Hinterland Connect

[Arnz]

Route 639 is known to be air parcel duplicating Trunk routes in places (Route 610/Route 612), whilst the Hinterland Connect service has no other alternatives available, despite averaging 10-12 people across 4 services (people spread out across too many services?).

One has to question why hasn't the planners (or the council for that matter) hasn't stepped in with the "Flexi-Link' maxi-taxi option for the "Hinterland Connect" folks??  I'm aware from the recent newspaper articles had a few residents willing to pay a bit more to keep 'any' form of PT on the Maleny-Montville-Nambour route.

'FlexiLink' would've also been suited for the Mapleton loop of Route 639, whilst the terminus of Routes 610/612 could've been slightly altered to pass by the nearby retirement villages (reduce their walk to the nearest stop) to offer folks a more frequent service (of up to half-hourly) into Nambour and beyond.

Palmwoods could've been a candidate for a 'hourly feeder' service into Nambour, even if it's initially council funded at first.  Apart from the weekday only '649 railbus' serving only the rail station, It has a larger population than Woombye and it only survives on 2 services a day into the town proper, whilst Woombye is fortunate enough to 'be in the way' for a half-hourly service as part of the Route 610 trunk.  A case for a 'Route 637' Palmwoods-Nambour feeder operating hourly could be presented to council (who then presents the case to TransLink for joint funding as a initial trial).

[#Metro]

If it is THAT important then why can't SCC fund it itself?

[Fares_Fair]

Route 639 is known to be air parcel duplicating Trunk routes in places (Route 610/Route 612), whilst the Hinterland Connect service has no other alternatives available, despite averaging 10-12 people across 4 services (people spread out across too many services?).

One has to question why hasn't the planners (or the council for that matter) hasn't stepped in with the "Flexi-Link' maxi-taxi option for the "Hinterland Connect" folks??  I'm aware from the recent newspaper articles had a few residents willing to pay a bit more to keep 'any' form of PT on the Maleny-Montville-Nambour route.

'FlexiLink' would've also been suited for the Mapleton loop of Route 639, whilst the terminus of Routes 610/612 could've been slightly altered to pass by the nearby retirement villages (reduce their walk to the nearest stop) to offer folks a more frequent service (of up to half-hourly) into Nambour and beyond.

Palmwoods could've been a candidate for a 'hourly feeder' service into Nambour, even if it's initially council funded at first.  Apart from the weekday only '649 railbus' serving only the rail station, It has a larger population than Woombye and it only survives on 2 services a day into the town proper, whilst Woombye is fortunate enough to 'be in the way' for a half-hourly service as part of the Route 610 trunk.  A case for a 'Route 637' Palmwoods-Nambour feeder operating hourly could be presented to council (who then presents the case to TransLink for joint funding as a initial trial).

Arnz, FYI ... see twitter picture/article.
Your points are worth following up with the Council / TransLink.

Jeff Addison‏@Jeffrey_Addison

Hope for Hinterland Connect bus service variant. Nambour Weekly, p6 pic.twitter.com/Oswvm5c3Vr

[Arnz]

Thanks FF.

@Tramtrain - some information on the council funded 'FlexiLink' taxis - http://www.travelsmartsunshinecoast.com.au/publictransport/flexilink.shtml 

It wouldn't hurt adding the Maleny to Nambour 'Hinterland' service to this portfolio (replacing and reducing from 4 buses to 3 taxis a day) considering the 10-12 passenger average.

[Stillwater]

Hinterland Connect latest:

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/bus-axings-will-isolate-our-elderly/1791207/

Extract - yeah, good on yer, Mr Powell:

Meantime, Member for Glass House Andrew Powell said he understood people relied on the Hinterland Connect service, but its cost was too great.  "I do know that people use it, I do know that people rely on it, but it's costing the State Government $100,000 a year and for the number of people using it, it's not efficient," he said.

This is a continuation of Mr Powell's pattern of representing the State Government to the people of the Glass House electorate, rather than representing his constituents to the government.  The lazy bugger doesn't say, for instance, that he will work actively to establish a FlexiLink replacement service.

He is about as helpful as Little Britain's fictitious travel agent whose standard reply to any question is: 'Computer says no.'  The state government says no – no to SCL duplication, no to Nambour station DDA upgrade etc, and so, it seems, does a very compliant Mr Powell.

[Arnz]

Re the 601 and 613, sounds more of a case of "Bus from my house to where-ever whenever I want it".   There is a option for that, that is called a "taxi". 
Can't have both ways especially when I've personally sighted the 601 carrying nothing but air with no-more than 2-3 people every 2-3hrs (every 2nd-3rd bus).

If the person complaining about the 601 had even read through the report, the 607 very much takes the old 601 alignment into Kawana Shops.  The 602 covers the Caloundra private hospital and the 602 also services parts of the existing 600 and 601 between Caloundra and Kawana as well.

[Fares_Fair]

Hands off our bus.
Sunshine Coast Daily, p8
by Richard Bruinsma

Jeff Addison‏@Jeffrey_Addison

Hands off our bus. Sunshine Coast Daily, p8
#qldpol pic.twitter.com/ZApSRLDgKF

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament Hansard 19th March 2013 p64 Questions without notice
http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2013/2013_03_19_DAILY.pdf

Mr WELLINGTON: My question is to the Minister for Transport. My question is in relation to the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Connect bus service. I table the advice I received on Friday from the minister's office about this bus service.
Tabled paper: Email, dated 15 March 2013, from the Office of the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Hon. Scott Emerson, to the member for Nicklin, Mr Peter Wellington MP, regarding the Hinterland Connect Bus Service.
It states—
In regards to the Hinterland Connect bus service, Minister Emerson has previously stated that the reinstatement of the service is in the hands of the Sunshine Coast Regional Council who initially withdrew funding for the bus.
I have been informed by the Sunshine Coast council that the minister's statement is not completely accurate because the council did not withdraw funding from the bus service. Council's contribution was only ever for the period 2007 to the end of 2010. I ask—
Madam SPEAKER: Will the member put the question.
Mr WELLINGTON: Will the minister have discussions with the mayor of the Sunshine Coast council to make sure this bus service continues?
Mr STEVENS: I rise to a point of order, Madam Speaker. There is the motion before the parliament at this point in time. He is pre-empting that motion.
Madam SPEAKER: I have actually viewed the question, though the central part was a bit longer than I was expecting. It is to the specific issue of dealing with the council and discussions and I will allow that. I call the Minister for Transport.
Mr EMERSON: I thank the member for the question. Let me give the history of the hinterland bus service and where it came from. This service was introduced on a trial basis in 2007, jointly funded by the local council and the then state government. The agreement was for joint funding to go on. What happened was that in 2011 the council withdrew, without any notice to either the operator or the state government, funding for this service.
I have said very clearly that I am happy to talk to the council. I also commend the Minister for Environment, the member for Glass House, Andrew Powell, for efforts here. He said he is also happy to talk to the council. Member for Nicklin, I am very happy to talk to the council. If they are willing to come back and put some money on the table as they did previously when this was jointly funded and before they withdrew the funding without notice to the operator or the state government, I am happy to talk about providing some sort of alternative to them to service this community. The member for Glass House has mentioned that as well.
It is a bit rich of the council to complain about a service going when they are the ones that withdrew the funding, without notification to the operator or to the state government. It was always a jointly funded service. Council withdrew its funds.

[Stillwater]

Is it not the SCRC practice to fund these services for a time, using the council transport levy funding, to the point where the patronage goes above the minimum threshold stipulated by Translink, at which time the council switches its subsidy to another start-up bus service?  It is a 'switch' of funding, not a 'withdrawal'.  This is the way the council has been developing the bus network on the Coast and drawing in Translink funding to the Sunshine Coast public transport network.  Is Mr Emerson now saying that the SCRC should jointly fund Coast bus services indefinitely, with the council subsidising Translink in effect?  Maybe the Sunshine Coast Daily should get onto this one.  Sounds like the government and Mr Emerson being too clever by half, yet again.

[Gazza]

Has hinterland connect gone above that minimum threshold for permanent TL funding?

[SurfRail]

I think Emerson is being economical with the truth, whether intentionally or not.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Jeff Addison ‏@Jeffrey_Addison 11m

@the_daily @Robert_Dow Labor backs fight for route. Sunshine Coast Daily, p7 http://t.co/dwhZmQE6lv

[ozbob]

Twitter

Jeff Addison ‏@Jeffrey_Addison 26m

@the_daily @Robert_Dow Council blamed for axing bus run, Sunshine Coast Daily, p7 http://t.co/WBfAG9RzxJ

[#Metro]

So Jackie trad had a group of seniors spend the entire day walking to and around parliament. And yet these these same people claim they can't walk to the bus stop?

[Stillwater]

Hinterland Connect bus service due to end next Tuesday.  ABC Coast FM reported today that Mr Scott Emerson has refused an approach from the SCRC to meet with him to discuss the ongoing operation of this service to the communities of the Blackall Range.  Where is Mr Andrew Powell MP in the fight for this service?  He is missing in action.  The irony, as observed by the local councillor, is that this service averages more than 7 passengers per hour, which is a Translink benchmark, yet is being axed.  However, 50 per cent of buses in Brisbane do not reach that benchmark.  They are being retained, yet a vital service to the people of Mapleton, Flaxton, Montville and Maleny is going.  Go figure.

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament Hansard - Adjournment 1 May 2013

http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2013/2013_05_01_DAILY.pdf

Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Public Transport; Queensland Plan

Hon. AC POWELL (Glass House—LNP) (Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection) (11.39 pm): It is my privilege this evening to raise the concerns of constituents of Glass House and reassure them that I am on the case and doing everything I can to maintain a public transport service commonly now known as Hinterland Connect in the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast. This service currently operates from Nambour to Maleny. It is heavily utilised in the morning and afternoon peak hours by school students, people heading off to employment, those accessing public transport in Nambour and those accessing health services. Unfortunately, it is not heavily utilised during the rest of the day or, for that matter, over the weekend. The current patronage of this trial service suggests that it is unaffordable in the current format. The last thing I want to do for the constituents of not only Glass House but also the whole of the Sunshine Coast is have services that are unviable and that end up costing us so much that the costs of public transport increase for everyone who uses it.

I want to reassure constituents that I have received many requests for input into the review of TransLink services and this bus service in particular. I noted recently in a letter to the editor that I have collated all of the information I have received, along with what I have read through letters to the editor, and I have provided it to the minister. I have had a number of conversations with Minister Emerson and have recently been advised by him that he and his department recognise that there is a demand for a public transport service in the hinterland but that, as I said, the low number of passengers means we have to identify a more low-cost way to deliver the service if it is to continue.
The good thing is that I am now working very closely with councillors Greg Rogerson, Jenny McKay and Rick Baberowski and council CEO John Knaggs. They have recently written to the minister listing three options, all of which involve council support. I thank the council for their ongoing support in this matter. I am dedicated to ensuring that all of the constituents of Glass House continue to have access to a public transport solution in the hinterland and I look to resolving that very soon with the assistance of the council.

In the time remaining to me I will touch on the Queensland Plan. It is off and running in the electorate of Glass House. We had the first meeting of the 'Glass House Gang' last Friday—some 30 individuals who are passionate and excited about seeing the vision for Queensland developed but bringing a particular Glass House aspect to it. I particularly acknowledge year 12 students Aidan Titheridge, from Maleny State High School, and Riley Williamson, from Glasshouse Country Christian College, who came alone. Also in attendance were some of our more senior citizens in Peter Cavanagh from Palmwoods and John Wildman from Maleny. Particular thanks go to Ursula Starkovsky, a businesswoman from Glass House Mountains; Howard Walters, a great community
volunteer and self-proclaimed mayor of Wamuran; and Ruby Scott, the Maleny State High School captain, who will be joining me in Mackay on 10 May.

[longboi]

The thing is that school students are by far the biggest users of the service but already have school routes provided to them; Hinterland Connect is just slightly cheaper. When you remove school students from the equation, the service doesn't meet minimum standards required for the provision of service and therefore SCC funding is still necessary.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Jeff Addison ‏@Jeffrey_Addison 6m

Hinterland bus service trial extended. Sunshine Coast Daily, p8 Thursday June 27, 2013 http://t.co/8y2JVfGEg3

[ozbob]

Plan to go to Maleny on Wednesday 20th August.  Has to be a weekday as bus does not run on weekends.

Basic idea is to catch the bus at Nambour 11.02am arrives Maleny at 11.53am.  Train 8.30am Nambour service ex Roma St due at Nambour 10.22am.

Depart Maleny either 1.02pm or 3.52pm service.  Train 2.26pm or 5.39pm.

Lunch at Maleny pub.  They have a $12 lunch deal.

Go card is not accepted on the Hinterland Connect, coins for the fares $4, concession $2  single only.

Details --> http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Travel-and-transport/qconnect/Urban-bus-services.aspx#maleny_beerwah

Bus timetable --> http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/Travelandtransport/Public%20transport/Hinterland%20connect/Pdf_hinterland_connect_timetable.pdf

All welcome!

[STB]

I'll tentatively lock myself in for this.  Things are getting rather busy for me though, but will try and fit it in.

[ozbob]

 

[ozbob]

3 starters so far! 

[ozbob]

Information sessions for bus timetable changes from 1 Sep 2014

[ozbob]

Hinterland Connect - new timetable

--> http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/19491/details

[ozbob]

New timetable and route information --> http://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/timetables/140901-hinterland-connect.pdf

[ozbob]

Media release 17th August 2014

Sunshine Coast:  Hinterland Connect bus timetable changes welcome!

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 welcomed new timetable changes that will result in better connections between the Hinterland Connect bus service and trains at Nambour Railway Station (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Changes to the Hinterland Connect bus timetable from 1 September 2014 will improve connections with trains at the Nambour Railway Station and make the service more attractive to passengers.

"A small contingent of RAIL Back on Track members is travelling to Maleny on the bus service on the 20 August on a familiarisation tour, ahead of the timetable changes (2).

"The Hinterland Connect bus provides an essential public transport service to the towns of the Blackall Range.  RAIL Back on Track applauds the State Government and the Sunshine Coast Council for continuing to support the bus run trial and for exploring ways to grow patronage so that it can become a permanent service. Better connections will further encourage day trippers to Maleny for lunch and sight seeing."

"If the Queensland Government is to meet targets for a more decentralised population settlement pattern across the state, it is vital that it improves public transport connectivity to lifestyle towns such as Maleny.

"As it seeks ways to grow passenger numbers, we believe the government can go one step further and equip the Hinterland Connect bus with electronic go-card ticket readers that apply across the South-East Queensland public transport network.

"The roll-out of go-cards to the Hinterland Connect bus would give residents better travel benefits, including discounts for multiple-leg journeys.

"RAIL Back on Track is also anxiously awaiting a state government decision on whether it will commit to duplicating the North Coast railway line between Beerburrum and  Nambour.  The decision is due next month.

"Duplication will provide much-needed construction jobs locally, but the lasting benefits will include faster train connections to Caboolture and Brisbane and the possibility of more passenger trains running to Nambour, and help get bulk freight off the Bruce Highway."

References:

1. Hinterland Connect - new timetable
http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/19491/details

2. Hinterland Connect - Maleny <-> Nambour Day trip
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10846.msg144588#msg144588

Contacts:

Jeff Addison
Sunshine Coast Region Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track

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

[ozbob]

An option for the return journey is the Maleny to Beerwah bus.

[ http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/Travelandtransport/Qconnect/urbanbusservices/pdf_maleny_to_beerwah.pdf ]

Departs Maleny at 2.55pm.  Connects with the 3.41pm train to Brisbane at Landsborough.

[ozbob]

Inbound EMU26 ex Goodna ...  looking forward to Maleny!

[ozbob]

Two paid journeys completed (Seniors go) ...

Breakfast at Roma St RRR   

[Stillwater]

Good stuff.

[ozbob]

Secondary go card used Darra to Milton trip.  Remember transfers only valid on go from same or adjoining zones. 
Darra zone 4 Milton zone 1 ... 

Dwell at Darra this morning was tight ...    usually has a bit of fat to burn ...

Seniors go card history ( free travel after two paid journeys completed  daily )

20 Aug 2014
05:37 AM    Goodna    05:57 AM    Darra    $ 2.07         $ 21.85
06:21 AM    Milton    06:43 AM    Roma Street    $ 1.77         $ 20.08

[ozbob]

Departed Roma St on time, on board IMU184.  Loo working! 



Photograph R Dow 20th August 2014

[ozbob]

Few random pics ...  great day! 



























Photographs R Dow 20th August 2014

[ozbob]

And a minor miracle at Goodna on the way home.  Touched off at Goodna rail 4.55pm (actually timetabled for 4.57pm) and made the 524 bus connection due to depart at 4.55pm. I had positioned myself strategically in the last car for the the sprint down to subway and to bus stop A in optimistic hope.  Bus was just taking off and the kind driver spotted me and held the bus.   

[ozbob]

Secondary go card used Darra to Milton trip.  Remember transfers only valid on go from same or adjoining zones. 
Darra zone 4 Milton zone 1 ... 

Dwell at Darra this morning was tight ...    usually has a bit of fat to burn ...

Seniors go card history ( free travel after two paid journeys completed  daily )

20 Aug 2014
05:37 AM    Goodna    05:57 AM    Darra    $ 2.07         $ 21.85
06:21 AM    Milton    06:43 AM    Roma Street    $ 1.77         $ 20.08

Go history for the day, including the 'perfect' transfer at Goodna rail to bus (524) ...   

20 Aug 2014
05:37 AM    Goodna    05:57 AM    Darra    $ 2.07         $ 21.85
06:21 AM    Milton    06:43 AM    Roma Street    $ 1.77         $ 20.08
08:11 AM    Roma Street    10:27 AM    Nambour    $ 0.00         $ 20.08
02:54 PM    Landsborough    04:55 PM    Goodna    $ 0.00         $ 20.08
04:55 PM    Goodna Station Stop A    05:07 PM    Curnow St near Howard St    $ 0.00         $ 20.08

[ozbob]

This is a great day trip from Brisbane.  Train to Nambour, Hinterland Connect Bus to Maleny.  Lunch.  Visit local attractions.

Number of options from there.  Bus to Landsborough or back via Montville, then Nambour.

[cartoonbirdhaus]

...Or even stay overnight at the Maleny Hotel.

[ozbob]

Yo! --> http://www.malenyaccommodation.com.au/

Maleny pub has rooms as well.

[Stillwater]

I am going to do this one weekend, staying at the pub.  (Good meals.)  To Maleny on the Friday, back on first bus Monday.

http://www.malenyhotel.com.au/accommodation.html

[Arnz]

I am going to do this one weekend, staying at the pub.  (Good meals.)  To Maleny on the Friday, back on first bus Monday.

http://www.malenyhotel.com.au/accommodation.html

Could alternatively just jump on the Maleny-Landsborough-Beerwah bus back to Landsborough over the weekend since they operate on the weekend.