STA Observations - January to June 2018

[Cowra]

4894 L to P, 2888 P to L.

[gld59]

With the takeover in July of STA inner west services by Transit Systems, what would be the fleet that they are taking over? Are they mostly volgrens or are there some others in there too?

Looking at my spreadsheet, as of last week the only Volgrens were 48 artics (out of 150 of that type). Breaking down the rest by body, there were 83 VSTs, 65 CB80s, 141 CB60 Evo IIs (80 gas), 27 CB60s, 46 Citaros (all gas), and 177 Oranas (32 gas). Total 587 buses in Region 6.

gld

[gld59]

Just wondering - if Region 6 did lose the 400/410, what other routes could they actually use the 14.5m buses on? I've seen them trialled on L28 (inward), but I imagine they're a little unwieldy on outward routes using Castlereagh St, and on most cross-suburban routes in R6.

gld

[AccordV6L]

Just wondering - if Region 6 did lose the 400/410, what other routes could they actually use the 14.5m buses on? I've seen them trialled on L28 (inward), but I imagine they're a little unwieldy on outward routes using Castlereagh St, and on most cross-suburban routes in R6.

gld

I highly doubt the 14.5's would be able to make the turn from Goulburn St into Pitt St unless the intersection was modified. I've seen drivers in rigids barely make that turn (including one incident where the driver of 2609 mounted the kerb and nearly sideswiped the pole).

If they were to do outbound K runs, my guess is that they would be rerouted down Castlereagh St and turn into Hay, then into Pitt St like B and L (Parramatta Rd) services.

[hornetfig]

They're turning 25 from literally next month: they're going to scrap.

[Swift]

They would make handy backpacker accommodation d for some unscrupulous slumlord out there who will charge thru the nose.
Just leave the engine idling and run the air conditioner.

[Stu]

Just wondering - if Region 6 did lose the 400/410, what other routes could they actually use the 14.5m buses on? I've seen them trialled on L28 (inward), but I imagine they're a little unwieldy on outward routes using Castlereagh St, and on most cross-suburban routes in R6.

gld

^ The 14.5m buses were trialled on all city routes that operate via Newtown, this happened on 2008 from memory. STA staff were at key locations along certain routes speaking to customers about this potential upgrade to services and were taking feedback as well.

Shifts would have to be built specifically to counter some minor operational issues.
422.
- cannot operate to and from Kogarah as local councils and RMS will not allow for such vehicles. The shifts would have to be scheduled for services between Tempe and City in both directions.

423 / L23.
No problems.

426.
- Dulwich Hill terminus lay over area - 2 x buses park side by side. Two standard size buses can park side by side although it would not be possible to have a standard size and a 14.5 side by side. Even if a 14.5 was in the terminus on its own, it would have to turn from the far left to make the tight right turn into Dulwich Hill. The solution would be to schedule buses to special from depot to terminus (Marrickville Rd) and also services that terminate would special back to depot thus avoiding the lay over area.

428 / L28
- Canterbury Stn terminus turning area is not suitable for a 14.5 bus. The solution would be to schedule buses to special from depot to terminus which can be accessed via two different ways. Services terminating at Broughton St, Canterbury would only have one option to special which would be via Broughton St and Charles St to then turn right onto Canterbury Rd without the assistance of traffic lights creating both a dangerous and time consuming situation.

With impending timetable changes and growth buses arriving in the coming months, I think the 14.5 buses at Kingsgrove will be retired before hand over.

[Tonymercury]

^ The 14.5m buses were trialled on all city routes that operate via Newtown, this happened on 2008 from memory. STA staff were at key locations along certain routes speaking to customers about this potential upgrade

Is that last word the official Government spelling of 'downgrade'?

[gld59]

via Broughton St and Charles St to then turn right onto Canterbury Rd without the assistance of traffic lights creating both a dangerous and time consuming situation.

Also illegal. (Both Charles and the almost-opposite Close have NRT signs onto Canterbury, though they're often not facing the right way.) The new building alignments do hint at traffic lights, but I can't see them being installed this decade.

With impending timetable changes and growth buses arriving in the coming months, I think the 14.5 buses at Kingsgrove will be retired before hand over.

If the new deliveries are replacements, not growth buses.

gld

[Stu]

^ Possibly a bit of both - growth / replacement.

New timetables for routes 461 & 504 are coming soon, B-depot has no physical room for additions buses, K- depot has plenty of space for more buses since transferring almost 40 x buses to Tempe in 2013.

[Stonesourscotty]

might explain why a few Burwood buses have been at Tempe lately. 4866 was there this evening.

[swtt]

^ Possibly a bit of both - growth / replacement.

New timetables for routes 461 & 504 are coming soon, B-depot has no physical room for additions buses, K- depot has plenty of space for more buses since transferring almost 40 x buses to Tempe in 2013.

Thanks Stu! What sort of frequency boost to 461 is being envisaged?

[Swift]

Too many areas are over indulged by STA services. I'm hoping to see this gradually curtailed after handover to Transit Systems. Bye CSO runs bye!!

[swtt]

Too many areas are over indulged by STA services. I'm hoping to see this gradually curtailed after handover to Transit Systems. Bye CSO runs bye!!

Which ones are over indulged?????

[Swift]

The lower North Shore with the 265 and 269 that services areas already served by rail and trunk routes. Nobody uses them outside of peak and they refuse to axe them due to (unfounded) fear of political reprisals.
Chatswood with the 275 and 255 are others for the same reasons. Even on demand wouldn't work because that implies there is demand at all.
Kingsford and others have these same waste of time runs carrying oxygen.
Not to mention the over servicing of Sydney CBD with endless bus services pouring in and out, though this had been reduced by the abolition of George St runs. A minor blessing.

[Stu]

^ Possibly a bit of both - growth / replacement.

New timetables for routes 461 & 504 are coming soon, B-depot has no physical room for additions buses, K- depot has plenty of space for more buses since transferring almost 40 x buses to Tempe in 2013.

Thanks Stu! What sort of frequency boost to 461 is being envisaged?

I'm unsure of how many more buses will be added to the conga-line on Parramatta Rd.

[burrumbus]

Is there the demand(or potential) for increases to the 461 frequency ??

[swtt]

Is there the demand(or potential) for increases to the 461 frequency ??

It is a designated Rapid route, which means it could one day be as frequent as B1!

Sent from my Huawei Mate 9 using Tapatalk

[swtt]

Is there the demand(or potential) for increases to the 461 frequency ??

It is a designated Rapid route, which means it could one day be as frequent as B1!

Sent from my Huawei Mate 9 using Tapatalk

... Which when the fantasy Parramatta Road development is done in the turning it into an apartment lined (hopefully tree lined as well) boulevard, the 461's potential frequencies will come to fruition.

Sent from my Huawei Mate 9 using Tapatalk

[stajourneyman]

It should be declared a crime to run a bus with no opening windows without a functioning A/C. The bus should be iced immediately.

[Jurassic_Joke]

A264F787-3F46-4A4E-B6E8-5C0ED0B1E426.jpeg (85.44 KiB) Viewed 3297 times

This oldie was sitting on Castlereagh St today, out of service.

In December I saw it (or another bus of the same type) in service on route 292

[Swift]

^ That's a steep road to park it on.

[stajourneyman]

The future for the STA is all downhill !

[Jurassic_Joke]

https://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/sta ... &ltype=new

Also good to see some more Volgren Optimus from the same order show up for delivery.

[Swift]

Except, why does it have to be more arthritis inducing Scanias?? At least the Vulvas soak up bumps competently.