Hyperdome / Springwood / City problems

[BestFriendHasLeprosy]

There's been quite a few occasions when I've tried to get from the City to Garden City to catch an outbound 576 leaving at quarter to every hour. I can usually make it if I leave the City no later than 20 past, except if it's 2:20 for the 2:45 576 or 3:20 for the 3:45 576. Doing that I've often missed them and gotten to Garden City at about 10 to. Now that's no problem - I should've left the City earlier, so I try to get to Springwood on a 555 for the next inbound 576 leaving Springwood at 10 past. The only problem is - all the 555s are full. On a number of occasions I've waited at Garden City for nearly an hour waiting for an outbound 555 that can let people on - hardly any of them can, and they ones that do can only let on one or two, leaving the other 10 or so people wanting it stranded.

I've been thinking of a few ways to fix the ridiculous crowding on the 555, and also fix the 572 night portion, and here's what I've come up with. This was all just ideas I had, not based on any real info or facts, so don't freak if you think it's stupid.

555 express from Hyperdome to City, stopping only at Springwood, EMP, GC, Griffith, Mater, South Bank, CC to KGSBS (sharing stop with 111). This would get people between the City, South Bank area, Garden City, Springwood and Loganholme fast and frequently, running every 10 mins from 9:00am to 4:00pm, and every 15 mins from 5:00am to 9:00am, and 4:00pm to midnight.

572 Hyperdome to City. This would run via the 572 route to Springwood, then via the 576 route to Eight Mile Plains, then via the 555 route to the Cultural Centre, before terminating at Elizabeth St. This would run every half an hour all day from 6:00am to late, and then (outbound only) hourly at 1am, 2am, 3am, 4am, and 5am.

It would however save a bit of time by changing the 576 portion of the route a bit - after Stellaris, left up Underwood until Kiato, down Glengala, left down Priestdale and right down School Road. The 578 which would now be made half-hourly between GC and Springwood would then go Excilis, Underwood, Belmore, Pandeen, Milperra, Gallang, Kala, Woodlands, Lancelot, Monica, Stirling, Devon, Somerset, Koobil, Greenview, Roseland, Rothon, Underwood, left down Rochedale and then down Miles Platting.

I know the 578 seems ridiculously convoluted, but it's not supposed to be fast - that's the 572 through Rochedale, the 578 is just supposed to be a feeder and pick everyone up.

What is everyones/anyones thoughts/opinions/idea on my ideas here?

[Andrew21]

The idea I had was make the 555 go to Springwood all stops, especially when the busway eventually makes it to Springwood. Then have another route (565 perhaps) that comes through from Logan going Logan Hyperdome, Springwood, 8MP, Garden City, Griffith Uni, Mater, Southbank, Cultural Centre. The 555 would have a BUZ style service. The 565 would have similar operating hours to the current 555's going to the Hyperdome. Eventually it might need a 15 min freq but initially off-peak could be half an hour with more frequent in peak and the shoulders.

[Cab]

Artics Logan needs more and hopefully they get more as they have replace older buses

Or even better buy new artic's as new service's are put on and as old buses are replaced

[BestFriendHasLeprosy]

The idea I had was make the 555 go to Springwood all stops, especially when the busway eventually makes it to Springwood. Then have another route (565 perhaps) that comes through from Logan going Logan Hyperdome, Springwood, 8MP, Garden City, Griffith Uni, Mater, Southbank, Cultural Centre. The 555 would have a BUZ style service. The 565 would have similar operating hours to the current 555's going to the Hyperdome. Eventually it might need a 15 min freq but initially off-peak could be half an hour with more frequent in peak and the shoulders.

For a start 565 is taken. All that's left is 559, 568, 580.

Half hour frequency between Springwood and the Hyperdome is not enough - needs to be at least every 15 mins. When the busway is done further, I think I'd prefer to see the 111 extended as an all stops service, with the 555 remaining for just express (extended to Beenleigh) - Brisbane (similar to 250 express Redlands - Brisbane); passengers in Greenslopes and Holland Park don't really need a frequent service to Loganholme - they can easily change.

Being in zone 5, Springwood seems to me to be the furthest you can get away from the CBD with but still being 'close'. Zone 6 is a bit too far away I think for an all stops service.

My 572 idea would also ease a lot of cars at EMP. Rochedale is so close to EMP, yet there's only an hourly bus through here, meaning (apart from the short 577 span) workers are left to park and catch a 111.

[BestFriendHasLeprosy]

Artics Logan needs more and hopefully they get more as they have replace older buses

Or even better buy new artic's as new service's are put on and as old buses are replaced

Agree 100%. But I guess that's all up to TransLink, and I can't see them caring any time soon.

[Cab]

Agree 100%. But I guess that's all up to TransLink, and I can't see them caring any time soon.

A good step to get more artics and reduce standee's could be to increase the 555 frequency to every 10mins and buy the required artic buses to supply a 10min frequency

This would means as Logans Citys 1990's model buses come up to be retired they would get more artics in a few years no matter what and solve this issue now with a 10min ridgid bus freqency

[Two-Way]

A rail line instead of the busway would of been more useful....but anyway.

Like others have said in the past, the 555 should be running every 5 - 10 minutes connecting with fast frequent feeders at Garden City, EMP, Springwood and Logan Bogandome. Instead of all the morning/afternoon expresses they can connect to a fast frequent 555 that runs via the CC Bridge and not the Cultural Centre.

And of course, all prepay on the 555 too.

[08 XDi]

555 express from Hyperdome to City, stopping only at Springwood, EMP, GC, Griffith, Mater, South Bank, CC to KGSBS (sharing stop with 111). This would get people between the City, South Bank area, Garden City, Springwood and Loganholme fast and frequently, running every 10 mins from 9:00am to 4:00pm, and every 15 mins from 5:00am to 9:00am, and 4:00pm to midnight.

Send it over the Captain Cook Bridge full time. Same for the outer suburban and/or express routes like the 130/135/140/150/200/250. Change at Buranda for the South Bank stretch.

572 Hyperdome to City. This would run via the 572 route to Springwood, then via the 576 route to Eight Mile Plains, then via the 555 route to the Cultural Centre, before terminating at Elizabeth St. This would run every half an hour all day from 6:00am to late, and then (outbound only) hourly at 1am, 2am, 3am, 4am, and 5am.

No thanks. This was what happened in the pre-TranLink days. It sucked big time.

The 545, 550, 554, 555, 560 and 572 should all be high-frequency routes running every 15 minutes 6am-9pm minimum. 555 could probably sustain BUZ operating levels (ie extras in peak and run until 11pm).

The goal should be getting everybody to transfer onto the 555. Over time, I would like to see all the "direct" peak services removed and the 555 operated at very high frequencies (eg every 5 minutes) in peak hour, exclusively with high-capacity vehicles. It would make the network considerably more legible and efficient if people knew they only had to look for one bus leaving the city, plus you could run the feeders more frequently and later into the evening.

[BestFriendHasLeprosy]

555 over CCBridge - no no no no no! The 555 is used heaps by people directly from Hyperdome/Springwood to Mater Hill, South Bank and Cultural Centre. It should stay, just not all stops.

What "sucked big time" about it? It wouldn't be the only way to the City from Logan.

You need to add the 576 to that high frequency list - at least every half an hour. It serves a very important area - and is patronised quite well. An hourly service through Rochedale is not enough for the people that do and would use it if it was more often.

I don't think the 554 really needs HF, just 30 mins all day.

I'd say short of implementing my plans above - 10 mins inbound 6-9am, outbound 4-7pm: 555, P569, P581; 10 mins both ways 9am-4pm 555; 15 mins outbound 5-9am, inbound 5-6am, 7pm-midnight: 555; 15 mins both ways 9am-4pm, 7pm-9pm: 545, 550, 560, 572, 576; 10 mins both ways 6-9am, 4-7pm: 545, 550, 560, 572, 576; 30 mins both ways 9pm-midnight: 545, 550, 560, 572, 576; 15 mins both ways 6-9am, 4-7pm: 554, 565, 574, 578; 30 mins both ways 9am-4pm, 7pm-9pm: 554, 565, 574, 578; hourly 9pm-midnight: 554, 565, 574, 578; hourly midnight-5am: 572, 576

[Power]

while they are at it translink should do a 369 style service linking Springfield to Beenleigh via the Hyperdome and Browns Plains and running every 20mins.

[Beauyboy]

Why not put the double decker on the 555. It has twice the seated capacity and the 555 has no low height problems to the best of my knowledge. Seams the simplest chose to me.

Donald

[simonl]

How about extending the 88 to Logan Hyperdome, putting the 555 into KGSBS and making it follow the 572 route full time instead of just evenings. No additional routes, even one less!

[Cab]

Why not put the double decker on the 555. It has twice the seated capacity and the 555 has no low height problems to the best of my knowledge. Seams the simplest chose to me.

Donald

Mass order the decker's

[daveeyh]

Why not put the double decker on the 555. It has twice the seated capacity and the 555 has no low height problems to the best of my knowledge. Seams the simplest chose to me.

Donald

I wouldn't think a decker would fit through the tunnels along the busway.

[Andrew21]

I wouldn't think a decker would fit through the tunnels along the busway.

The Bustech one does as they tested it. It won't fit through the snake in QSBS due to low height. I believe it's pretty close as there isn't much to spare but I think the clearance for most of the busway is 4.4m but I'd have to check the signs. I'm pretty sure the South East Busway south of Victoria Bridge is fine. Would be nice to see something a bit different down on the southside along the busway. Would make it very good variety between BT, PRT, LCBS, Mt Gravatt & Veolia.

[08 XDi]

A CDi definitely won't fit into KGS or QSBS, but there would be no impediment at all to it being used on the 555, or the 250, or a number of other outer suburban routes which do not transit the tunnels in the middle of town.

[BestFriendHasLeprosy]

A CDi definitely won't fit into KGS or QSBS, but there would be no impediment at all to it being used on the 555, or the 250, or a number of other outer suburban routes which do not transit the tunnels in the middle of town.

I think I'd prefer the 555 to use KGSBS and use artics/rigids with not CDis. Putting it into KGS would help with the crowding at stop 82 - in afternoon peak there's not enough room for all the buses.

[simonl]

Closing 83 and making one larger stop (as has happened with the Veolia stop - 85) would be a solution to the congestion. I could go either way on this one.

[BestFriendHasLeprosy]

Could work, but then they'd have more trouble crossing over to go down Edward St. My vote is still for 555 to KGS, with the rest of the LCBS routes staying at 82.

[simonl]

They wouldn't have appreciably different difficulty turning down Edward. I didn't mean that they would stop f/s Albert. Still approaching Albert.

It's possible that could work, but dividing the stop locations doesn't work for the BT services. Given that LCBS passengers are already doing something different in peak hour to off peak, they may happily continue to.

[racingnathan]

Could work, but then they'd have more trouble crossing over to go down Edward St. My vote is still for 555 to KGS, with the rest of the LCBS routes staying at 82.

KGS has buses queuing now in the peaks, could only imagine what it would be like if the 555's serviced it as well.

[simonl]

Could work, but then they'd have more trouble crossing over to go down Edward St. My vote is still for 555 to KGS, with the rest of the LCBS routes staying at 82.

KGS has buses queuing now in the peaks, could only imagine what it would be like if the 555's serviced it as well.

In what direction? Most routes through there are heading north in the PM, but most 555s would be heading south in the PM. Yes, I guess there would still be counter peak runs.

I bet this is mostly to access stop 1d which has 3 BUZes: 333, 330, 340.

[BestFriendHasLeprosy]

I know what you meant - combine stop 82 and 83, creating one stop just before Albert Street that all the LCBS and stop 83 buses stop at. You don't think they will have any harder time changing lanes from further down?

In the afternoon, there would be outbound 555s commencing from KGS - so that would add an extra 6 buses an hour to the mass exodus via Queen Street station.

I just sorta think, that if the 555 went into KGS, more people from EMP, GC and GU would use it inbound more (rather than just a 111), and in turn with more pax the 555 would have a few more services added.

But I guess it's really a 50/50 between clogging up Elizabeth St, Edward St and Alice St more, or clogging up QS and KGS more.

[simonl]

The BT stop 83 services could be moved to stop 81 and/or what is now stop 84 (the stop outside Embassy Hotel).

[Beauyboy]

I have to say I completely disagree with spliting Logan Service stops. It makes it just to hard if you miss one route and can run for another route. Destinations need to be grouped. It makes far more sense for the BT routes to be removed from the stop infront and some Logan routes adjusted to there.
I would also suggest that the left 2 lanes of Elizabeth St be turned over to Bus Lanes between George and Edward to speed up the flow of buses throught there.

Donald