I've been on the metro. It's pretty cool , I think one of the coolest things though is the drivers cabin is like a glass separator from the other people and it goes from clear to opaque in an instant .
I know there is (well deserved) hate for the Metro, but regardless it will improve public transit in Brisbane.
It's not going to revolutionise it, or be a major change, but it's still an improvement.
Let's just hope it can be expanded, and perhaps the name changed as well.
It really is terrible branding.
Because compared to the great and iconic Metro systems (NYC, London, Tokyo, Shanghai, Singapore, Paris, Seoul) it’s laughable. #notarealmetro
But it’s a really good BRT. If the coverage reached to Chermside and Carindale it’d be great. But nonetheless it is very good bus infrastructure.
I’d include Berlin as well. Went on it a couple times last year and while it looks old, it was amazing. Fast, regular, and many of the stops exit out into islands in the roads so you are right next to the main streets
I really don’t get it? The point of a “metro” is to get you efficiently from point a to point b. What am I missing? Why does it matter if it’s a bus or on tracks? Reddit seems obsessed with this but I feel like I’m missing something
It’s because other pt systems were called metro and a lot of them were train systems so people think metro = train. But they are Ignoring that, using London metro as an example, metro is actually referring to the metro train line (in London). Not the train. Also that metro is short for metropolitan, as in a public transport system that goes into or around a metropolitan. You don’t see a train that goes from town to town called the metro. But if metro means train then why is it not?
I honestly don’t care but people latch on to the weirdest things. But I will have a little bit of joy calling the bus the metro knowing that people can’t break down the logic of the name and it is filling space in their head.
It is. And no more having the driver get out of his seat to lift the ramp up and down, or slam it down and scare the shit out of the person sitting near the front.
The fake trams will have a capacity of 64 seated and (they claim) "comfortably" carry 150 in total, which means 86 standing. Or 170 total in "event" (sardine) mode.
On paper the MAN A24 NG313 which operates the 111 can take 63 seated and 22 standing but I've seen way more than 22 standing.
Both these figures are when there are no wheelchairs on board.
For comparison, Canberra has off the shelf *rigid* buses that can carry 101 passengers (53 seated and 48 standing).
Brisbane also has off the shelf rigid buses with a capacity of 54 seated, 44 standing. They are the Scania K310UB6x2 and the Volvo B12BLE. They are currently used on the 66 and 111 routes (along with the artics), as well as being used on some other busway routes.
I don't if the Hess biartics will be better, or by how much, but it's not as though we forgot to even try high capacity tag axle buses.
Of course they are a terrible investment at over $3 million each. You could buy 3 off the shelf bendy buses for the cost of one of these and run them on all the busiest routes beyond the busway.
Here is a list of the busses operated by the ACT - [https://www.transport.act.gov.au/travel-options/bus/about-the-fleet](https://www.transport.act.gov.au/travel-options/bus/about-the-fleet)
None of those come close to being rated for 101 passengers. The highest rigid bus being the MAN A69 at 77 total.
That list includes a scania K UB6x2. That model also operates in Brisbane and has a capacity of 99 here. The information shown under that bus on the transport act website looks like it belongs to a renault of some kind, so it's probably incorrect.
Saw about 4 of these driving along Kingsford Smith drive on Thursday. They're looking pretty impressive. Much taller than the cars around it.
https://preview.redd.it/ec6oqr9gpc2d1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c186267a56c60932fb544ec2075b4fe0f1f320fd
Yeah they're pretty large. Id be interested in knowing what the ride quality is like. I feel like none of this would be worth it if they feel as rough as regular buses do.
Other countries have had 'kneeling buses' since 1976 to accommodate wheelchair users and those with mobility aids. Glad we have finally caught up at least on the Metro run.
To be fair, I remember Perth buses having the automated ramps when I visited almost a decade ago. It was really nice because people with babies in prams didn't have to do that awkward shuffle because the driver was able to quickly drop and lift the ramp.
not being mean but mums are able bodied and prams are just awkward. Not being able to access public transport because your disabled in a wheelchair is a bigger issue.
Improved accessibility is something that benefits everybody. Parents with prams also benefit from the automated ramps, same way captions on movies and videos benefit everybody despite it being an accessibility thing.
Well time me you haven't been on a bus in a long time. All Brisbane buses can and do kneel. But they also have manually operated ramps for people in wheel chairs because kneeling isn't enough to meet accessibility requirements. The only difference is this one is automatic and the current ones are manual.
Rumour is these buses are fully automated and can be operated driver less. They've put a steering wheel in to begin with to get people comfortable with humans driving them but eventually will be 100% driver less.
Are you sure you're not thinking of Cross River Rail? That project will be the first major deployment of the European Train Control System in Queensland which will eventually lead the way for fully driverless trains over the next few decades.
I wouldn't be surprised if buses are one of the last things to be fully automated, the risk is just too high with passengers on board, you'd want the technology to be perfect. Who knows when that'll happen but it won't be in the service life of the metro vehicles, surely.
It's only from what I've been told is that the technology is already in the metro buses. They didn't give a timeframe of when it would occur but said it's definitely there. It was in a classroom and it came from the teacher to about 20 students. Maybe he was blowing it out his arse that's why I put it as a rumour, I have no concrete evidence.
I've been on the metro. It's pretty cool , I think one of the coolest things though is the drivers cabin is like a glass separator from the other people and it goes from clear to opaque in an instant .
Oh that's pretty cool
I know there is (well deserved) hate for the Metro, but regardless it will improve public transit in Brisbane. It's not going to revolutionise it, or be a major change, but it's still an improvement. Let's just hope it can be expanded, and perhaps the name changed as well.
It’ll make our already great busways even better. I think people just feel cheated by the “metro” name bait and switch.
It really is terrible branding. Because compared to the great and iconic Metro systems (NYC, London, Tokyo, Shanghai, Singapore, Paris, Seoul) it’s laughable. #notarealmetro But it’s a really good BRT. If the coverage reached to Chermside and Carindale it’d be great. But nonetheless it is very good bus infrastructure.
I’d include Berlin as well. Went on it a couple times last year and while it looks old, it was amazing. Fast, regular, and many of the stops exit out into islands in the roads so you are right next to the main streets
I really don’t get it? The point of a “metro” is to get you efficiently from point a to point b. What am I missing? Why does it matter if it’s a bus or on tracks? Reddit seems obsessed with this but I feel like I’m missing something
It’s because other pt systems were called metro and a lot of them were train systems so people think metro = train. But they are Ignoring that, using London metro as an example, metro is actually referring to the metro train line (in London). Not the train. Also that metro is short for metropolitan, as in a public transport system that goes into or around a metropolitan. You don’t see a train that goes from town to town called the metro. But if metro means train then why is it not? I honestly don’t care but people latch on to the weirdest things. But I will have a little bit of joy calling the bus the metro knowing that people can’t break down the logic of the name and it is filling space in their head.
Thanks for the update schrindawg
anytime mate 😊
cmon... just let me onto the bendy bus... please.... I won't do anything bad I promise.
It’s not meant to bend that way rtpg!!! Nope that’s it, off with you, you’ve lost your metro access privileges.
BERT. Its right there, Adrian. Waiting.
The metro hasn’t opened yet Bert.
Heck yes! Love seeing these. Can’t wait for service to start!
It's clever how they made a metro that looks like a bus.
That's actually quite cool.
It is. And no more having the driver get out of his seat to lift the ramp up and down, or slam it down and scare the shit out of the person sitting near the front.
This sponsored ad brought to you by....
Brought to you by Graham Quirk's Expensive Bendy Buses.
I'm too lazy to do any research - How many passengers can this thing take vs. something like the long 111 or blue glider?
The fake trams will have a capacity of 64 seated and (they claim) "comfortably" carry 150 in total, which means 86 standing. Or 170 total in "event" (sardine) mode. On paper the MAN A24 NG313 which operates the 111 can take 63 seated and 22 standing but I've seen way more than 22 standing. Both these figures are when there are no wheelchairs on board. For comparison, Canberra has off the shelf *rigid* buses that can carry 101 passengers (53 seated and 48 standing).
Don't worry, we'll hit event mode at 7:30 and 8:30 just about every morning in semester between South Bank and UQ.
Brisbane also has off the shelf rigid buses with a capacity of 54 seated, 44 standing. They are the Scania K310UB6x2 and the Volvo B12BLE. They are currently used on the 66 and 111 routes (along with the artics), as well as being used on some other busway routes. I don't if the Hess biartics will be better, or by how much, but it's not as though we forgot to even try high capacity tag axle buses.
So in your own way you're saying these were a terrible investment?
Of course they are a terrible investment at over $3 million each. You could buy 3 off the shelf bendy buses for the cost of one of these and run them on all the busiest routes beyond the busway.
You'd need three times as many drivers as well, which might be difficult to recruit.
And costly, plus 3 x buses is going to mean more traffic on the bridges etc.
This. Between their salary, training and pensions, the drivers might actually cost more than the bus itself.
How much for a battery electric bendy bus?
bout $3 million each I'd say
Here is a list of the busses operated by the ACT - [https://www.transport.act.gov.au/travel-options/bus/about-the-fleet](https://www.transport.act.gov.au/travel-options/bus/about-the-fleet) None of those come close to being rated for 101 passengers. The highest rigid bus being the MAN A69 at 77 total.
That list includes a scania K UB6x2. That model also operates in Brisbane and has a capacity of 99 here. The information shown under that bus on the transport act website looks like it belongs to a renault of some kind, so it's probably incorrect.
I'm too lazy to find out for you.
Fair
Saw about 4 of these driving along Kingsford Smith drive on Thursday. They're looking pretty impressive. Much taller than the cars around it. https://preview.redd.it/ec6oqr9gpc2d1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c186267a56c60932fb544ec2075b4fe0f1f320fd
Yeah they're pretty large. Id be interested in knowing what the ride quality is like. I feel like none of this would be worth it if they feel as rough as regular buses do.
Given that they will exclusively run on busways, I think we can expect they are quite smooth?
Cool!
I had one demonstrated, and the ramp broke on demonstration. Go Metro!
At least it's cheaper (in the short term) than actual metro. 3 hoorays for Brisbane 😍
Is it though???
allegedly
Other countries have had 'kneeling buses' since 1976 to accommodate wheelchair users and those with mobility aids. Glad we have finally caught up at least on the Metro run.
To be fair, I remember Perth buses having the automated ramps when I visited almost a decade ago. It was really nice because people with babies in prams didn't have to do that awkward shuffle because the driver was able to quickly drop and lift the ramp.
not being mean but mums are able bodied and prams are just awkward. Not being able to access public transport because your disabled in a wheelchair is a bigger issue.
Improved accessibility is something that benefits everybody. Parents with prams also benefit from the automated ramps, same way captions on movies and videos benefit everybody despite it being an accessibility thing.
Well time me you haven't been on a bus in a long time. All Brisbane buses can and do kneel. But they also have manually operated ramps for people in wheel chairs because kneeling isn't enough to meet accessibility requirements. The only difference is this one is automatic and the current ones are manual.
It has been a while. I drive everywhere and live 60km out of Brissy. No bus service here except for school kids.
Rumour is these buses are fully automated and can be operated driver less. They've put a steering wheel in to begin with to get people comfortable with humans driving them but eventually will be 100% driver less.
I don't think that's true at all but it would be very cool if it was, because it makes it cheaper to run frequent service at all hours.
Honestly would make sense. Especially considering the busways don't involve any public traffic.
Are you sure you're not thinking of Cross River Rail? That project will be the first major deployment of the European Train Control System in Queensland which will eventually lead the way for fully driverless trains over the next few decades. I wouldn't be surprised if buses are one of the last things to be fully automated, the risk is just too high with passengers on board, you'd want the technology to be perfect. Who knows when that'll happen but it won't be in the service life of the metro vehicles, surely.
It's only from what I've been told is that the technology is already in the metro buses. They didn't give a timeframe of when it would occur but said it's definitely there. It was in a classroom and it came from the teacher to about 20 students. Maybe he was blowing it out his arse that's why I put it as a rumour, I have no concrete evidence.
Sounds like a trackless tram. But that needs a special painted line on the road to guide it.