News & Discussion: Adelaide Metro Buses

[rubberman]

Money in the budget for upgrading bus services to Mt Barker. So...no trains for you folks.

[Brucetiki]

Good to see there'll be a high level look at returning buses to public hands.

At the very least, Torrens Transit need to lose their contracts. To describe their services as unreliable is an understatement (buses regularly running 25-30 minutes late on weekends, no response to complaints)

[RetroGamer87]

Money in the budget for upgrading bus services to Mt Barker. So...no trains for you folks.

That's probably for the best.

[PeFe]

Just wondering when the state government will announce the re-organization of the outer north buses following the reopening of the Gawler line.

It was the previous Labor governments intention to eliminate duplicate routes to the train and increase train/bus connectivity.

The previous Liberal governments attempt at bus route simplification might a template. Yes both parties want to do this.
It's a no brainer to really use the train line as the spine for outer north public transport.

[Norman]

Just wondering when the state government will announce the re-organization of the outer north buses following the reopening of the Gawler line.

It was the previous Labor governments intention to eliminate duplicate routes to the train and increase train/bus connectivity.

The previous Liberal governments attempt at bus route simplification might a template. Yes both parties want to do this.
It's a no brainer to really use the train line as the spine for outer north public transport.

Probably the middle of next year when all the electric trains have been delivered. A new train timetable will be introduced by then.

[1NEEDS2POST]

Just wondering when the state government will announce the re-organization of the outer north buses following the reopening of the Gawler line.

It was the previous Labor governments intention to eliminate duplicate routes to the train and increase train/bus connectivity.

The previous Liberal governments attempt at bus route simplification might a template. Yes both parties want to do this.
It's a no brainer to really use the train line as the spine for outer north public transport.

One of the criticisms of the last bus route proposal is that it was too large. If they improve the bus routes in a small part of the city, then fewer people complain. They will stop complaining after a while and then they can move on to improving bus routes in another small area. That way they're only dealing with a small number of complainers at any one time.

[MT269]

This isn't related to what was posted before. But why does the 230 route need 27 minutes from Arndale to stop 2 KW Rd on weekdays from 4PM to 5PM? I have heard of drivers complaining that there is too much time on both sides of Arndale. I noticed a driver on an up one today not exceeding 35-40kph for the entire trip, and still arriving timepoints quite early.

The night time schedules seem more accurate, with less slack. But why are the daytime ones so appalling?

The amount of fuel consumed with idling buses at timepoints must surely amount to many $ per year.

Faster services would surely attract more patrons, as well as reap in more revenue for late running penalties. I'm sure that the Dunrobin Rd time point on the 263 could be removed without issues as well. This is one which has buses sitting there for up to 7 minutes, if the driver wants to avoid running early to Marion. Also, with quicker movements out of Flinders Uni due to the traffic lights being green for more than 2 seconds now, there is no need for 12 minutes from Flinders Medical Centre to Marion at any point.

[cocoiadrop]

https://twitter.com/TKoutsantonisMP/sta ... 3665523712

No more diesel buses to be ordered by the current gov. This probably means many more of the K320UB hybrids are coming...

[Cryptic]

https://twitter.com/TKoutsantonisMP/sta ... 3665523712

No more diesel buses to be ordered by the current gov. This probably means many more of the K320UB hybrids are coming...

100 hybrid and fully electric buses are being ordered over the next 12 months.

https://twitter.com/ollie_haig/status/1 ... iZZqw&s=19

[PeFe]

From The Driven

South Australia’s first electric bus to begin operating in December



South Australia’s first Scania battery electric bus is set to hit the streets in December, joining 24 electric hybrid buses already in operation.

This first battery electric bus will allow Adelaide Metro, the capital’s public transport operator, to begin testing the new technology across a variety of public transport routes.

“The slated delivery of our first fully-electric Scania bus, to be tested across various public transport routes, signals an exciting step forward towards a cleaner, greener, zero-emission future for public transport in South Australia,” said Tom Koutsantonis, South Australia’s minister for infrastructure and transport.

“The new Scania bus will be the first of many fully-electric buses to take to our roads and will join the 24 electric hybrid buses already in operation.

“As well as eliminating noise and fuel-based pollution, electric buses offer passengers more space and better comfort and accessibility. So, it is a win both for commuters and the environment”

More electric buses on the way

Adelaide Metro is expecting to take delivery of additional electric buses over the next two years. However, these will be reliant on funding and fleet arrangements.

The announcement comes as the SA government takes delivery of its last new diesel rigid bus. All future rigid bus orders will either be hybrid electric or, preferably, fully electric.

Adelaide Metro already has 24 first generation electric hybrid buses in services across its network. The first new-generation electric hybrid buses, which boast double the zero-emissions range, will begin operations in Adelaide during November.

Bus fleet transition strategy under development

The South Australian government is also currently developing a zero-emission bus fleet transition strategy. It is unclear whether there is a timeline for delivery of this strategy.

Adelaide Metro announced in September 2021 it was investing in 17 new hybrid electric buses which would reduce emissions by up to 92%. The first three of these hybrid electric buses were introduced during 2021, with the remainder operating by January 2022.

South Australia’s public transport operator also announced last year that it was introducing twelve new Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) trains consisting of 36 railcars over the subsequent 12 months. This increased the number of electric railcars in the fleet from 66 to 102. It also enabled fully electric operations on the Seaford, Flinders and Gawler train lines.

https://thedriven.io/2022/09/30/south-a ... -december/

[Nathan]

South Australia’s first electric bus to begin operating in December

The forgotten child:

[MT269]

Although this can possibly be avoided depending on where I sit, I think those pathetic excuse for those credit card accepting validators on buses need to be repositioned, and optimised.

The current non-credit card accepting ones have a dim yellow background, with a small rectangular screen showing the date and time. The newer ones though are so bright in comparison to these, they have a larger screen, and they face directly towards the rear of the bus. In the L94UBs which were built from about 2006-2007 (1201-1268), their interiors are so dim. Having one of these validators installed facing towards the back will be quite an unpleasant contrast.

I hope that my complaint to the DIT gets through to them. Somehow I'm not sure that all folks are 100% desensitised to light. Last time I checked, I wasn't, and I'm sure there are others.

At the very least, they should be dimmed, and repositioned to face towards the front of the JAS, with a blue light filter as well. They are bloody awful at the moment.

[PeFe]

Bus driver's strike next Monday January 9.

Adelaide bus drivers set strike date
NEWS
More than half of Adelaide’s bus network is set to be disrupted next Monday due to a bus drivers’ strike over pay and conditions.



The Transport Workers Union (TWU) yesterday told Adelaide bus operator Torrens Transit that its members will begin a 24-hour strike at 3am on Monday, January 9.

The union’s members who work for Torrens Transit voted last month in favour of industrial action due to frustration over stalled enterprise bargaining negotiations.

Torrens Transit is the sole operator of the East-West, Outer North East and Outer North contract regions for Adelaide bus services.

The company is also part of a three-way consortium, “Torrens Connect”, operating the North-South bus contract region, which includes the Adelaide CBD and O-Bahn.


A map of Adelaide Metro’s bus contract regions. Torrens Transit operates the East-West, Outer North East, Outer North and parts of the North South region. Image: Adelaide Metro

The TWU is looking for Torrens Transit to pay bus drivers more than $32 an hour. According to the union, the average wage for Torrens Transit drivers currently sits at $25.70 an hour.

The union is also seeking changes to the company’s rostering system whereby, according to the TWU, a bus driver can be rostered over 12.5 hours but only paid for only six to seven hours due to a lengthy break in-between.

TWU SA/NT branch secretary Ian Smith said: “This fight is not just about our bus drivers, it’s also about building a better bus network for our community.”

“Striking is a last resort and not a decision that we take lightly, but our hardworking bus drivers have been given no choice,” he said in a statement.

He also apologised to commuters for the looming disruption.

“We thank the community for their continued support and understanding and apologise for any inconvenience caused next week as our drivers lead this crucial fight for a better bus industry,” Smith said.

Torrens Transit employs more than 1000 bus drivers in Adelaide. The TWU says more than 700 of them are union members.

A spokesperson for Torrens Transit said the company was “disappointed the union is proceeding with strike action, particularly in the light of a planned meeting scheduled for Tuesday, 10 January 2023”.

“We had hoped to negotiate in good faith, and work collaboratively, however, this industrial action from the union does not demonstrate these principles and aims to inconvenience the public,” the company said.

“We have already committed to a first-year wage increase of 5.75 per cent, and offered an additional 0.25 per cent to the national superannuation guarantee rate for each year of the agreement. We believe we are offering above market rates and conditions for our staff.

“We are working to determine the level of services that we can provide for the public. However, we anticipate some service disruptions will occur on Monday 9 January.

“We hope to reach a resolution with the union at our planned Tuesday meeting.”

Premier Peter Malinauskas said the state government had “few options” to address the work stoppage as the dispute was between a private company and its employees.

Asked if the state government would be stepping in with other services for commuters, Malinauskas said: “This affects such as substantial amount of the bus network that it’s almost impossible to replace or replicate.”

“But naturally we’ll monitor the situation as close as we can and anything we can do to ease the impact on commuters then we’ll seek to do it.”

Since Christmas Eve, union members working for Torrens Transit have not been wearing company uniforms. The industrial action received 95 per cent support in a protected action ballot of union members last month.

Malinauskas urged the TWU and Torrens Transit to return to the negotiating table.

“What I seek to do as Premier is actively encourage parties to avoid industrial disputation getting to this level,” he said.

“Clearly working people at the moment across the country deserve to see a pay rise, we’ve got inflation running at high levels and I don’t think it’s unreasonable for working people wanting to maintain their standard of living rather than seeing it diminished.

“Which is why I’d advocate that the union and also the employer sit down at the negotiating table sooner rather than later and seek to avoid this level of disputation because nobody wins from.”

https://indaily.com.au/news/2023/01/04/ ... EAD%20MORE

[PeFe]

January 29 bus timetable changes

https://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/about- ... 29-january

[PeFe]

Paper tickets for all buses to be phased out by July1.

Payment options will now be Metrocard or tap and go (using a credit card)

However to buy a Daytrip you will need to buy it like a pass and load it on your Metrocard. It is just unbelievble that capping is not available on the Metrocard.

Goodbye paper MetroTickets!
26 Apr 2023
As we say hello Adelaide Metro Tap and Pay, we’re saying goodbye paper MetroTickets. Paper MetroTickets will not be accepted on buses from 1 July 2023, but the singletrips and daytrips that were available as paper MetroTickets are now available on a metroCARD.

And right now, if you buy a singletrip or daytrip from Adelaide Metro or any metroCARD retailer – you will get the metroCARD FREE! This offer ends on 30 June 2023, so be quick and grab your free metroCARD now. (Then register and recharge it and keep using it to access the best-value fares.) This offer does not include metroCARDs bought on a vending machine.

Find a retailer

Buy a metroCARD online

Why are we phasing out paper MetroTickets?
Our network-wide ticketing upgrade is making public transport simpler, safer and easier to use by introducing more easy ways to tap and pay. To extend Adelaide Metro Tap and Pay to all buses, we must replace the old MetroTicket/metroCARD validator on each bus with a new smart validator, which can’t validate paper tickets.

In the lead-up to 1 July 2023:

the vending machines on board trams and trains will keep selling paper MetroTickets
the vending machines in other (off-board) locations will stop selling paper MetroTickets. You will either need buy a metroCARD and recharge it on that machine, or:
go to a metroCARD retailer to buy a singletrip or daytrip on a free* metroCARD
buy a singletrip or daytrip on a free* metroCARD here online from us at Adelaide Metro, and we’ll post it to you
buy a singletrip or daytrip on a free* metroCARD from us at Adelaide Metro InfoCentre (Adelaide Railway Station)
use Adelaide Metro Tap and Pay if it’s available.
if you transfer with a MetroTicket to a bus that has a new smart validator (which can’t accept MetroTickets), please show your ticket to the driver before taking a seat
if you buy a Tap and Pay ticket on a tram or bus, and transfer to a bus which does not yet have a smart validator, please tell the driver, and then take a seat. Please be aware that our inspectors can check that you do have a valid Tap and Pay ticket, and follow up accordingly if you do not.
* Free metroCARD offer ends 30 June 2023.

Read more about Easy ways to pay on buses

Read more about Tap and Pay tickets.

Read more about Tickets and Fares.

https://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/about- ... -metrocard