I think it’s too early to make a judgement on the success of reducing queuing until the new bus network is introduced, which will reduce the number of bus movements across the Victoria Bridge.
I walked across the Victoria Bridge at around 6pm last night, and my experience was that queuing at that time was greatly improved to largely non-existent.
I will post a few more photos on here later, but until then here is my post about it on SkyscraperCity:
Further to my previous post, I walked across the Victoria Bridge last night at pretty well 6pm on the dot, and I was very impressed by what I saw in terms of bus queuing - or lack thereof.
Usually, there would be a line up of buses by this point on a good night (on a bad night, they’d go right back to William Street), but tonight there was no queue at all as I walked across the bridge.
When I got to the station, I hung out on the overpass for 5 mins or so to get a idea of how things were going, and the worst queuing I got is what we can see here. This was the result of a 301 taking longer to empty. I note that the 301 terminates at Cultural Centre, meaning it is a bus that now stops at Platform 3 and therefore shouldn’t have even been there!
Aside from this event, the regular amount of “queuing” was as seen in these photos - not much beyond the bridge expansion joint, and this never lasted beyond a minute or two, tops.
Was this during peak or off-peak? Does significant queueing still happen during peak hour?
As per his post it was 6pm
Yep, 6pm. I work until 5:30pm down on Eagle Street, so by the time I get there it is around about 6pm.
PM Peak is winding down by this point, but up until this week there was still fairly severe queueing present at this time.
It definitely looks somewhat chaotic through there.
What were they thinking? ![]()
I have also noticed yesterday that they haven’t got the gates working yet, just platform 3 in isolation.
FYI Despite that inspection chaos did anyone notice in that video @ 4.03 minutes that route 130 is using articulated buses again?
It’s been like this since the 22nd January 2024 shuffle where Sherwood was transferred more tag-axle buses and began also running routes 130, 140 and 150 alongside Willawong and Garden City. While tags are still the most common type, most days I also see artics (weekdays only) and rigids on these routes.
They should of closed off that Grey St intersection to traffic, and extended platform 2.
I know it looks chaotic, but in reality I honestly think it works quite well, and that’s even with the pre-BNBN network still in place.
Platforms 1 & 2 are already long enough, especially if you’re waiting down one end and your bus stops up the other end. Last thing we need is it to be even longer! As least with a third platform, you know the services that will stop there, rather than playing more bus Russian Roulette.
As for closing Grey Street, I would want to see some traffic studies on that. I would have reservations about the amount of traffic you may be diverting down a limited number of side streets (Glenelg & Ernest Streets - Tribune is there too but is largely useless if you’re continuing towards the Grey Street & GB Bridges). Demand on Cordelia & Peel Streets may also likely rise as a result of this.
I’m more annoyed at the fact that QR managed to keep its own parking space at South Bris, making its presence stick out like a sore thumb.
I do agree on an extended Plat3 because as of right now some drivers insist on cramming themselves onto the platform when there’s already two buses using the space.
If at one point the 196 ends up using artics that platform will look smaller and smaller…
Considering public transport employees often need to be at work before first service, or after last service, they’re among the few occupations that might have a genuine need to drive. I won’t deny them their parking spaces.
The Platform 3 situation should improve under BNBN with most of the 3XX services no longer crossing the river.
They could at least make the parking spaces look better integrated with the rest of the Cultural Centre precinct. As I said: like a sore thumb.
It’s not just the debate of the chaotic nature of the intersection, it’s all the effort, time and money wasted for a small improvement, while they could have built a tunnel and integrated station with rail over the same timeframe. This would have improved safety, public realms as well as public and active transport outcomes in the area.
I mean, we have TMR to blame here, at least partially. BCC and the then Labor goverment spent 2 years on a debacle over whether to build the Cultural Centre Station underground.





