21 April 2020

Passengers jump straight onto ACTION's airport bus

| Charlotte
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Passengers step onto the new ACTION bus to the airport. Photo: Charlotte Harper

The new ACTION bus service between Canberra Airport and the city’s CBD commenced this morning, with passengers embracing the service from day one.

The RiotACT visited the airport at 9am and looked on as a dozen or so travellers skipped the taxi queue, choosing instead to jump on the number 11 bus to the city.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BR1g9G8BxGM/

Canberra Airport planning director Noel McCann said signage inside the airport terminal alerting arriving passengers to the availability of ACTION buses would be in place soon.

“This has all come together in good time, but not enough time for the sign people to get it right,” he said.

“Seeing the people get on the bus form the first day without any knowledge that the bus would be running, it’s absolutely terrific.”

https://www.facebook.com/riotactnews/videos/10155102467373850/

ACTION’s 11A service runs from the city to the airport via Russell and return, seven days a week. The 11 bus services Russell, the Canberra Airport, Brindabella Business Park and Fairbairn on weekdays.

Buses at the airport. Photo: Charlotte Harper Buses at the airport. Photo: Charlotte Harper

Services run approximately every half hour and more often during peak times on weekdays and every hour on weekends (full timetable here).

Travellers can use a MyWay card or pay cash when boarding. A single adult trip when paying cash will cost $4.80 with cheaper fares for students, children and MyWay cardholders.

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Mark_Dando said :

Maryann Mussared said :

wildturkeycanoe said :

Here’s a perfect opportunity to include Oakes Estate on the route, as airport flights are probably scheduled at the same time frames that the residents out there are after.

It is the perfect opportunity to include Oaks Estate and Pialligo! Both communities are without an ACTION bus service.

Oh no you don’t. We’ve finally got a service that runs straight along Constitution Ave and Morshead Drive to the airport, and you want it to sabotage it by making the bus wander round Pialligo (in classic Action style) in search of passengers who may or may not exist. A better way to service Pialligo would be to run a path from the end of Beltana Road across the field to the Pialligo Ave underpass at the terminal exit. This would also allow people staying at the airport hotel to visit the cafes and shops at Pialligo. As the crow flies it’s only 200 or so metres. And Oakes Estate would be more efficiently served via subsidising Deane’s buses to run some of their Canberra-Queanbeyan via Oakes Estate.

This would be a good move and I am surprised our tourist directorate people haven’t been scoping something like this already given the popularity of the precinct with our influential hipster lobby.

One problem I see is the road through Piallago which is very sub-standard and regular bus services would finish it off completely.

Maryann Mussared said :

wildturkeycanoe said :

Here’s a perfect opportunity to include Oakes Estate on the route, as airport flights are probably scheduled at the same time frames that the residents out there are after.

It is the perfect opportunity to include Oaks Estate and Pialligo! Both communities are without an ACTION bus service.

Oh no you don’t. We’ve finally got a service that runs straight along Constitution Ave and Morshead Drive to the airport, and you want it to sabotage it by making the bus wander round Pialligo (in classic Action style) in search of passengers who may or may not exist. A better way to service Pialligo would be to run a path from the end of Beltana Road across the field to the Pialligo Ave underpass at the terminal exit. This would also allow people staying at the airport hotel to visit the cafes and shops at Pialligo. As the crow flies it’s only 200 or so metres. And Oakes Estate would be more efficiently served via subsidising Deane’s buses to run some of their Canberra-Queanbeyan via Oakes Estate.

Well here’s a prime example where people are happy to hop on a bus, in a context where in most “funky cities” there is rail from the airport. What message should this bring the light rail proponents?

Maryann Mussared4:07 pm 21 Mar 17

wildturkeycanoe said :

Here’s a perfect opportunity to include Oakes Estate on the route, as airport flights are probably scheduled at the same time frames that the residents out there are after.

It is the perfect opportunity to include Oaks Estate and Pialligo! Both communities are without an ACTION bus service.

Maryann Mussared4:04 pm 21 Mar 17

This is great news! What is really important is for people to actually use it. I know there will be excuses not to, but hopefully, the many people who arrive with meetings at Russell and accommodation in the city will see it is a bonus. I don’t do Uber and taxis in the city are expensive.

I really don’t know why TCCS didn’t get a few of these.

https://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2017/03/capital-metro-demos-robot-bus/

A steal at US$250,000 and the vibe? Priceless.

wildturkeycanoe said :

Here’s a perfect opportunity to include Oakes Estate on the route, as airport flights are probably scheduled at the same time frames that the residents out there are after.

The airlines don’t give pensioner discounts like the railways do.

Fantastic move by the ACT Government that they finally commenced this service. It will allow the environmentally conscious and fiscally cautious (ie tightwad) a true option to accessing the city. The commentary about lack of luggage space is disingenuous when you look at the way people carry their goods and chattels in overhead lockers on aircraft these days (a subject for a future rant).

wildturkeycanoe9:05 pm 20 Mar 17

Here’s a perfect opportunity to include Oakes Estate on the route, as airport flights are probably scheduled at the same time frames that the residents out there are after.

rommeldog56 said :

Long, long overdue. Much cheaper than a taxi or Uber if u are going to the City.

But for tourists and luggage carrying business travellers in particular, are there luggage racks or are these regular ACTION buses ?

Just happy that Action services have been extended to the airport terminal — I’m not going to quibble that they’re operated by regular buses, particularly given that the city-airport service is integrated with and costs the same as other services (e.g., you can use a MyWay card, as well as change to other routes @ Russell and the city without paying another fare).
As a regular business traveller, I travel light. Even travelling OS I limit myself to bags that I can haul on and off public transport. Action buses are rarely packed to the extent there isn’t space for you bring on bags that can be checked in with an airline. And if the airport services are so well patronised that space becomes a problem no doubt Action will consider putting on special buses.
If you typically travel with steamer trunks or with a first class baggage allowance, you can afford to hire a limousine, or at least a taxi.

Regular buses, which just have the small rack over the front wheel arch.

rommeldog56 said :

Long, long overdue. Much cheaper than a taxi or Uber if u are going to the City.

But for tourists and luggage carrying business travellers in particular, are there luggage racks or are these regular ACTION buses ?

Maybe not, but definitely bike racks.

Long, long overdue. Much cheaper than a taxi or Uber if u are going to the City. But for tourists and luggage carrying business travellers in particular, are there luggage racks or are these regular ACTION buses ?

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