Unusual bus allocations

[Toyota Camry]

It was an afternoon 200 service from Gungahlin Place to Fyshwick, in that direction.

[Busfanatic101]

For those concerned that Volgren artics have gone AWOL 672 was in service today.

[triumph]

For those concerned that Volgren artics have gone AWOL 672 was in service today.

Given that Bus 503 reported Volgren artic substitutions and their seeming disappearance (no sightings claimed prior to today) over the last fortnight, the question of what might have occurred is still unresolved. 

[Bus 503]

For those concerned that Volgren artics have gone AWOL 672 was in service today.

681 was in service yesterday morning.

Also noted that 515 was operating an early morning route 252 yesterday that is normally covered by a Belconnen ARTIC.

[Busnerd]

Saw several Volgren artics yesterday morning peak heading into the city, assume they're back to service, that is, if they ever stopped being used in the first place is only hearsay.

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

Would it possible that the lack of Volgren artic sightings and the bring back of unused Renault's be due to the Volgren's being fixed up in the workshops for some currently unknown reason?

[triumph]

Would it possible that the lack of Volgren artic sightings and the bring back of unused Renault's be due to the Volgren's being fixed up in the workshops for some currently unknown reason?

That is one fascinating speculation. If this was the case, it must have been serious to cause a stand-down. Note that 621 has been in service a long time too. Also the stand-down would seem to be pre-planned if the return of Renaults is connected. Further, if that was the case, we can expect the Renaults to be promptly withdrawn again. A factory recall/warrantee campaign requiring all to be available at an agreed period would fit this speculation.

So far despite some evidence (no sightings, substitutions), we don't have solid confirmation of a stand-down. I find that surprising given forum members' informal contacts.

If there was a stand-down, there are other speculations such as an 'industrial' issue.

But 'straws floating in the wind' and speculation is all we have at present and speculating too much can result in mistaken information going into history. So, unless fresh information comes to light, it is desirable to now let the subject drop .

[Toyota Camry]

309 is presently sitting in the layover at Woden with the engine hatch open; it may be suffering from mechanical issues.

[Toyota Camry]

309 is presently sitting in the layover at Woden with the engine hatch open; it may be suffering from mechanical issues.

An announcement has just been made informing passengers of a cancellation of a route 25 service to Cooleman Court; as this service normally operates with an Irisbus, it is highly likely that this is linked to the failure of 309.

[Busfanatic101]

An announcement has just been made informing passengers of a cancellation of a route 25 service to Cooleman Court; as this service normally operates with an Irisbus, it is highly likely that this is linked to the failure of 309.

This topic is for unusual bus allocations.

[triumph]

528 (a bendy) was noted on route 906 late this morning. An allocation due Multicultural Festival? Or what may be routine if some Rapids are to regularly get articulated buses rostered on Saturdays. The patterns of use sees interchanges between rapid and local services, so if a 'bendy' is allocated to rapid runs it will also appear on some local runs. Not much point in TC rejigging this to intensively operate 'bendys' on Rapids as the new network is only a few weeks off.

The situation on Sundays around mid to late afternoon Blue Rapids City to Belconnen is getting worse. My partner and myself were denied boarding at the CITY stop last Sunday due to the bus being full. The following service also operated full but luckily no one had to be left behind though it was a near thing. A circumstance which definitely calls for the routine allocation of 'bendys' or STAGs now.

I am unsure if these are really appropriate as 'Playground' items.

[Busfanatic101]

You have not stated your point; 309 was allocated to route 25, not to breakdown, hence my posting was correct, and you were not. It is recommended that you apologise to me; as I am older, smarter and wiser than you. Additionally, it is highly unlikely that you are an EL1; personally, I am one.

You might like to refer back to your original post

this service normally operates with an Irisbus

It is not unusual for a service that is 'normally' operated by an iris to be operated by an iris.

[Barry Drive]

... nor is it unusual for 309 to break down.

[Barry Drive]

528 (a bendy) was noted on route 906 late this morning. An allocation due Multicultural Festival? Or what may be routine if some Rapids are to regularly get articulated buses rostered on Saturdays.
:
:
I am unsure if these are really appropriate as 'Playground' items.

This entire post should have been made on "Weekend Bus Reports", rather than here since artics on weekends is no longer unusual.

But I'm slightly less inclined to be strict with off topic postings in "The Playground".

[triumph]

This entire post should have been made on "Weekend Bus Reports", rather than here since artics on weekends is no longer unusual.

But I'm slightly less inclined to be strict with off topic postings in "The Playground".

Sorry, I had lost sight of the existence of the very similar 'Weekend Bus Reports' (despite having recently posted to it). Quite ok by me to move the post.

[Bus 503]

Looks like 305 and 312 are running route 903 (Ginninderry Loop) today.

[triumph]

Looks like 305 and 312 are running route 903 (Ginninderry Loop) today.

This is inevitable as both Honchos (100 and 101) are needed to maintain the weekday service, and but still need maintenance. Probably sometimes by Hino in ordinary business hours. Wonder if this is the first such substitution. Posssibly.

[triumph]

Looks like 305 and 312 are running route 903 (Ginninderry Loop) today.

Sighted a full size bus (no. not known) Wed 22nd afternoon at Strathnairn.

[King of Buses]

114 was doing R3s tonight - quite possibly the very last time a PR100.3 will do an R3! (Not that it happened frequently anyway)

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

Saw my first Renault today since the lockdown started, all hope is not lost, but riding one between now and next year would be really nice.

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

Couldn't see the number because it was dark but a Bustech being used for driver training passed me next to Merici College an hour ago. I've seen some strange bus allocations for trainers, but I've never seen one this late at night before. Is this normal?

[triumph]

A while back I came across an after dark training bus which paused where I was and I remarked to the trainer that they were working very late. The response was that they weren't working unusually late, as part of the training includes after dark. So, normal.

[L94UBbusfan]

There are 2 minor changes for Term 2 on the 26 Taylor Loop which I find extremely unusual. There is a service starts at Gold Creek school at 3:18pm and then goes past Holy Spirit school before continuing on its regular route to Gungahlin. Then, 4 minutes later, a 26 from Gungahlin does the EXACT same diversion. This happens again with the next 26 service, as there is a 26 that leaves JPC at 3:44, one minute before the next service from Gungahlin leaves JPC at 3:45, meaning 2 buses running the exact same route at the exact same time TWICE within an hour. I get it to probably to get the school kids off the 26 from Gungahlin, however it is (to me) a complete waste of buses. And just to add on to all of this, 3 out of the 4 services are Tuggeranong depot based buses. It all makes very little to no sense, even for TC.

[triumph]

Have you considered that the loading may be more than one bus? With regard to JPC there are two stops, the normal one in  Gungahlin Dr which the regular buses from Gungahlin Interchange pass; and the School stop in the entrance to the school area which is used by buses starting or terminating at the school and school only services.

It is not unusual to find Tuggeranong buses in Belconnen area and vice versa. The timetable arrangements include provision for driver breaks, etc. In consequence a single shift usually covers a series of routes and is not confined to one route. Now consider the most obvious example, R4. For the first hour and then added peak buses it has to be provided with buses from both ends. Thus Tuggeranong buses arrive in Belconnen and vice versa, and then go on to other runs. There are other less obvious routes where switching routes as the shift goes on takes place. The end result is a fair mix of buses from each depot across the network. Much of the 'dead' running is caused by this, with the need to return drivers and buses to their starting points. Apparently using the 'dead' runs to provide some limited stop direct services is considered too complex, unreliable, or uneconomic for the likely patronage.

That's my take on the issues you raise.

[L94UBbusfan]

The JPC service leaves from the same bus stop on Gungahlin Drive as the other 26, meaning they do the EXACT same route (if it started in the actual school bus stop at JPC then it would make way more sense). I travelled on this route on Friday and the first bus starting at JPC (which I was on) had a fair amount of people on board, still seats left. The second bus however overtook us a few times and I saw no one on board. I don't know about the Gold Creek 26 bus service, but I believe it would be a similar story. There didn't seem to be a problem with the original route, which I had travelled on many times.

I also know it isn't unusual to see Tuggeranong buses in the north and Belconnen buses in the south, however considering the L94 CNGs are being retired at a pace faster than new buses can arrive, Tuggeranong is down some buses. Another better reason is the amount of dead running. I check anytrip at least 5 times an hour and I don't see the buses that run on these routes making their way up towards Gungahlin, leading to the illusion that these buses are dead running from somewhere. It makes more sense to me to just get a bus from Belconnen depot for the extra routes, to reduce dead running. There are some more services that do very long dead running from  Tuggeranong to Gungahlin, but there is probably another topic for talking about that.

I personally don't mind it though, more chances to catch L94s up north!

[Bus 400]

Always better to plan for extra capacity than have people at Casey Shops be left behind.

In the next timetable updates, this school special may be withdrawn. But TC would have to check every day of patronage,.

School special 26 would dead run from somewhere. If that's Casey, Gungahlin or Gordon, only TC work know. But checking regularly can sound stalkerish. Best to do an afternoon of bus photography around Gungahlin & working it out that way

[triumph]

It seems I might not now be up to date, as I am no longer focussing on route riding. On the 10/3/20 I was on the publicly scheduled Route 28 which terminated in the morning at JPC. I alighted at the stop within the school access, not the usual stop in Gungahlin Dr.
On the 10/6/20 I boarded a afternoon Route 28 commencing at the same school access stop.
Parental traffic congestion, as elsewhere, may have resulted in this school access stop being no longer used
In the same era most of school diversion and extension services (publicly timetabled) I rode on were very lightly loaded with students. Not infrequently, none at all. A notable exception was Alfred Deakin High School with packed services (R4 and R5).

[L94UBbusfan]

There are 2 minor changes for Term 2 on the 26 Taylor Loop which I find extremely unusual. one minute before the next service from Gungahlin leaves JPC at 3:45

Was doing some busspotting in Gungahlin, and despite this service being empty the last time it ran, it is being operated by an artic.