STA Privatisation / Franchising

Sydney / New South Wales Transport Discussion
Stu
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Re: STA Privatisation / Franchising

Post by Stu »

^ The new 400 timetable is meant to have new over night services, this would alleviate dead running if the 400 was allocated to R9. The 423 was also meant to receive 'enhanced' over night services although this is not evident in the latest timetable. Maybe when the new 400/410 timetable is released, so to will an updated version of the 423. I'm thinking hypothetically if the 400 was allocated to R6, it would be possible to build a new roster dedicated to the 400 & 423 over night services.

https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/newsro ... us-bonanza
tonyp
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Re: STA Privatisation / Franchising

Post by tonyp »

"phase out bendy-buses that cause increased congestion on our streets"
That rings alarm bells on two counts:

1. Decker operation would want to be long-distance, low-turnover routes only and hopefully this isn't an expression of general intent with articulated buses as a whole.

2. "Increased congestion on our streets" is caused by private motor cars, not by articulated buses. Even to talk in terms of any buses (or trams) "increasing congestion" is to soar back through a time-tunnel to the 1950s. No responsible transport agency should even be thinking such a thing in the 21st century. Surely they can't be serious, just clumsy with words?? Is RMS at them about it?

Indeed an artic, because of its capacity, saves road space taken up by buses because it does the job of virtually two 12 metre rigids. They also have a larger capacity than a double decker, plus the enormous advantage that they're not stuck occupying stops for anywhere near as long as a decker.

Just when you think that TfNSW has plumbed all the depths possible, they come up with another one. As essentially an optimist, I'll cling on to the "clumsy with words" explanation for the moment.
In Transit
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Re: STA Privatisation / Franchising

Post by In Transit »

Unfortunately, the optimistic side would be interpreting it wrongly...
tonyp
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Re: STA Privatisation / Franchising

Post by tonyp »

In Transit wrote:Unfortunately, the optimistic side would be interpreting it wrongly...
Go ahead, make my day! :wink:

The only positive angle on it is that it opens the gate wide for introducing many, many more tram lines to replace buses.
Frosty
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Re: STA Privatisation / Franchising

Post by Frosty »

If or when the 400 does go all night there are already other all night R9 routes 301,394,373,380 + Nightride N10/N11.

The increased congestion argument was the same used to remove bendy buses from London if I’m not mistaken the bendy buses had a higher rate of accidents compared to standard buses or double deckers.
burrumbus
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Re: STA Privatisation / Franchising

Post by burrumbus »

tonyp wrote:
"phase out bendy-buses that cause increased congestion on our streets"
That rings alarm bells on two counts:

1. Decker operation would want to be long-distance, low-turnover routes only and hopefully this isn't an expression of general intent with articulated buses as a whole.

2. "Increased congestion on our streets" is caused by private motor cars, not by articulated buses. Even to talk in terms of any buses (or trams) "increasing congestion" is to soar back through a time-tunnel to the 1950s. No responsible transport agency should even be thinking such a thing in the 21st century. Surely they can't be serious, just clumsy with words?? Is RMS at them about it?

Indeed an artic, because of its capacity, saves road space taken up by buses because it does the job of virtually two 12 metre rigids. They also have a larger capacity than a double decker, plus the enormous advantage that they're not stuck occupying stops for anywhere near as long as a decker.

Just when you think that TfNSW has plumbed all the depths possible, they come up with another one. As essentially an optimist, I'll cling on to the "clumsy with words" explanation for the moment.
One phrase covers this statement from the government.
NO IDEA !!
This just serves to prove the centralization to TFNSW is an absolute failure.
tonyp
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Re: STA Privatisation / Franchising

Post by tonyp »

Frosty wrote: The increased congestion argument was the same used to remove bendy buses from London if I’m not mistaken the bendy buses had a higher rate of accidents compared to standard buses or double deckers.
I think there must be some sort of ex London Transport (or at least British) imported hard core dominating the bus side of TfNSW. This sounds like a typical UK solution of lots of little low-capacity buses (that includes their deckers) cluttering up the streets - I think the TfL fleet is about 7,000 buses!! - with high costs (particularly labour cost of so many drivers), slow journeys with long dwells and polluting the bejesus out of the city. We've been there, done that ourselves in the past and it looks like we're about to shoot ourselves in the foot again. Time to drain the swamp.

The (claimed) main reason for giving the artics in London the shove was fare evasion from all-door boarding (which adequate provision of RPOs would have addressed). Not lengthening bus stops in advance may have been a reason too, but I reckon that underlying it all was a parochial hostility to the concept, being something that came from "the continent" and all.

Plus the Boris factor, now unleashed worldwide!
Last edited by tonyp on Tue May 08, 2018 5:19 pm, edited 2 times in total.
tonyp
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Re: STA Privatisation / Franchising

Post by tonyp »

burrumbus wrote: This just serves to prove the centralization to TFNSW is an absolute failure.
Yet centralisation under PTA WA in Perth is an absolute success. This indicates that it's not the centralisation per se that's the problem, its the professional competence and management skills of the state agency.
burrumbus
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Re: STA Privatisation / Franchising

Post by burrumbus »

I'd agree with the latter statement,but I think the Perth PTA is the only centralized agency in Australia to be regarded as successful.
Linto63
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Re: STA Privatisation / Franchising

Post by Linto63 »

The fare dodging and a few fatal accidents with cyclists were issues, but the main beef passengers had with bendy buses in London was the relatively low level of seating. The majority of London's buses are full size 70-80 seat deckers, wouldn't describe them as 'little low-capacity buses'. Single deck midi-buses tend to work in the outer suburbs, with SWB buses only used in areas of low demand or where tight streets are traversed.

While London did go through the minibus experiment in the mid-90s courtesy of Harry Blunded who later inflicted it on Queensland, pie-carts have long since departed the UK scene. In reference to the Borismaster, no sales were ever made outside of of the UK. London is a far more congested city, with many of its major thoroughfares being two lane roads.

But back on topic from the TfL/TfNSW bashing, a full or partial fleet renumbering may be on the cards. If TSA continues using the legacy STA IT systems, probably won't be a problem, but if it implements the same systems it uses in region 3, some of the region 6 Merc O405NH and Volvo B12BLEs fleet numbers will duplicate buses in the region 3 fleet.
tonyp
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Re: STA Privatisation / Franchising

Post by tonyp »

Linto63 wrote:The majority of London's buses are full size 70-80 seat deckers, wouldn't describe them as 'little low-capacity buses'.
"Capacity" refers to total carrying capacity, not seating capacity. Their artics could carry at least a good 30 people more than their deckers. Their deckers can barely carry as many people as a 12 metre single-deck rigid, let alone an artic. As I said, deckers are good for long express runs out into the suburbs where the seats are needed, but absolutely no good for busy, high turnover work.
tonyp
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Re: STA Privatisation / Franchising

Post by tonyp »

burrumbus wrote:I'd agree with the latter statement,but I think the Perth PTA is the only centralized agency in Australia to be regarded as successful.
That's because it thinks and acts sharp like a private company, not byzantine like a public bureaucracy.
Linto63
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Re: STA Privatisation / Franchising

Post by Linto63 »

tonyp wrote:"Capacity" refers to total carrying capacity, not seating capacity. Their artics could carry at least a good 30 people more than their deckers. Their deckers can barely carry as many people as a 12 metre single-deck rigid, let alone an artic. As I said, deckers are good for long express runs out into the suburbs where the seats are needed, but absolutely no good for busy, high turnover work.
Therin lay the problem, a higher percentage of the passengers had to stand, thus the cattle carriage conditions were not liked with some onboard for up to an hour. Hence they were binned.
burrumbus
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Re: STA Privatisation / Franchising

Post by burrumbus »

Linto,What types of routes were the London bendies used on ?? Were they short/medium intensive routes or long ,low turnover runs ??
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Re: STA Privatisation / Franchising

Post by Swift »

Must have been the former, as their small over stressed engines were known to catch fire! Why would MB do that?!? That is something you would expect from Hino buses -without the fire part.
NSW, the state that embraces mediocrity.
Linto63
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Re: STA Privatisation / Franchising

Post by Linto63 »

burrumbus wrote:Linto,What types of routes were the London bendies used on ?? Were they short/medium intensive routes or long ,low turnover runs ??
The initial ones were used on the Red Arrow routes which were short distance services between the major railway terminals and employment and shopping hubs within the cbd, closest equivalent in Sydney was probably the former 555 City Loop. For this they were well suited with only short journey times.

But then they were introduced on routes radiating from the cbd to the suburbs with journey times of up to about an hour. The passenger base would have been a combination of short and long haul. While they had a higher crush load, two-thirds had to stand, which was a reverse of what the deckers they replaced had and hence the punters weren't overly happy.
Swift wrote:Must have been the former, as their small over stressed engines were known to catch fire! Why would MB do that?!?
Quickly gaining them the nickname 'Chariots of Fire'. After their time in London, some were sold to Malta where the same fate claimed a few more. That said recall reading that 1% of buses in the UK are expected to suffer a fire at some point during their life..a bit alarming. :shock:
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Re: STA Privatisation / Franchising

Post by Swift »

Linto63 wrote: After their time in London, some were sold to Malta where the same fate claimed a few more.
The Maltese were not impressed either when the UK based bus operator dumped these second hand units onto them. They proved to be ill suited to their tight streetscape.
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burrumbus
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Re: STA Privatisation / Franchising

Post by burrumbus »

That was Arriva,swift.That was a very ill fated contract.
Stu
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Re: STA Privatisation / Franchising

Post by Stu »

* Confirmed Region 6 routes.
305, 308, 348 & 389.
401, 406, 407, 408, 412, 413, 415, 418, 422, 423, 425, 426, 428, 431, 433, 436, 438, 439, 440, 441, 442, 444, 445, 460, 461, 464, 466, 470, 473, 476, 477, 478, 479, 480, 483, 487, 490, 491, 492 & 493.
502, 504, 508, 526 & 530.
L23, L28, L37, L38 & L39.
X04 & X25.
M10, M30, M41 & M50.
Special event: X26.
(K-Depot now operate 1 x 305, 1 x 418 and a handful of route 308 trips)
(B-Depot now assist with operating route 530)

* Routes removed.
X03. (Region 9 route shared with Region 6). Route removed May 2018.
462 & 463. Route removed May 2018.
459 (Region 7 route shared with Region 6). Route removed June 2017.
430 & 495. Route removed June 2017.

* Routes no longer shared with Region 6.
301, 303, 309, 352 & 370 - now operated exclusively in the STA Eastern Region (9).
343, 458, 501, 506, 510 & 525 - now operated exclusively in the STA Western Region (7).
Unconfirmed: SOP 4 - most probably will be operated by the STA Eastern Region (9).
m20 is still spread out across three regions although now only three depots (previously five depots). P-Depot shared with R-Depot, N-Depot & M-Depot.
Last edited by Stu on Wed May 09, 2018 1:19 am, edited 2 times in total.
stupid_girl
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Re: STA Privatisation / Franchising

Post by stupid_girl »

Stu wrote:* Confirmed Region 6 routes.
305, 308, 348 & 389.
401, 406, 407, 408, 412, 413, 415, 418, 422, 423, 425, 426, 428, 431, 433, 436, 438, 439, 440, 441, 442, 444, 445, 460, 461, 464, 466, 470, 473, 476, 477, 478, 479, 480, 483, 487, 490, 491, 492 & 493.
502, 504, 508, 526 & 530.
L23, L28, L37, L38 & L39.
X04 & X25.
M10, M30, M40, M41 & M50.
Special event: X26.
(K-Depot now operate 1 x 305, 1 x 418 and a handful of route 308 trips)
(B-Depot now assist with operating route 530)

* Routes removed.
X03. (Region 9 route shared with Region 6). Route removed May 2018.
462 & 463. Route removed May 2018.
459 (Region 7 route shared with Region 6). Route removed June 2017.
430 & 495. Route removed June 2017.

* Routes no longer shared with Region 6.
301, 303, 309, 352 & 370 - now operated exclusively in the STA Eastern Region (9).
343, 458, 501, 506, 510 & 525 - now operated exclusively in the STA Western Region (7).
Unconfirmed: SOP 4 - most probably continue to be operated co-operation with the STA Eastern Region (9).
m20 is still spread out across three regions although now only three depots (previously five depots). P-Depot shared with R-Depot, N-Depot & M-Depot.
Why is M40 in Region 6? :shock:
Also, it's strange that 525 and X25 are operated by different regions.
Last edited by stupid_girl on Wed May 09, 2018 12:36 am, edited 1 time in total.
Stu
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Re: STA Privatisation / Franchising

Post by Stu »

^ Re: m40, typo fixed and SOP route 4 fixed as well.

Route X25 is only a few years old and operates exclusively in R6. Route 525 has been in existence for much longer although geographically it is split roughly 50/50 between R6 & R7, STA were just balancing out the labour and resources across the business hence why Ryde operated the majority of trips whilst Burwood were only scheduled route 525 Mon - Fri.
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LongliveSTA
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Re: STA Privatisation / Franchising

Post by LongliveSTA »

Stu wrote:* Confirmed Region 6 routes.
305, 308, 348 & 389.
401, 406, 407, 408, 412, 413, 415, 418, 422, 423, 425, 426, 428, 431, 433, 436, 438, 439, 440, 441, 442, 444, 445, 460, 461, 464, 466, 470, 473, 476, 477, 478, 479, 480, 483, 487, 490, 491, 492 & 493.
502, 504, 508, 526 & 530.
L23, L28, L37, L38 & L39.
X04 & X25.
M10, M30, M41 & M50.
Special event: X26.
(K-Depot now operate 1 x 305, 1 x 418 and a handful of route 308 trips)
(B-Depot now assist with operating route 530)

* Routes removed.
X03. (Region 9 route shared with Region 6). Route removed May 2018.
462 & 463. Route removed May 2018.
459 (Region 7 route shared with Region 6). Route removed June 2017.
430 & 495. Route removed June 2017.

* Routes no longer shared with Region 6.
301, 303, 309, 352 & 370 - now operated exclusively in the STA Eastern Region (9).
343, 458, 501, 506, 510 & 525 - now operated exclusively in the STA Western Region (7).
Unconfirmed: SOP 4 - most probably will be operated by the STA Eastern Region (9).
m20 is still spread out across three regions although now only three depots (previously five depots). P-Depot shared with R-Depot, N-Depot & M-Depot.
Hey Stu,

You can add the M20 to that list now! TfNSW made a mistake and forgot to tell STA it was a Region 6 contract route!!

This also means another fleet reshuffle, as some of the red artics STA kept, will have to go back to T or L, given the loadings on the M20.
LONG LIVE STA, the best bus operator in AUSTRALIA!!
Frosty
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Re: STA Privatisation / Franchising

Post by Frosty »

The 343 being exclusive to Region 7 ??? How is that going to work considering so many 343 trips run just between Kingsford/Rosebery & City that would require a lot of dead running.

Though the m20 being shared between N,M,R & T makes sense considering N&M are closest to Gore Hill & Wynyard while R is close to Zetland and P to Botany & Mascot.
Interesting how will bus allocations work ? & I supect surely Region 9 will get the 400 & 410
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Re: STA Privatisation / Franchising

Post by J_Busworth »

Frosty wrote:The 343 being exclusive to Region 7 ??? How is that going to work considering so many 343 trips run just between Kingsford/Rosebery & City that would require a lot of dead running.
R was definitely working a 343 yesterday so I'd say it's being shared between R7 and R9
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tonyp
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Re: STA Privatisation / Franchising

Post by tonyp »

Linto63 wrote: But then they were introduced on routes radiating from the cbd to the suburbs with journey times of up to about an hour. The passenger base would have been a combination of short and long haul. While they had a higher crush load, two-thirds had to stand, which was a reverse of what the deckers they replaced had and hence the punters weren't overly happy.
That's not an argument against artics, that's TfL not deploying their buses the right way - or maybe those services were so busy that they needed capacity that deckers couldn't provide without putting many more of them on the road. Even so, the turnover of passengers along a longer route would ensure that most people would eventually get a seat along the journey.

If TfNSW is really on this course (and I don't fully believe it yet because of its sheer insanity), the use of double deckers on the Bondi Beach services should be something really interesting to behold - or rather doesn't even bear thinking about.
Stu wrote:* Confirmed Region 6 routes.
389.
This is quite interesting as it goes into the heart of the eastern suburbs. I was a bit out-of-date with the changes on the 389, which was the old Bellevue Hill tram line, but I see that it no longer goes to the beach but now ends at Bondi Junction. A pity, as it would give TSA the opportunity to prove their worth serving the beach vs STA, if the route was supplied with artics.

The Bondi Beach corridor is a real proving ground for the bus industry because it's one of those big corridors where the option of capacity upgrades to trains or trams have been ruled out for other reasons (some of them stupid in the case of trams), so the bus industry has to rise to the occasion because it's the only option for now. The only way they can do that is with a full service of (at least) three-door artics which really need to be all-door loading. Can TfNSW do it and, if not, can they let a private have a go at it with no restrictions on innovation?
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