Graphing the data allows for easier comprehension of what is happening.
According to Translink the bus OTR is determined as described here:
On-time running is measured at selected key locations within specific time periods. The current on-time running calculation is based on an average monthly sample of all urban services across the SEQ bus network, consolidating the average performance from early departures, late arrivals and missed connections (as applicable) for a number of routes.
Target is better than 90%. Brisbanetimes reported recently that Buses can run two minutes early or six minutes late and still be considered on time. For interest overall SEQ Bus OTR. For individual regions see the spreadsheet.
Only two regions with OTR above 90% lately, they are Northern and Gold Coast. OTR has certainly gotten worse as time goes on. Traffic congestion and the lack of bus priority is now starting to hit big time.
I think part of it is just completely unrealistic timetables. When the first 560 eastbound on a Saturday morning is already 10 minutes late at Loganlea Station (and this happens on a regular basis), I don’t think it’s traffic congestion causing the issue.
The reason why the Northern network gets such high on-time performance metrics is that in multiple cases their timetables are bloated to hell and back with dwell time, particularly in the case of Kangaroo.
Hornibrook is also relatively similar with one big exception being the 680, mainly because of Gympie Rd being really unpredictable.
Caboolture Bus Lines barely steps outside of their operating zone so there’s not much chance of having major delays.
Thompson makes a meagre appearance by just sticking to Strathpine and surroundings, making for a very simple operation.
In the case of Kinetic Surfside, some timetables have being tweaked to accommodate extra traffic congestion as a way to keep rail connections stable, while services like the 700 and 777 now operate on a headway system that only considers departure time from the first stop as the important one.
It also helps that a good chunk of routes connect with G:link, allowing for an operation in which bus-tram connections are much less critical. The extension to Burleigh will probably allow for higher frequencies on feeders to Palm Beach, Elanora, Reedy Creek, etc.
Bus Queensland tried to tweak timetable timings a year or so ago but it seems that it was in vain, as it’s quite common to get alerts from translink saying that some of their services are delayed by 20+ minutes… And that’s without counting cancellations due to lack of drivers.
The thing that really alarms me is Sunshine Coast: what the hell is happening over there? I know traffic in Noosa is bad but holy hell OTP just took a face plant.
From my local area I can attest that apart from the GC Highway corridor performance has improved a fair bit thanks to Kinetic’s decision to move shifts to a more even distribution, with Coomera taking more services away from Molendinar and utilising the newer MAN GBV fleet as much as possible.
SEB extension + the 555 moving away from Elizabeth/Creek to Adelaide/Queen. Clarks still has issues in terms of drivers actually getting to their starting positions on time (particularly in PM peak), as they do whatever they want, like using the motorway and getting trapped in congestion at Greenslopes instead of using the busway to gain time.
Matter of discipline which seems to be quite the problem over there.
