaints is lack of public transport to/from the Nathan campus in particular.

[STB]

"We welcome the suggestion of bringing logic to the city stop locations.  This has always been sadly lacking.  Ideally this should remove the break up of routes along operator lines which currently applies.  They are all TransLink services."

I agree. Stupid how 555 stops outside the Myer Centre, 160 stops underneath it (hur hur!!) and 111 stops in KGS and P88 stops in KGS 50 meters from the 111 stop!

USELESS!! :prI often find myself thinking "Well, I wonder where the bus will come to first- KGS? QSBS?
I often give up and just get a 199/CityGlider/196/anything to Cultural Centre and then change again there.

The reason the 555 stops outside of the Myer Centre, I'll give you three letters 'BCC'.

[somebody]

The reason the 555 stops outside of the Myer Centre, I'll give you three letters 'BCC'.

The sort of planning powers which should be removed from the BCC.  Whether it requires legislation or regulation, it should still be done.  Seems like the current mob are reluctant to do so publicly.