Commuter buses from Cooma?

One of the most recent ACTION timetables had less than 2 minutes for ‘toilet breaks’ on at least one route. I am aware anecdotally of a few instances of drivers soiling themselves. OH&S is a serious workplace issue, and needs to be factored into timetabling.

One of the worst aspects of catching the train to Melbourne from Canberra is that if you dont go out of your way to purchase a TRAIN ticket from Yass Junction, you wll be sent on the coach that travels all over the NSW countryside to towns picking up one person here, one person there. Ironically due to the 19th century track design, the bus and train will meet at the same time in Cootamundra.

Cooma to Canberra could work if it had a timetabe that was fairly direct and delivered commuters in a timely fashion. Once you start adding in stops where there is a diversion, followed by a wait while one or no passenger gets on boad, you start to pad out the trip time. If it is less attractive than taking your own car, people will choose to drive themselves.

dvaey said :

MrPC said :

If Deanes are involved, it will fail. They don’t know the first thing about attracting patronage based on the shambles of a bus service they run out of Queanbeyan.

As opposed to the other options? If ACTION was involved, they’d still be negotiating the toilet breaks for the drivers 2 years after deanes got off their butts and did it. Maybe its something for Transborder to look at..

Isnt there a rail line down that way? Maybe its more cost effective to just run a train (this is NSW, not ACT, so their government has more clue about trains than our local govco)

The train line has fallen into disrepair as well has been split. Some of the bridges require major works as even the rails society of Queanbeyan can’t run their trains down to Michelago any more.

As Johnboy said, south of Michelago both the level crossings that were there have been removed (about 20 years ago I think).

As far as commuting, Cooma would be my preference over Yass. Ok its further but Cooma has so much more going for it with the ski fields Snowy Scheme & stuff.

Sgt.Bungers said :

A fantastic temporary solution until we get a reliable, comfortable, affordable and fast train service running from Sydney to the ski fields via Canberra, Cooma, and other enroute country towns 🙂

Think, far less motor vehicle traffic on the Monaro Highway in winter.

In the 50s and 60s, there was indeed a train taking skiiers to the skifields. The train tracks used to go over the Monaro (through it, I guess, very bumpy going over them) but they have now torn them up and put the road over where they used to go.

The dismantling of rail infastructure in this country is such vandalism.

Some Bungendore-ites take the train into Canberra, but I’m not sure how viable that is for most people. It’s a thought though, that whole district is exploding.

A fantastic temporary solution until we get a reliable, comfortable, affordable and fast train service running from Sydney to the ski fields via Canberra, Cooma, and other enroute country towns 🙂

Think, far less motor vehicle traffic on the Monaro Highway in winter.

MrPC said :

If Deanes are involved, it will fail. They don’t know the first thing about attracting patronage based on the shambles of a bus service they run out of Queanbeyan.

As opposed to the other options? If ACTION was involved, they’d still be negotiating the toilet breaks for the drivers 2 years after deanes got off their butts and did it. Maybe its something for Transborder to look at..

Isnt there a rail line down that way? Maybe its more cost effective to just run a train (this is NSW, not ACT, so their government has more clue about trains than our local govco)

If Deanes are involved, it will fail. They don’t know the first thing about attracting patronage based on the shambles of a bus service they run out of Queanbeyan.

Chances are if they did run a bus from Cooma to Canberra, it would divert via Tharwa, Jerrabombera, then back to Weston, before eventually making its way into Civic, if their current services are anything to go by.

Also, given the 12km run from Queanbeyan costs $7.20 each way, the folks from Cooma would surely love the chance to pay $50 each way to ride the bus.

Just what Cooma needs: Pyjama People.

Interesting proposal, I’d like to see more detail. To succeed it neds to offer a reliable, frequent and attractive service. Will it be a gov/private partnership or a speculative venture by Deanes ?

What’s worrying about it? Cooma is a great little town, and the commute time we’d be talking is commensurate with other cities in Australia.

There are plenty of people who would rather have a small town community, and far lower cost of living, in exchange for some commuting time to their place of work. It makes even better sense for people who don’t have to be on site everyday, but can work from home a bit.

ConanOfCooma said :

Also, never ride Deanes. Drivers are suicidal, and the main company doesn’t care if they run you off the road.

Oh mate, snap. I saw one just this morning take a roundabout in Qbn I swear he was almost on 2 wheels. Full of school kids heading into Canberra. They love driving out onto Pialligo Ave from Oaks Estate Road when there’s oncoming cars, too. Nutcases.

I worked in the 80s with someone who commuted daily from Cooma. And Yass are building actual suburbs now due to demand from Canberra people who can’t afford (or don’t want) to live in Canberra. I’ve worked with people who commuted daily from Goulburn, too. And one from just north of Jerangle.

Then again, they had a bus from Bungers, and it stopped running due to lack of interest.