News & Discussion: Public Transport Contracts, Service & Policy

[Brucetiki]

I reckon the attitude of railway staff also contributes to people driving.

On Sunday, the staff at Salisbury Station attempted to refuse me access to the platform with my footy ticket claiming the included travel with my ticket didn't kick in until 12:00pm (it was around 10:00am when I was at the station). When I asked for some ID (name/badge number etc) to notify the Infoline I was laughed at. While I was eventually allowed on the platform, I promptly phoned the Infoline to complain about the staff. The Infoline confirmed it was included all day for weekend games and apologised for what happened. For me, the lesson learnt is to walk to either Chidda or Nurlutta next time I want to get in early for a weekend game, but most people would think, 'Stuff this I'll drive next time'.

[OlympusAnt]

Yep, they're too busy trying to catch one fare evader for that $220 fine (which by the way is one of the highest in the world), than making it easy for people going to watch the game.

[ChillyPhilly]

I reckon the attitude of railway staff also contributes to people driving.

On Sunday, the staff at Salisbury Station attempted to refuse me access to the platform with my footy ticket claiming the included travel with my ticket didn't kick in until 12:00pm (it was around 10:00am when I was at the station). When I asked for some ID (name/badge number etc) to notify the Infoline I was laughed at. While I was eventually allowed on the platform, I promptly phoned the Infoline to complain about the staff. The Infoline confirmed it was included all day for weekend games and apologised for what happened. For me, the lesson learnt is to walk to either Chidda or Nurlutta next time I want to get in early for a weekend game, but most people would think, 'Stuff this I'll drive next time'.

You're probably about right. I recall an article years back discussing the theme of pride within a public transport system. It compared how staff in Tokyo (and Japan in general) take great pride in their public transport and in their roles, to here. Basically it boiled down to admitting that staff here needed to take more pride in the system and what they do, but can we blame them for not when transit users don't return this showing of pride?

[ml69]

Interestingly, 9million light rail trips using 1 line, compared to 14million train trips on 5 lines. Goes to show how popular light rail can be, or how badly run the train network is. Also wonder if the light rail numbers include the free trips within the CBD and how they might calculate this with no ticketing data.

and this...
“There needs to be safe, cheap and abundant parking at public transport hubs in the suburbs,” Ms Bucchorn said.

How about there needs to be transport hubs in the suburbs....there are precious few true transport hubs in Adelaide at present, which could be part of the overall problem.

I'd suggest the following NEW suburban transport hubs with greater parking and improved bus connections ... which should be built in conjunction with electrification on the train lines and a slight relocation of train stations in some cases.

Gawler line ... Churchill Centre (relocate Kilburn station).

Outer Harbor line ... Port Dock.

West Lakes line ... West Lakes. New spur line to West Lakes, close down Grange line. Build a multi-storey parking structure like TTP next to station.

Seaford line ... Castle Plaza (relocate and close down adjacent stations in the backstreets). Also, could more use be made of Oaklands as a transport hub?

Flinders line ... new Flinders station. This could be an enormously popular one if done correctly, with well-timed buses from Happy Valley, Aberfoyle Park, Flagstaff Hill, even Woodcroft.

Belair line ... Mitcham. Make the station more prominent. It's hidden behind bushes, but only across the road from a major shopping centre.

You'll notice that these proposed hubs are mostly in the middle distance suburbs from the CBD. If Paradise is ridiculously popular as a transport hub (similar distance), then why couldn't these work?

[Norman]

The train system won't be attractive until the city loop it built. The terminus is still too far for a lot of city workers. Once the system is a lot more convenient to use and gets a lot closer to offices, the patronage will rise significantly.

[Brucetiki]

I reckon the attitude of railway staff also contributes to people driving.

On Sunday, the staff at Salisbury Station attempted to refuse me access to the platform with my footy ticket claiming the included travel with my ticket didn't kick in until 12:00pm (it was around 10:00am when I was at the station). When I asked for some ID (name/badge number etc) to notify the Infoline I was laughed at. While I was eventually allowed on the platform, I promptly phoned the Infoline to complain about the staff. The Infoline confirmed it was included all day for weekend games and apologised for what happened. For me, the lesson learnt is to walk to either Chidda or Nurlutta next time I want to get in early for a weekend game, but most people would think, 'Stuff this I'll drive next time'.

You're probably about right. I recall an article years back discussing the theme of pride within a public transport system. It compared how staff in Tokyo (and Japan in general) take great pride in their public transport and in their roles, to here. Basically it boiled down to admitting that staff here needed to take more pride in the system and what they do, but can we blame them for not when transit users don't return this showing of pride?

Interestingly when I was in Brisbane/GC for the Commonwealth Games in April the QR staff were fantastic. Once glimpse of an event ticket at the barriers and it was, 'Off to the Gold Coast today mate?' 'Have a great day'. They were even more laid back with my Airtrain ticket - I just showed them my phone and they waved me through with barely a glance at the Airtrain ticket on my phone. Just about all the QR staff I encountered were jovial and cheerful, even provided a bit of friendly banter when you had a tourist moment and tried to go through the wrong barrier. You could sense they enjoyed their jobs and had some pride in the network.

Compare that to the staff we have here - they see it as an easy job where they get to stand around and do nothing, and see something as simple as letting an earlybird to the footy through an inconvenience.

[claybro]

Interestingly, 9million light rail trips using 1 line, compared to 14million train trips on 5 lines. Goes to show how popular light rail can be, or how badly run the train network is. Also wonder if the light rail numbers include the free trips within the CBD and how they might calculate this with no ticketing data.

and this...
“There needs to be safe, cheap and abundant parking at public transport hubs in the suburbs,” Ms Bucchorn said.

How about there needs to be transport hubs in the suburbs....there are precious few true transport hubs in Adelaide at present, which could be part of the overall problem.

I'd suggest the following NEW suburban transport hubs with greater parking and improved bus connections ... which should be built in conjunction with electrification on the train lines and a slight relocation of train stations in some cases.

Gawler line ... Churchill Centre (relocate Kilburn station).

Outer Harbor line ... Port Dock.

West Lakes line ... West Lakes. New spur line to West Lakes, close down Grange line. Build a multi-storey parking structure like TTP next to station.

Seaford line ... Castle Plaza (relocate and close down adjacent stations in the backstreets). Also, could more use be made of Oaklands as a transport hub?

Flinders line ... new Flinders station. This could be an enormously popular one if done correctly, with well-timed buses from Happy Valley, Aberfoyle Park, Flagstaff Hill, even Woodcroft.

Belair line ... Mitcham. Make the station more prominent. It's hidden behind bushes, but only across the road from a major shopping centre.

You'll notice that these proposed hubs are mostly in the middle distance suburbs from the CBD. If Paradise is ridiculously popular as a transport hub (similar distance), then why couldn't these work?

Definitely agree with the Castle Plaza integration with a combined station. Some houses would have to go, but there is plenty of under utilised commercial space behind castle plaza to extend toward the line.
Also, have always wondered why Mitcham is so poorly utilised, it has so much space for a bus interchange serving surrounding suburbs but I'm not sure what frequency the Belair line can sustain. Ideally there would need to be trains at 15 minute intervals to make an interchange attractive- but yes, they could provide more parking, and make it more visible from Belair Road

[ml69]

The train system won't be attractive until the city loop it built. The terminus is still too far for a lot of city workers. Once the system is a lot more convenient to use and gets a lot closer to offices, the patronage will rise significantly.

100% agree. Electrification is the first stage.

Once we've got that done, the underground city loop is the second stage which will see rail patronage skyrocket. When people can save up to 20 mins on each leg of their commute (depending on their final destination in the CBD), it will be an absolute gamechanger for rail transport.

[flaneur]

There were plans to build a new station across from the Hills site due to the proposed extension of Castle Plaza, which folded when the land was found to be fairly toxic and no one prepared to foot the bill. It would make more sense to close Woodlands Park and Edwardstown and build a new station with plenty of car parking for commuters. Noticed to that the bus runs parallel to Woodlands Park Station then travels to Castle Plaza, also noticed that the same bus departs as the train arrives from Seaford so commuters have no choice but to walk to Castle Plaza. As the private bus operator depends on ticket validations they're shooting themselves in the foot with loss validations. Castle plaza could have been a transfer point for Seaford and Tonsley trains.

[flaneur]

Belair Line - Mitcham Station is an ideal station for a bus interchange especially to cater for the numerous schools and colleges as well as Port Rush Road. There is further proposed developments for the Belair Line some time in the future

[Eurostar]

There were plans to build a new station across from the Hills site due to the proposed extension of Castle Plaza, which folded when the land was found to be fairly toxic and no one prepared to foot the bill. It would make more sense to close Woodlands Park and Edwardstown and build a new station with plenty of car parking for commuters. Noticed to that the bus runs parallel to Woodlands Park Station then travels to Castle Plaza, also noticed that the same bus departs as the train arrives from Seaford so commuters have no choice but to walk to Castle Plaza. As the private bus operator depends on ticket validations they're shooting themselves in the foot with loss validations. Castle plaza could have been a transfer point for Seaford and Tonsley trains.

The 190 and 241 actually gets Woodlands Park residents to Victoria Square and King William Street, the train only gets them to North Terrace

[Westside]

A proper interchange at Flinders can take a heap of T/X/F buses off of South Rd and Goodwood Rd, which can allow for Go-Zones to Aberfoyle Park (current G20), Main South Rd to Noarlunga via Expressway to Reynella (Current 721(x)), Main Sth Road to Reynella (combined 722/725) and Woodcroft (combined 733/734). It will also allow for buses to continue to either Marion or Flinders Uni, increasing those links, rather than travelling to the city.

Again, a heavy rail city loop (or adjoining line) will greatly improve this connection.

[ChillyPhilly]

An “all-encompassing” three-year survey of Adelaide commuters will be used to judge the performance of the public transport system – and the state’s new public transport authority.

https://indaily.com.au/news/2018/07/04/ ... rt-system/

University of Adelaide senior lecturer in geography Dr Jennifer Bonham, who specialises in urban mobility and processes [...] said high-quality services like the Adelaide O-Bahn and the tram network were popular because they were efficient.

I don't rate the tram as particularly efficient, given how slow it moves in some sections, especially between the Entertainment Centre and South Terrace.

But...if it is 'efficient', then why is this already inept government insistent on no more trams? They'll be creating their own survey results, effectively speaking.

[Waewick]

An “all-encompassing” three-year survey of Adelaide commuters will be used to judge the performance of the public transport system – and the state’s new public transport authority.

https://indaily.com.au/news/2018/07/04/ ... rt-system/

University of Adelaide senior lecturer in geography Dr Jennifer Bonham, who specialises in urban mobility and processes [...] said high-quality services like the Adelaide O-Bahn and the tram network were popular because they were efficient.

I don't rate the tram as particularly efficient, given how slow it moves in some sections, especially between the Entertainment Centre and South Terrace.

But...if it is 'efficient', then why is this already inept government insistent on no more trams? They'll be creating their own survey results, effectively speaking.

This inept government is still fixing the last inept governments rushed extension....

[ChillyPhilly]

An “all-encompassing” three-year survey of Adelaide commuters will be used to judge the performance of the public transport system – and the state’s new public transport authority.

https://indaily.com.au/news/2018/07/04/ ... rt-system/

University of Adelaide senior lecturer in geography Dr Jennifer Bonham, who specialises in urban mobility and processes [...] said high-quality services like the Adelaide O-Bahn and the tram network were popular because they were efficient.

I don't rate the tram as particularly efficient, given how slow it moves in some sections, especially between the Entertainment Centre and South Terrace.

But...if it is 'efficient', then why is this already inept government insistent on no more trams? They'll be creating their own survey results, effectively speaking.

This inept government is still fixing the last inept governments rushed extension....

They'll call a wasted $37 million on an unnecessary right-turn a 'fix'.