Northern Beaches BRT: B-Line to transform Northern Beaches

[Swift]

I can't wait for it to be implemented at all commuter carparks. It's the future!

[boronia]

The commuter park at Penrith has become overflow parking for the residential development on the north side of the station, after the council put timed parking in the local streets.

[simonl]

Why have a trial stage at all? They should just implement it instead of being so tentative about thwarting car park bludgers.

Obviously you have never been involved in implementing anything like this. Better it crash in a trial than in a large number of places if there is a bug somewhere.

Concur.

[Jurassic_Joke]

Ahhh bless I was casually reading through some B-Line Northern Beaches Service plans questions and answers, someone asked why can't they extend B-line to QVB or Central because we've already had a long enough trip and its cumbersome. Fair point. Instead of the usual paragraphs-long reply, it was a simple two sentences of sorry, we dont have any plans. We'll keep the community updated if it changes (which we know it won't)!

Hello, Has there been any consideration in extending the B-line service to stop at QVB &/or Central? This would improve the commute for all passengers that work in the CBD center, Pyrmont, Surry Hills or further. Also allowing connections with the light rail and shorter walking times. A lot of people sit on the bus for at least an hour and then have to walk long distances or get on another form of transport which just adds to our already long commute. I hope you can strongly consider this as it can save some commuters more than 30 minutes a day!
B C asked 19 days ago

Dear B C,

Thanks for your query. At this stage there are no plans to extend the B-Line to QVB or Central. We will keep the community updated if this changes.

~ May

Why is there such a hard-on from TfNSW for having Northern Beaches buses end at Wynyard when virtually everything else (Forest, Hills, Metrobus) gets to carry through to QVB? Before October 2015, there were a good number of buses from the Beaches that continued through to QVB, and Central (via George St). Changing at Wynyard, transfer discount or not is a bit cumbersome. Also not really the nicest place to be dumped late at night when the area is dead. QVB is at least more in walking distance for a lot more attractions.

[moa999]

I suspect when the LR opens a few more buses may be curtailed to prevent them running through the CBD with transfers to LR encouraged.

Indeed I almost wonder whether they might reverse the direction of Jamison St, and have a couple of busstops at the existing shelters near George St, which would be opposite the Bridge/Grosvenor/Metropolitan LR stop.
With George St being so heavily pedestrianised having Jamison St the direction it currently is doesn't make much sense.

[Frosty]

I can expect through running to continue the CBD like on Metrobus & selected routes like the 343. The only bus routes that runs from Wynyard to Central currently is the m20 & m30. Though I don't see any Northern beaches services running through and out of the CBD.

Admin: Last off topic sentence deleted.

[GazzaOak]

I think extending it to QVB is fair, but not to central....

[Swift]

On one hand this Liberal government want's to tout this new service as innovative, but is so staid and conservative when it comes to selecting the terminating arrangements into town and can't come up with something better than stinking Wynyard which really is a desolate backwater part of the city after dark.

[swtt]

Why are they adding those extra trips so close to the implementation of the B Line???

Isn't the whole network system supposed to change???

happy with the extra work though

I have a suspicion that B-line is commencing 26/11/2017.

Apart from the one single DD B-line bus that has arrived, have there been more?

To commence the service on 26/11 (or whenever it is) with only the single DD is a shade embarrassing.

[boronia]

On one hand this Liberal government want's to tout this new service as innovative, but is so staid and conservative when it comes to selecting the terminating arrangements into town and can't come up with something better than stinking Wynyard which really is a desolate backwater part of the city after dark.

This arrangement has been around since 1932, so I guess people are used to it by now.

[GazzaOak]

To commence the service on 26/11 (or whenever it is) with only the single DD is a shade embarrassing.

I think they would have brought in more, but however its not announced yet

[Daniel]

I would be extremely surprised if the 26/11 start date is met...
There are several deckers here in varying degrees of readiness. None have been registered or accepted as yet, let alone any training etc completed.

[swtt]

I would be extremely surprised if the 26/11 start date is met...
There are several deckers here in varying degrees of readiness. None have been registered or accepted as yet, let alone any training etc completed.

Hahaha maybe 31/12 then.

[Swift]

Great way to see in the new year. Carry drunken twerps in it's first day.

[Frosty]

How many are exactly in Australia, or on the way to Australia ? I'm wondering is it faster & better value building buses in Malaysia than vs in Aus ?

Surely there will be delays to this bus like many bus models before like the gas bus fleet or the bendy fleet with its issues.

[Stu]

The theory portion of training has already commenced although the practical driving portion of training has not yet commenced. Even before a few more buses arrive it won't take long to train up the minimum base amount of drivers needed for the first stage of B-line. From that point onwards more training can be conducted although taking into consideration that the dd buses will be in service quite regularly.

[Swift]

^^Christmas then.

[boronia]

Is there room at V or F to stockpile these buses before the changeover?

[Swift]

Maybe they should open a small depot to quarantine them from the toxic aspects of the STA culture.

[Daniel]

Maybe they should open a small depot to quarantine them from the toxic aspects of the STA culture.

Are these comments necessary or even relevant?
Can I please ask you to refrain, the quality of the board is being dragged down.

[Swift]

I can't help feeling that the old ways will drag this very expensive new operation down after the fanfare is finished.

[swtt]

Whether the operations will become expensive is yet to be seen. However, it was the local LIBERAL member who lobbied the minister to not palm it off from the STA.

A bit of a thorny issue across Sydney. To the passenger it shouldn't matter at all -- Opal fares are being paid and no additional premium is being charged for using the B-line route.

[Fleet Lists]

It is does not go well, it could be reason used to put the region up for privatisation.

[swtt]

Was there any talk in this thread or others previously, about where the displaced buses from the B-line's operation would end up?

There'd be a whole stack of 2 door artics not required.

[Swift]

^ I'm sure there will be no trouble finding uses four them.
A set of centre doors would make them useful for intensive urban work. Maybe an impetus to get the Eastgardens debacle sorted once and for all and get rid of those 14.5m junk heaps.