TransLink (Brisbane)
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For a list of all TransLink services, see TransLink (Brisbane) services
TransLink is a system of integrated public transport that covers rail, bus and ferry networks in South East Queensland, Australia. It was introduced by the Queensland Government in July 2004, and is operated by Queensland Transport.
The aim of TransLink is to coordinate transport services run by Queensland Rail, Brisbane Transport, and more than 10 other public transport operators in South-East Queensland. The system allows a ticket purchased on any of these public transport services to be used for travel on any of the other ones, provided that it covers the appropriate zones. TransLink is a marketing repositioning strategy for public transport which is trying to get passengers onto buses, trains and ferries. There are 3 million residents living within South-East Queensland, and this is set to increase as the region is the nation's fastest growing area. Each new family in the region will generate an estimated 7 extra trips per day, so the need for quick, low-cost, efficient and integrated public transport is great. TransLink is aiming to provide this.
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Zones
Zones radiate out in concentric rings from the centre of Brisbane which are used to determine ticket prices for passengers. There are a total of 23 zones stretching from Gympie (170 km north of Brisbane) to Coolangatta (100 km south of Brisbane). The zones stretch as far west as Helidon (80 km west of Brisbane) and as far east as the bayside suburbs of Brisbane. While these zones indicate TransLink's coverage, services may not actually be in operation in certain parts of these zones. For example, in the outer south-west of the region, TransLink may control public transport, but there are no public transport services in operation.
The borders between zones are called precincts -- areas where the cost of a ticket purchased will depend on whether the travel is away or towards the Brisbane CBD. This ensures that the passenger always pays the lowest fare for their journey.
Tickets types and fares
Tickets available include a single (one-way travel with unlimited transfers for 2 hours); a daily (the equivalent of a return ticket, but unlimited travel within the zones described, for 2x the cost of a single ticket); or an off-peak daily (unlimited travel in the zones described, but not before 9:00am or between 3:30pm and 7:00pm on workdays. These tickets cost 1.5x the amount of a single fare). There are also weekly and monthly tickets available, which allow unlimited trips for 7 days (in the case of weekly tickets. The cost is 8x single fare) or 30 days (in the case of monthly tickets. The cost is 32x single fare) from the date of issue.
Concession fares are also available for students, pensioners and children, and these riders travel for half the price of regular adult passengers. Children under 5 travel free. There are several conditions which exist in relation to concession fares, which are available at TransLink's website (see below).
Service Regions
TransLink is divided into 11 regions, each with a discrete series of bus routes. Click here for a list of TransLink (Brisbane) services.
- 1. Brisbane South - 100-199 (Brisbane Transport)
- 2. Brisbane East - 200-249 (Brisbane Transport)
- 3. Eastern Region (Redlands) - 250-299 (Connex Brisbane and Mt Gravatt Bus Service) (Still using old route numbering system until October 2005)
- 4. Brisbane North - 300-399 (Brisbane Transport, Brisbane Bus Lines and Hornibrook Buslines)
- 5. Brisbane West - 400-479 (Brisbane Transport and Westside Bus Company)
- 6. Brisbane Central - 190-195, 323, 470, 475-476 (Brisbane Transport); also CBD terminating services from Brisbane Transport and other operators
- 7. Western Region (Ipswich) - 480-539 (Westside Bus Company)
- 8. Southern Region (Logan and Park Ridge) - 540-599 (Logan City Bus Service and Park Ridge Transit)
- 9. Sunshine Coast - 600-639 (Sunbus Sunshine Coast)
- 10. Northern Region (Pine Rivers, Caboolture and Redcliffe) - 640-699 (Bribie Island Coaches, Caboolture Bus Lines, Kangaroo Bus Lines, Thompson Bus Service and Hornibrook Bus Lines)
- 11. Gold Coast - 700-795 (Surfside Buslines) (Still using old route numbering system until Febuary 2006)
In addition, Brisbane Transport uses Routes 500 & 600 as Ekka services in August each year; Routes 598 and 599 as Great Circle Line services and Routes 700-999 as school services, though Surfside will start occupying Routes 700-795 by the end of Febuary 2006.
TransLink at present
Since TransLink's introduction, patronage has grown faster than ever before. It is quite possible that more than 100 million trips will have taken place between July 2004 and July 2005. Prior to the system's introduction, patronage was only about 90 million trips per year, increasing at a rate of about 7% annually. This can be attributed to improved services and cheaper trips. In some cases, fares to the Brisbane CBD for passengers in areas such as Redcliffe have decreased by as much as 60%.
The TransLink network currently consists of approximately 10 ferry routes, 10 rail lines and 500 bus routes in operation across the region.
TransLink in the future
In the future, ticketing equipment will be upgraded and service improvements are expected.
Ticketing improvements
In relation to ticketing improvements, the current paper-based ticketing system will be enhanced by the availability of smartcards to speed up boarding times. Passengers will no longer need to carry cash with them. The current range of ticketing products will still be available concurrently, at least for the foreseeable future.
In 2005, a smartcard trial will begin on bus services in Redcliffe and the system will be perfected and implemented across the rest of the network. More than 2,000 ticket gates and validators will be installed across the network over the next 2 years. Passengers will be able to simply "tag on" and "tag off", and the ticket gate will automatically calculate and deduct the correct fare from the smartcard. The installation of ticket gates will mean that for the first time in South-East Queensland, all tickets will be automatically checked and processed at all stations, which has the potential to lower fare evasion and speed up boarding times. At current, tickets are checked manually by inspectors at major inner-city railway stations in Brisbane only, occasionally at other important stations such as Robina, and by bus drivers and roving ticket inspectors.
It is envisaged that TransLink smartcards will also be able to be used to purchase small items such as drinks and snacks from station vending machines. A smartcard-based Drivers' Licence which will be implemented in Queensland in 2007 will also be able to store TransLink fare credits. However, if a passenger wants to use these credits, they will need to transfer them to their TransLink smartcard. This will be the case so that all passengers remain anonymous on the TransLink network to prevent stalking (since the gates will log every journey made by a user) and identity theft.
As of 21 May 2005, new ticket vending machines, readers and barriers were being rolled out across the network. The TVM's are touch-screen models and can accept notes, coins and ATM cards. They dispense smartcards and paper tickets, but are not operational due to the fact that the smartcards are not yet in general service.
Service improvements
In terms of service improvements, a new logical bus numbering system will be extended to the Gold Coast and Eastern Regions in October 2005.
The ferry network will also undergo timetable changes to provide quarter-hourly services to passengers, and to increase reliability during peak hours. Additional CityCats are under construction to provide these new services.
On the CityTrain network, new tracks are being constructed and stations are being upgraded in the southern suburbs of Brisbane to provide a more frequent service on the Beenleigh and Gold Coast Lines. These areas are the fastest growing in South-East Queensland. Queensland Rail has ordered 16 new inter-urban trains for service on the Gold Coast, North Coast and Rosewood lines to prevent the use of elderly suburban trains with no toilets or other facilities for long range trips. 8 new suburban trains have also been ordered to cope with increased suburban demand. The extension of the Gold Coast Line to new stations at Reedy Creek, Andrews, Elanora, Tugun and Coolangatta Airport is anticipated. Proposals are also underway to provide rail services to Springfield via Darra station, to Browns Plains down the current standard gauge alignment and to Maroochydore via the CAMCOS corridor branching from Beerwah Station. Redcliffe will likely not be receiving a rail service for many years, if ever.
Draft TransLink Network Plan (DTNP)
TransLink has recently completed the draft of its network plan -- a long-term vision for public tranpsort in South-East Queensland. It details the new bus routes, train services and ferry service improvements which will be introduced gradually between 2005 and 2014. It also details the new bus route numbering system which is starting to be rolled out.
External links
Categories: Transport in Queensland | Intermodal transportation authorities | Public transport in Brisbane
