A thread to talk about buses in Townsville, North Queensland and how we could improve them.
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I think Townsville (and maybe also Cairns as well) could benefit from something like the Brisbane Metro.
Also make the 201 (the Townsville one) run more frequently then every hour, it literally connects the University there to the rest of town.
I believe Kinetic run buses on behalf of TransLink up there.
Also having services only start at 8am is a bit absurd. Most people would already be on their way to work
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Translink has an up to date map: 241202-townsville-network-map.pdf. Seems to be effectively the same though.
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What would be aimed to be achieved? Higher frequency or a separate right of way?
I fail to be convinced, that when a separate corridor is being built, any form of BRT is better than light rail. The Brisbane Metro has achieved nothing that running additional buses would not have also achieved, except for some of the other infrastructure projects like the Adelaide St tunnel.
I think that an immediate improvement would be diverting either the 209 or the 205/215 to also service the airport, Townsville airport isn’t as busy as Cairns but it is still one of the most important civilian airports in northern Australia and is in the biggest urban population center north of Brisbane. that public transport doesn’t serve it seems like such an easy issue to rectify that would also pay serious dividends for the public transport network in Townsville.
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I was genuinely surprised when I found out even Magnetic Island had a bus
More local calls for airport bus service.
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It’s honestly embarrassing that Townsville doesn’t even have a bus to the airport.
The Airport though is probably opposed, as too are all the car rental companies
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Yeah, considering it’s only ‘in theory’ 650m from the terminal to the nearest bus stop on Meenan St. I tried to walk out of the airport one night (not going for a bus) after arriving only to find that Halifax St is fully gated off and there’s no paths on John Melton Black Dr. It’s car or nothing there.
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Social media post out on this one 
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I don’t think cairns airport is served by bus either. At least not by TransLink or any other public operator. Not sure about private bus service though
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There was (or still is) a connection to the bus stops on the highway, and there will be transfers available to the CBD or further afield like Port Douglas or the Tablelands - just not at commuter (50c) rates.
First Post be gentle 
I grew up in Townsville and visit regularly.
I have seen things greatly improve since Translink took an oversight role a few years ago, more route & bus stops and an OTP that is not a joke as previously.
One thing sorely lacking is real time departures/bus tracking. Smaller cities such as Mackay and Cairns have implemented it, yet Translink doesn’t even bother to reply when asked on a timeline.
Its a feature that is sometimes overlooked in increasing public transport usage, who wants to stand in the tropical Sun, staring at the road for 10-15 minutes because the bus is late? You can’t even stare at your phone because unless you hail it half the time it just drives past. Or to watch the last bus home roar past 3 minutes early as one is walking to the stop?
Time for Townsville to join the 21st century.
I’m planning on giving Kinetic a call and seeing what they have to say, as advised by Translink , LOL.
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I’m from Townsville too. The fam moved down to Brissy when I was little, so don’t really remember much living there. Uncle still lives there though, with my step cousin
Crisafulli Government delivers Townville airport bus service
https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/105247
The Crisafulli Government will deliver a brand-new bus service connecting Townsville Airport to the heart of the city, improving public transport access for travellers and airport workers.
Thanks to the LNP’s Permanent 50 Cent Fares, commuters and tourists will be able to get to-and-from the airport for just 50 cents, with services set to begin from the end of the month.
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^ Credit where credit is due.
Now for Cairns, which is an even bigger missing link.
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