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November 18, 2014
Murgon-based Purser’s Coaches has agreed to take over the Murgon-Caboolture bus run for a three-month trial following the announcement by Brisbane Bus Lines that it is axeing the service.
The privately operated Brisbane Bus Lines announced today it would be stopping its Caboolture-Murgon-Caboolture service in 10 days, effectively leaving passengers stranded ahead of Christmas.
The last Brisbane Bus Lines service will depart Murgon for Caboolture on November 28, and the last Murgon-Caboolture run will leave the following day.
Purser’s Coaches aims to start its service on December 1.
Andrew Dascombe told southburnett.com.au this evening that they would run a 40-seat coach five days a week, leaving Murgon at 7:00am and getting back at 7:00pm.
The Brisbane Bus Lines service only resumed on August 4 after months of negotiations involving the South Burnett Regional Council, the State Government and Translink.
“Whilst the service has been modified in consultation with Translink and operating in a new format for the past four months, numbers are still not strong enough to support the service,” a statement from directors Ian Mitchell and Lara-Jane Mitchell said.
“Brisbane Bus Lines continues to lose money at the rate of about $3000 per week, a situation it cannot sustain.
“We understand that South Burnett Regional Council is in talks with other operators to provide some form of service to and from the region. If negotiations are not successful, we would suggest that residents lobby their local State MP and demand support for public transport through the region.
“This is indeed a sad development.”
Speaking before the Purser’s announcement, Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington told southburnett.com.au she was extremely disappointed by the Brisbane Bus Lines decision.
“At no time has Brisbane Bus Lines been directly in contact with me at all,” she said.
“This is exactly what they did before.
“They scared the community and forced Council to use taxpayers’ money to help them out.”
Mrs Frecklington said Brisbane Bus Lines had not even sent her a copy of the letter which they had despatched to the media.
“I need to get a copy. I will be contacting them and expressing my dismay but they are a private company and no one can force them to continue to lose $3000 a week.”
Mrs Frecklington said in the past she had suggested they used a smaller vehicle – and a less frequent service.
“Anything to keep a service running,” she said.
“It is hugely concerning to me that they say that they don’t have enough passengers.
“Everyone wants a bus service and people do tell me that they travel on it, but obviously it is not enough.
“I would be interested to learn what their figures are; $3000 (a week) is a large amount of money.”
Mrs Frecklington said Brisbane Bus Lines had not “engaged at all” with the State Government’s Public Transport Review.
Andrew Dascombe said Brisbane Bus Lines had done “a fantastic job” over the years.
“Full credit to them,” he said.
He said they had received no State Government subsidies for the run, and in the long-term the service was not financially sustainable without State Government help.
“Hence why we are trying a trial three-month period and we will just go from there,” he said.
“We will have to tailor it back if we can’t make ends meet.”
Mr Dascombe said if the service was allowed to be lost, it would never return.
[UPDATED]
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Congratulations Andrew and Harvy on giving it a go to make it work. If anybody can make it work, an excellent South Burnett business like yours will give it their best shot for the South Burnett community.
Is there still going to be a wheelchair accessible bus available???
But it is still the old run, only to Caboolture. This is why people are not using the run. Having to then get a train that doesn’t go near the hospitals, the main reason that people are going to Brisbane. Using a smaller bus, adjusting the timetable and giving people a chance to have a weekend in Brisbane ie leave Friday pm and come back Sunday pm… I think a complete survey of the timetable. But will not use the service if only going to Caboolture. Timetable is the most important thing.
Rosemary – the reason it was dropped back to Caboolture was because not enough people were using the run into Roma St as it was and the change was a way to cut costs for BBL. In saying that public transport never pays it’s own way, not in the regions and not in the metropolitian areas.
I have been on the bus numerous times for varying reasons. I have to agree with Rosemary Hansen. As I understand it there was never a survey carried out as passengers boarded as to the where, why, passenger demographic etc. What is of some consternation to me is why was this business model presented from June 2014 onwards is so useless. Now BBL is losing $3k a week where as before from memory it was $2k. How did the SBRC not scrutinise the “new” run business model, after all you as a Council voted to put in $30k to keep the service running. How did the State Govt. via Translink not scrutinise the business model? Pursers are ONLY going to give the run a 3 month stint. Then what happens? Back to concerned citizens like Rosemary and me going through this again. The State Govt had $30m to splash on Brisbane public transport. Have they got any left for OUR service. What about it Ms Frecklington MP, state member for Nanango. And don’t talk about a lesser frequency of service…You just don’t get it do you!
Steve, I appreciate your passion mate but let’s just remember accurately what happened – BBL said that from February they were stopping the service, no consultation. Council stepped in and said it would try to find a solution because the region’s residents couldn’t be left without a service to the Southeast. Not only was dwindling passenger numbers a factor but also HR concerns for the drivers meeting industry standards for the amount of time driving without breaks, which in peak traffic blows the time right out from Caboolture to Roma St.
The compromise to keep the service running with the already dwindling numbers was to stop at Caboolture train station otherwise it would stop completely. The compromise was difficult but at least it kept the service going. Personally, I feel let down after all the work Council did for BBL for them to leave both Council and the community in the lurch.
Instead of screaming at Council for trying to help I would suggest that you use all of your contacts to ensure the Pursuers option gets the ultimate utilisation so it works.
Maybe if the bus lines started carrying coal, then Deb & the LNP would be throwing money at it.
Maybe the bus lines could save money by using the hot air from Christine Milne to power the bus instead of diesel?
I’ve been looking at comments made here and I can only speak from experience. Money doesn’t grow on trees and thanks to previous governments the price of fuel has risen across the board as well as making stupid laws that businesses have to follow or lose their business altogether.
Being physically disabled I cannot praise BBL enough for their care & consideration. On one occasion the fan belt broke before Nanango and the driver contacted base to see how he could continue to Brisbane. He came into the coach and explained the situation and asked every single passenger if they either wanted to wait for another bus or continue on. Everyone agreed to continue. He opened the emergency hatches and when he stopped in Blackbutt he purchased every single bottle of cold water from the store and gave every passenger one or how many they needed.
I thought that it was strange for passengers who had medical appointments to disembark at Caboolture and not Brisbane, so I understand now why the Caboolture to Brisbane was stopped. I know everyone has their own opinions however if a physically disabled guy can get on a coach from the country to the city and doesn’t have a bloody clue what’s where, then buy a pocket map book or get the Q-Link app on your mobile or another way I first learnt was “ask someone “!!!
Also I have been assured that the service will still continue the same as how BBL operates and I know that this was a decision that had to be made within a couple hours or there wouldn’t be a service after November.
Ok I’ve had my B#@CH and congrats for our local bus service to go out of their way to help other Cherbourg & the South Burnett residents.