Timetable changes 2023

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Linto63
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Timetable changes 2023

Post by Linto63 »

Given that timetable information / changes often appears in multiple threads with only a loose connection, thought it best to start a dedicated one.

Continuing from here
Merc1107 wrote: If that is seriously an issue in 2022, that some software used by TfNSW is so limited it cannot generate a timetable where more than one operator is involved, I'm speechless.
All IT systems have their limits. While they are built with a degree of flexibility in them, a fix is not always as simple as it may seem. There may also be an internal control that only allows files from certain sources to update certain tables, which is a good control to have 99% of the time, but does cause the odd problem.
Aurora wrote: The pdf files should be able to be manipulated or configured by Transport in such a way as to make it work. Not that difficult in 2022, except for mediocrity and/or bureaucracy getting in the way of making progress.
Without knowing the details of the system, probably a case of the most recent file overriding the existing data meaning only information appearing for one operator. The work around would be to combine the csv files from the two operators before uploading. But obviously this may require manual intervention to what is an automated process.
Last edited by Linto63 on Wed Feb 28, 2024 12:12 am, edited 3 times in total.
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Re: Timetable changes 2023

Post by 743 »

I suspect it comes down to the capacity for manual intervention like you say, particularly when it comes to PDF timetables (rather than back-end 'timetables' and scheduling data for the Trip Planner, Google Maps and apps etc).

Other examples of multi operator PDF timetables include -

Translink P142/P546: https://translink.com.au/sites/default/ ... 6-P142.pdf (Bus Queensland, Brisbane City Council)

And quite a few in Tasmania, including this example that combines Metro, Tassielink and Redline: https://www.transport.tas.gov.au/__data ... ge_web.pdf

Another oddity - not so much with PDFs, but other online data - is at State border regions. Here is the Google Maps departure listing for the main bus stop in Albury NSW (at the border to VIC) tomorrow morning, at the time of writing, filtered to the main routes here.

Image

Note the double ups - blue route numbers appear to be under NSW data, while orange appears to be VIC data (PTV). One bus each trip, but listed twice because of data duplication - sometimes with different route numbers e.g. 903 & EA ("East Albury").

And when does the first 908 of the day run - 7:20 or 7:25? :lol: Martin's would suggest 7:20 (see their website https://martinsalbury.com.au/timetables-maps/908-2/) as does the TfNSW timetable (https://transportnsw.info/documents/tim ... 230122.pdf) so who knows where the orange 7:25 is coming from.
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Re: Timetable changes 2023

Post by swtt »

Spotted on the Victoria Road (eastbound) stop near West Parade is a small A4 laminated flyer indicating extra weekend travel options for some of the most local and currently poor frequency routes such as 523, 524, 544 from 9 January (the date doesn't have a year - though the flyer does seem very new)

Didn't think to take a picture of the flyer. I should do that next time I walk past and post it here.
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Re: Timetable changes 2023

Post by Aurora »

It is new, a few weeks away.
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Re: Timetable changes 2023

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Re: Timetable changes 2023

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Aurora wrote: Fri Dec 23, 2022 4:57 pm It is new, a few weeks away.
Title has been changed to allow for this.
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Re: Timetable changes December 2022/2023

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https://transportnsw.info/news/2022/mor ... est-sydney
More weekend bus services for North West Sydney
Monday 26 December 2022

From 9 January 2023, bus service changes are being made to some North West services.

The changes include new weekend services on route 513 and new Sunday services on routes 523, 524 and 544.

These service improvements support customer access to bus services on weekends and improve transport connections along the Victoria Road corridor, along with the recent and planned development in Melrose Park and Ermington.

You can plan your new trip using the Trip Planner from 26 December to see if your travel is affected by the changes.
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Re: Timetable changes December 2022/2023

Post by Merc1107 »

Fleet Lists wrote: Wed Dec 28, 2022 4:14 pm
You can plan your new trip using the Trip Planner from 26 December to see if your travel is affected by the changes.
Or perhaps a PDF timetable could be linked!?
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Re: Timetable changes December 2022/2023

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Yes new timetables are available. eg for route 523 https://transportnsw.info/routes/detail ... /523/27523
I was only copying what was on the Transport for NSW website.
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Re: Timetable changes December 2022/2023

Post by Merc1107 »

I know - just seems quite average to not even point people towards a new timetable in a service change announcement.
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Re: Timetable changes December 2022/2023

Post by Aurora »

That is how it is these days, they point people to Trip Planners rather than physical timetable documents.
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Re: Timetable changes December 2022/2023

Post by Merc1107 »

Aurora wrote: Wed Dec 28, 2022 10:08 pm That is how it is these days, they point people to Trip Planners rather than physical timetable documents.
There are digital versions, which they could at least link to, and it wouldn't be hard seeing as only four services appear to be affected.

That's the whole point. Last I checked "**** off and figure out yourself!" did not constitute good customer service, public relations, whatever you want to call it. You can't expect to attract or even retain your patrons with such a flippant attitude to the basic provision of information.
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Re: Timetable changes December 2022/2023

Post by boronia »

I find Trip Planner is great if I need to make a trip within a specific time frame, and/or over multiple modes.

Timetables are more useful for getting an advance overall view of service levels. I usually plan activities around timetables.
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Re: Timetable changes December 2022/2023

Post by 743 »

With regard to the 16 Cities project across NSW -

https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projec ... nt-program

Under Lismore:
16 Regional Cities Services Improvement Program wrote:The 16 Cities team is looking forward to improving bus services in Lismore on Monday 16 January 2023.
I can't seem to find anything else on this yet, including on the Buslines website - so I guess, wait and see.

The other Cities (at least those not yet complete) have varying updates about consultation, flood delays, the NSW Election and so on.
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Re: Timetable changes December 2022/2023

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This surprises me as I thought Lismore had been delivered some time ago
https://transportnsw.info/news/2020/bus ... ur-lismore

But now shows as "On hold" on the current map.

As 16 January is still more than two weeks away, we will probably have to wait until 2nd January which would be the normal two weeks for the formation to be made available.
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Re: Timetable Changes 2023

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Some of the Busways timetable changes in region 7 involve reinstating some early morning and middle of the day services that were previously axed presumably due to driver shortages.
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Re: Timetable changes December 2022/2023

Post by Gusbus »

TfNSW and CDC Canberra are running extra NYE Route 830 trips between Queanbeyan and Canberra, including trips after the midnight fireworks.

https://cdccanberra.com.au/welcome-in-t ... -canberra/

This is a first for Queanbeyan and I think quite unusual in the land of rural and regional bus services.
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Re: Timetable changes December 2022/2023

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Already using the new CDC Canberra website which shows as being due to start on 23rd January. The QCity and Transborder websites already redirect to it.
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Re: Timetable changes December 2022/2023

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Possible route changes coming for CDC Canberra (I assume, given the location).

While planning a day trip to the Bungendore region, I noticed some extra/new route numbers are showing up on Google Maps at certain bus stops. There are no departures yet and the routes don't show up on https://transportnsw.info/routes, although some do show up on https://anytrip.com.au/region/nsw with the name "Unknown".

The first one I spotted was Bungendore Gibraltar St which shows 844 (existing) and also a new number 844X - https://maps.app.goo.gl/3TGwqEPdWerdiAuE7

I then went 'exploring' and also found Googong Village which is showing 837 (existing) but also 830 (an existing route number, which doesn't currently go to Googong) and a new 840X - https://maps.app.goo.gl/RZy5GY5VdmY3AJcK6

There is also a bus stop showing in the new Tralee residential area against the ACT border, showing route 835, which does not currently run here - https://maps.app.goo.gl/BEbATg3SeiVZN3HN7
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Re: Timetable changes December 2022/2023

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Fleet Lists wrote: Fri Dec 30, 2022 4:41 pm Already using the new CDC Canberra website which shows as being due to start on 23rd January. The QCity and Transborder websites already redirect to it.

Not quite. If you visit https://cdcbus.com.au/ and tap or click “Canberra & Queanbeyan Bus Timetables” under Regional NSW & ACT it still sends you to the old site that is now parked. https://qcitytransit.com.au/timetables-h

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Re: Timetable changes December 2022/2023

Post by Fleet Lists »

After my initial post when it was working, I did report the error but in a different thread (oops)
viewtopic.php?p=1095667#p1095667
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Re: Timetable changes December 2022/2023

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Fleet Lists wrote: Thu Dec 29, 2022 10:29 pmAs 16 January is still more than two weeks away, we will probably have to wait until 2nd January which would be the normal two weeks for the formation to be made available.
You are correct, once again!

Now announced: https://transportnsw.info/news/2023/bet ... or-lismore
TfNSW wrote:Route684
Lismore to South Lismore via East Lismore (Loop service)
Improvements
  • Additional Saturday services.
  • Services will be better spaced to operate at more consistent intervals.
One curiosity is the Route 684. Looking at the network map, the route path has been adjusted in a few places, e.g. to no longer operate via Southern Cross University, as it currently does - but this isn't mentioned in the changes.
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Re: Timetable changes December 2022/2023

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743 wrote: Mon Jan 02, 2023 11:49 amOne curiosity is the Route 684. Looking at the network map, the route path has been adjusted in a few places, e.g. to no longer operate via Southern Cross University, as it currently does - but this isn't mentioned in the changes.
Sorry, to clarify my earlier comments after having another look.

According to Northern Rivers Buslines, Route 684 currently operates this path in East Lismore:

Image

The TfNSW network map from 16th January shows the same path:

Image

My confusion/comment about Southern Cross University relates to the route path currently shown on the Route 684 TfNSW 'live' map, which shows a very different path through the grounds of the University itself:

Image

Change the date to 16th January and it then (almost) matches the PDF mapping, current and new:

Image

So, which way does Route 684 currently operate? My initial thought was perhaps the University-grounds path is a long-term diversion after the floods, although TfNSW travel alerts and Buslines don't appear to show anything.

Image
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Re: Timetable changes December 2022/2023

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743 wrote: Sun Jan 01, 2023 4:00 pm Possible route changes coming for CDC Canberra (I assume, given the location).

While planning a day trip to the Bungendore region, I noticed some extra/new route numbers are showing up on Google Maps at certain bus stops. There are no departures yet and the routes don't show up on https://transportnsw.info/routes, although some do show up on https://anytrip.com.au/region/nsw with the name "Unknown".

The first one I spotted was Bungendore Gibraltar St which shows 844 (existing) and also a new number 844X - https://maps.app.goo.gl/3TGwqEPdWerdiAuE7

I then went 'exploring' and also found Googong Village which is showing 837 (existing) but also 830 (an existing route number, which doesn't currently go to Googong) and a new 840X - https://maps.app.goo.gl/RZy5GY5VdmY3AJcK6

There is also a bus stop showing in the new Tralee residential area against the ACT border, showing route 835, which does not currently run here - https://maps.app.goo.gl/BEbATg3SeiVZN3HN7
Things are happening.
For route 884X there is now a link in the timetables https://transportnsw.info/routes/detail ... 4x/77844-X which links to a draft timetable with "Unknown long name"

And the same thing for route 840X.

So I would suggest that things are being prepared for new timetables for 23rd January when the new CDC Canberra name will be brought into use and at the same time these timetable changes to take place - and to be announced next Monday 9th January or thereabouts.
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Re: Timetable changes December 2022/2023

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Fleet Lists wrote: Tue Jan 03, 2023 4:58 pm
Things are happening.
For route 884X there is now a link in the timetables https://transportnsw.info/routes/detail ... 4x/77844-X which links to a draft timetable with "Unknown long name"

And the same thing for route 840X.

So I would suggest that things are being prepared for new timetables for 23rd January when the new CDC Canberra name will be brought into use and at the same time these timetable changes to take place - and to be announced next Monday 9th January or thereabouts.
There is now a timetable for route 844X as I suspected there would be https://transportnsw.info/documents/tim ... 230123.pdf but it carries the heading Unknown long name so they have not yet added the correct timetable heading.

Also on the Transport Info home page there is a link to https://transportnsw.info/news/2023/bet ... queanbeyan about this but the article itself does not exist yet. Also the home page shows a picture of a bus with CDC Canberra signage.
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