News & Discussion: Public Transport Contracts, Service & Policy

[crawf]

Meanwhile the city railyard is already starting to look like a true metropolitan railway network with the construction of new poles that are quite tall.

[Hooligan]

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sout ... 6548155951

THE head of one of Adelaide's bus operators has told passengers they will have to choose between a hot bus service or none at all.

With Adelaide facing five days of extreme temperatures starting tomorrow, concerns have been raised with the ability of airconditioning on Adelaide's buses to cope with the heat.

Thousands of commuters are being shunted from Adelaide's rail service on to free substitute bus services as part of an upgrade of the Adelaide Railway Station and works on the Noarlunga, Tonsley and Belair lines.

Ashley Barnes, chief executive of bus company SouthLink, admitted that several of his company's buses lacked effective airconditioning.

"Some use fans to get the air around ... the reality is you can either not have a bus service or you can have a hot one," he said.

Transport Workers Union organiser Ian Gonsalves, who represents bus drivers, said commuters using the free bus service can expect some hot conditions.
newsforce-clarkesecurity

"We know the airconditioning on some buses isn't up to scratch. It's simply blowing hot air and the people on these buses have it pretty tough," Mr Gonsalves said.

At a press conference yesterday, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Pat Conlon said substitute buses were the best option for taxpayers.

"We want to take care of people in the heat but the truth is the rail line has to be closed some time and it would be a flagrant misuse of taxpayers' money to buy buses for seven months and then retire them," he said.

Substitute services are part operating on the Gawler, Grange and Outer Harbor lines until February 3 during the upgrade of the Adelaide Railway Station.

The Belair line has been closed for six months from January 2 to separate commuter and freight lines at Millswood, while the Noarlunga line will be closed for eight months for electrification work.

The Country Fire Service is preparing for another busy week after horror conditions on Friday caused more than 40 fires around the state.

Fire fighters were last night still monitoring fires at Sevenhill in the Clare Valley, Compton near Mt Gambier and Macgillivray on Kangaroo Island.

Total fire bans have been declared for today in the Northwest Pastoral, Northeast Pastoral, West Coast, Flinders, Mid North and Yorke Peninsula.

The lack of adequate air conditioning in the older buses (typically the buses with the old brown or leather seats) is absolutely disgusting.

I will only take the newer buses with the air con.

This is why i drive a car.

[mattblack]

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sout ... 6548155951

THE head of one of Adelaide's bus operators has told passengers they will have to choose between a hot bus service or none at all.

With Adelaide facing five days of extreme temperatures starting tomorrow, concerns have been raised with the ability of airconditioning on Adelaide's buses to cope with the heat.

Thousands of commuters are being shunted from Adelaide's rail service on to free substitute bus services as part of an upgrade of the Adelaide Railway Station and works on the Noarlunga, Tonsley and Belair lines.

Ashley Barnes, chief executive of bus company SouthLink, admitted that several of his company's buses lacked effective airconditioning.

"Some use fans to get the air around ... the reality is you can either not have a bus service or you can have a hot one," he said.

Transport Workers Union organiser Ian Gonsalves, who represents bus drivers, said commuters using the free bus service can expect some hot conditions.
newsforce-clarkesecurity

"We know the airconditioning on some buses isn't up to scratch. It's simply blowing hot air and the people on these buses have it pretty tough," Mr Gonsalves said.

At a press conference yesterday, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Pat Conlon said substitute buses were the best option for taxpayers.

"We want to take care of people in the heat but the truth is the rail line has to be closed some time and it would be a flagrant misuse of taxpayers' money to buy buses for seven months and then retire them," he said.

Substitute services are part operating on the Gawler, Grange and Outer Harbor lines until February 3 during the upgrade of the Adelaide Railway Station.

The Belair line has been closed for six months from January 2 to separate commuter and freight lines at Millswood, while the Noarlunga line will be closed for eight months for electrification work.

The Country Fire Service is preparing for another busy week after horror conditions on Friday caused more than 40 fires around the state.

Fire fighters were last night still monitoring fires at Sevenhill in the Clare Valley, Compton near Mt Gambier and Macgillivray on Kangaroo Island.

Total fire bans have been declared for today in the Northwest Pastoral, Northeast Pastoral, West Coast, Flinders, Mid North and Yorke Peninsula.

The lack of adequate air conditioning in the older buses (typically the buses with the old brown or leather seats) is absolutely disgusting.

I will only take the newer buses with the air con.

This is why i drive a car.

So does this mean you will catch a bus in winter when air con is not as essential or start catching buses when the older style buses are phased out over the next few years?

I think its yet another convenient excuse. Im not saying that everyone HAS to catch buses (there are many, many reasonable reasons why people cant or wont) but just dont be hypocritical and complain about sitting in traffic congestion in your car in future years (Im not saying you do by the way Hooligan). By the way I do drive into town on occasions but also utilise the train, tram and bus services when it convenient. It all about allowing flexibility in your commute.

[Hooligan]

So does this mean you will catch a bus in winter when air con is not as essential or start catching buses when the older style buses are phased out over the next few years?

I think its yet another convenient excuse. Im not saying that everyone HAS to catch buses (there are many, many reasonable reasons why people cant or wont) but just dont be hypocritical and complain about sitting in traffic congestion in your car in future years (Im not saying you do by the way Hooligan). By the way I do drive into town on occasions but also utilise the train, tram and bus services when it convenient. It all about allowing flexibility in your commute.

No I wouldn't catch PT in winter or summer.

But that's only because for when i start work in the morning there is no PT. If PT existed at the time i need to travel i would consider it, but i can't see the state government starting the trains 2 hours early because they just seem to think everyone starts work at 9 and finishes at 5

[claybro]

No I wouldn't catch PT in winter or summer.

But that's only because for when i start work in the morning there is no PT. If PT existed at the time i need to travel i would consider it, but i can't see the state government starting the trains 2 hours early because they just seem to think everyone starts work at 9 and finishes at 5

Have to agree Hooligan. I also start early and although i live not far from a train station, it is physically impossible for me to get to work on time by train. The bus I would not even consider. It is unfortunate, because in the afternoon, travelling from the Mawson interchange into the city changing trains and then out on the Belair line, it is possible to get home in the same time as it takes to drive. So...earlier trains and a train that does not have to go right into the city for transferr would work well for me, and I imagine many others.

[mattblack]

No I wouldn't catch PT in winter or summer.

But that's only because for when i start work in the morning there is no PT. If PT existed at the time i need to travel i would consider it, but i can't see the state government starting the trains 2 hours early because they just seem to think everyone starts work at 9 and finishes at 5

Have to agree Hooligan. I also start early and although i live not far from a train station, it is physically impossible for me to get to work on time by train. The bus I would not even consider. It is unfortunate, because in the afternoon, travelling from the Mawson interchange into the city changing trains and then out on the Belair line, it is possible to get home in the same time as it takes to drive. So...earlier trains and a train that does not have to go right into the city for transferr would work well for me, and I imagine many others.

Fair enough!

[Hooligan]

No I wouldn't catch PT in winter or summer.

But that's only because for when i start work in the morning there is no PT. If PT existed at the time i need to travel i would consider it, but i can't see the state government starting the trains 2 hours early because they just seem to think everyone starts work at 9 and finishes at 5

Have to agree Hooligan. I also start early and although i live not far from a train station, it is physically impossible for me to get to work on time by train. The bus I would not even consider. It is unfortunate, because in the afternoon, travelling from the Mawson interchange into the city changing trains and then out on the Belair line, it is possible to get home in the same time as it takes to drive. So...earlier trains and a train that does not have to go right into the city for transferr would work well for me, and I imagine many others.

I'm in the same boat as for living near a train station. I'm a 5 minute walk away and it's completely useless to me!

[Hooligan]

Also, why can't there be a bus from Mawson Lakes to Port Adelaide?

Or even better yet a bus that runs from Elizabeth or TTP to Port Adelaide via Mawson Lakes?

[claybro]

Did you know there is a perfectly good rail corridor that already runs between Pt Adelaide and Dry Creek. Would be feasable to run a suburban train from Elizabeth via Mawson to Port Adelaide. Imagine the time saving over bus. Sure it is single track, but with some upgrade and passing points could work well. Could also link the Port into the sucess of MAwson Lakes and the Edinbugh industrial/defence precinct.

[Hooligan]

Did you know there is a perfectly good rail corridor that already runs between Pt Adelaide and Dry Creek. Would be feasable to run a suburban train from Elizabeth via Mawson to Port Adelaide. Imagine the time saving over bus. Sure it is single track, but with some upgrade and passing points could work well. Could also link the Port into the sucess of MAwson Lakes and the Edinbugh industrial/defence precinct.

True but i would imagine a bus route would be a good way to test the waters and see if it's feasible. but otherwise yeah i would agree.

[[Shuz]]

Did you know there is a perfectly good rail corridor that already runs between Pt Adelaide and Dry Creek. Would be feasable to run a suburban train from Elizabeth via Mawson to Port Adelaide. Imagine the time saving over bus. Sure it is single track, but with some upgrade and passing points could work well. Could also link the Port into the sucess of MAwson Lakes and the Edinbugh industrial/defence precinct.

I've always wondered why they haven't made Port Adelaide a sort of 'second' CBD - you've got a railway station that could have four lines to Outer Harbour (via the Roseworthy Loop), to the City (via the existing Outer Harbour line) - stopping all services - to replace the Grange service, which is likely to be converted to a tramline, to Mawson Lakes (via the Roseworthy Loop) and potentially further onwards to Salisbury/Elizabeth/Gawler, and possibly (with property acquisition needed, and the added problem of the new Dry Creek rail depot being in the way now) to Walkely Heights. This could be part of the bigger-picture rejuvenation that Port Adelaide needs.

[claybro]

True but i would imagine a bus route would be a good way to test the waters and see if it's feasible. but otherwise yeah i would agree.

Unfortunately, new bus routes do not capture the imagination of the public, like a new tram or train route. Buses are perceived to be slow and indirect...and for good reason. The Jetbus airport services have had only limited success, and an Elizabeth -Pt Adelaide bus service via Mawson interchange would also would take too long, have limited use for commuters, and therefore would not be a good indication of the possibilites of a rail connection.

[neoballmon]

I assume the mentioned corridor is adjacent to the PRExy? So a mock bus route to test it out has potential to be quite fast, as it could travel along this road and just stop at interchanges. Then could be timed to transfer with trains to Elizabeth. That bus route with few stops, would mimic what the train line would offer and should gauge a pretty decent patronage compared to the train

[muzzamo]

Does anyone know of any retailers that will let you charge your metrocard using American Express?

Looking through the list of retailers none seem obvious, apart from *maybe* the IGAs.

http://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/content ... 121128.pdf

Coles Express used to sell metrotickets (and take Amex) but it seems they are not aboard the metrocard bandwagon.

It's worthwhile pursuing IMO since a years worth of travel yields abou $45 worth of points,

[muzzamo]

Does anyone know of any retailers that will let you charge your metrocard using American Express?

Looking through the list of retailers none seem obvious, apart from *maybe* the IGAs.

http://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/content ... 121128.pdf

Coles Express used to sell metrotickets (and take Amex) but it seems they are not aboard the metrocard bandwagon.

It's worthwhile pursuing IMO since a years worth of travel yields about $45 worth of points,

Answer my own question here, the IGA on North Terrace (opposite the RAH) accepts Amex and i used it today to buy metrocard credit.