I think the author of the article may have meant to write “privately managed, state-owned” as the operations will be by a contractor?
In any case, once built it sounds like a good opportunity for a BTQ tour. 
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That quote came directly from the Translink press release…
Wait…does that mean that Bus Queensland will eventually no longer be the operator for the Ipswich routes? Personally, I’d liked to see Bus Qld out, not impressed by their practices historically and more recently.
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I went for a tour of New Chum today - not much to see, but a temporary depot has been setup. In terms of readiness, it looks complete. There is staff parking in the foreground, behind the concrete blocks are bus parking bays line marked. Demountable/temporary offices are setup as well as refueling and small (pre existing) workshop up the back corner. It’s located at #1 New Chum road - there is no signage, but this location is the only possible option. 75% of the depot is surrounded by temporary fencing. There is some lighting setup, but not sufficient for the entire depot.
Further up the hill in the background is a large cleared open space that could be the site for the permanent depot.
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I’d argue a new operator could take operations out of Park Ridge as well, with a couple of their local services out of Browns Plains absorbed by the 140 and 150, and the 546 just outright merged with the 142 for a comprehensive. all-day express to the CBD from the southern suburbs.
Godspeed for the checkup, James.
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Thanks for taking the time to have a look! There’s plans available for the full depot online, so it’ll be interesting to see when construction starts on that.
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Bus Qld and PRT are effectively one and the same now - if they are going to lose the Ipswich services, I imagine they would probably get stripped of the Park Ridge ones as well, especially as the new depot is intended to boost services to Park Ridge and surrounds.
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From the Member for Bundamba September Update
Afterstrong advocacy from local MPs and the community, TMR have announced that Stage 1 of our Ipswich Bus Improvement Package will start on 17 Nov.
There will be four new routes delivering roughly 1000 new trips every week, 97 new bus stops, brand new connections for growing areas like Eden’s Crossing and 36 new jobs created.
The new routes are:
Route 501: Springfield - Ipswich
Route 520: Goodna station - Eden’s Crossing
Route 522: Redbank station - Springfield Central station
Route 523: Redbank Plains - Augustine Heights - Springfield Central station
Unfortunately, detailed maps of the routes have not been released yet by Translink which is disappointing given services start in less than 2 months.
This is Stage 1 of a 3 stage Ipswich Bus Improvement Package funded by Labor in last year’s budget.
Thank you to all community members who have joined our campaign to get these services up and running after its rollout was delayed under the LNP. I doubt it would have happened at all this year without your support.
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Only map of the new services I could find
The bus services introduced last year are numbered
The new ones which weren’t numbered yet have S1.
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There were no services introduced last year.
524-526 are existing services, but the map shows alignment changes for those routes - which has not been mentioned in any press releases recently.
If this map is accurate for the new alignments, than the existing 524, 525 and 526 have to change otherwise the new routes are duplicating large parts of the existing routes - the blue and orange routes duplicate a large portion of the existing 524, and the orange duplicates the bottom section of the current 526 through augustine heights.
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Possibly, given there’s capacity for this new operator to expand its fleet size. I wouldn’t be surprised if the contract with Bus QLD Ipswich isn’t renewed.
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It is disappointing that we are still waiting for the new route maps from Translink. Good thing these stage 1 improvements for Ipswich. It has taken a while. Sooner decent route maps the better.
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I apologise I was just confused from the government statement last year. And it was the only map with the new services I could find
No apology necessary. Just providing a bit of clarity around the existing routes it was showing but no mention has been made about those - like bob is alluding to it’s a bit of joke less than 2 months from launch there are no maps timetables etc.
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All good. I just do not want anyone to think I am spreading misinformation
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I honestly don’t get how they design these services? The ones that wander all over the place will have poor patronage and frequency? I assume 400m rule which should be thrown out as failing! Some run parallel to rail line?
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How should they design bus lines then?
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Straight and intersecting with stations and cycling facilities.
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the issue with bus services in places like ipswich, logan, moreton bay region etc is that they do not receive enough funding to allow for quality routes or services. So routes are merged together at really bad frequencies which make them almost unusable
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man the bus routes in Ipswich are some of the most appalling stuff ive ever seen
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