News & Discussion: O-Bahn

[Algernon]

Alberton is the first station along the line that I can't see an immediate argument for keeping but I know very little of its patronage, the local area etc.

Alberton station is one of two on the line (the other being Bowden) that's state heritage listed (not only that - both sides are specifically and separately listed, god knows why)! There's something of a historic retail strip that runs off the station on both sides but most of the shopfronts have been converted to housing - it's the kind of place that'd be hipster central if it were closer in to the city and if you put some effort in you could get quite a nice little niche strip like Queen Street going. There's a beautiful old theatre that's an IGA now and I'd love to see something less depressing done with the space.

There's also Mount Carmel College just around the corner which it'd serve as well.

Based purely on distance between stations. Cheltenham should go before Alberton if the stations were rationalised. If it were up to me: Cheltenham, Woodville Park and West Croydon would go. But ideally, all stations would need repositioning along the lines to maximise efficiency (although that's much harder than it sounds). Those stations were put there in a different technological and economic reality.

[1NEEDS2POST]

The new tunnel has opened up more opportunities.

Similar to buses joining the O-Bahn at the interchanges, buses could join just for the new section. Other bus routes from the north-east could join the O-Bahn on the city ring route. For example, buses from Hampstead Rd and North East Rd. Example routes are 202, 203, 206, 208, 271 and 273. At the moment, when heading to the city, they turn right from the ring route into Melbourne St. Then they are stuck in congestion until the city. Rather than doing this, if they continue on the ring route they could use the O-Bahn tunnel to get into the city much faster.

I don't see why as many routes as possible aren't pushed through the O-Bahn tunnel. That way more buses are out of congestion.

[claybro]

Ok on theory, but major changes would be required to Grenfel street to accomodate all the extra buses. Also, reduced frequency along Melbourne Street would not be beneficial for that strip. Some express services however could warrant this.

[Westside]

They also need to be o-bahn enabled buses. Not a huge deal, but it is another logistical and technical requirement to worry about for such a small part of the trip.

[I Follow PAFC]

Here is a bus for the O-bahn.
From https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/germ ... -long-bus/

[SBD]

Here is a bus for the O-bahn.
From https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/germ ... -long-bus/

Pity it doesn't tell us how the middle section steers.

It's longer than a B-double, with only five axles to supposedly carry more than 250 people. i wonder what road rules and driver licensing might be required here.

I suspect those middle axles will chew through both tyres and road surfaces rather quickly.

[OlympusAnt]

It'll be the dreaded Multi-Combination. Dreaded because it takes so long to get.

[1NEEDS2POST]

Also, reduced frequency along Melbourne Street would not be beneficial for that strip.

You could say that about the other O-Bahn routes. After all, the city end of the original O-Bahn track could have connected with Melbourne St, but they chose not to.

With my proposal, you could have a stop at the end of Melbourne St.

It'll be the dreaded Multi-Combination. Dreaded because it takes so long to get.

Articulated buses only need a heavy rigid licence. Maybe the same rules will apply with bi-articulated buses? Are there any bi-articulated buses in Australia?

[OlympusAnt]

I thought the licenses were based on the number of pivot points?

[1NEEDS2POST]

I thought the licenses were based on the number of pivot points?

What can I drive on a HR class licence?

A motor vehicle authorised to be driven by a licence of a preceding class.
A motor vehicle (including an articulated bus but not including any other articulated motor vehicle) with 3 or more axles and a GVM greater than 8 t (e.g. any bus (including articulated buses) trucks and tippers).
A motor vehicle included in 2 towing a single trailer (other than a semi-trailer) with a GVM not greater than 9 t, subject to the combination mass limits fixed under the Road Traffic Act 1961.

It doesn't say any thing about a bi-articulated bus, so let's hope it's counted as an articulated bus.

[Bacon]

The bus lane along Hackney is already showing grooves from the buses. The pooling from this morning’s rain made it quite obvious.

[ChillyPhilly]

The bus lane along Hackney is already showing grooves from the buses. The pooling from this morning’s rain made it quite obvious.

A stretch of Currie St right next to Leigh Street/Topham Mall was recently resurfaced after some borderline dangerously deep grooves. I feel that the wrong kind of surface is being constructed and/or the final layer is not being given adequate time to 'cure' or 'set'.

[Norman]

There is now a travel time comparison indicator on both Grenfell Street and Park Terrace.

[Waewick]

The bus lane along Hackney is already showing grooves from the buses. The pooling from this morning’s rain made it quite obvious.

A stretch of Currie St right next to Leigh Street/Topham Mall was recently resurfaced after some borderline dangerously deep grooves. I feel that the wrong kind of surface is being constructed and/or the final layer is not being given adequate time to 'cure' or 'set'.

Is there an argument to use concrete roads like the Northern Connector given the amount of use on Grenfell now?

I assume he argument is who is coughing up the cash to do it?

[rubberman]

The bus lane along Hackney is already showing grooves from the buses. The pooling from this morning’s rain made it quite obvious.

A stretch of Currie St right next to Leigh Street/Topham Mall was recently resurfaced after some borderline dangerously deep grooves. I feel that the wrong kind of surface is being constructed and/or the final layer is not being given adequate time to 'cure' or 'set'.

Is there an argument to use concrete roads like the Northern Connector given the amount of use on Grenfell now?

I assume he argument is who is coughing up the cash to do it?

If we were to go to the expense of reinforced concrete, might as well put a couple of steel rails in there - about 4'-8 1/2" apart.