CityGlider is a brand name applied to a pair of high-frequency bus routes operated by Brisbane Transport in Brisbane, Australia. Both are operated by dedicated fleets of buses vinyled in either blue or maroon liveries with a gliding possum motif. Bus stops serviced by the CityGlider services are identified with signs and painted kerb. Both operate 24 hours a day on Fridays and Saturdays.[1]
The CityGlider service is pre-paid only, meaning passengers are required to use a go card to touch on/off when boarding and exiting the service. To assist with keeping the service running on-time, both front and rear boarding is possible - the CityGlider is the only service which allows this.
Blue CityGlider Route
| 60 | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| System | TransLink |
| Operator | Brisbane Transport |
| Garage | Eagle Farm |
| Began service | 11 April 2010 |
| Route | |
| Start | West End ferry wharf |
| Via | Cultural Centre busway station Adelaide Street Fortitude Valley Newstead |
| End | Teneriffe ferry wharf |
| Service | |
| Level | Daily |
The Blue CityGlider was launched on 11 April 2010.[2][3] also known as route 60, the Blue CityGlider runs from West End ferry wharf via the Cultural Centre busway station, Adelaide Street, Fortitude Valley and Newstead to Teneriffe ferry wharf.[4]
It runs every five minutes during morning and afternoon peak and every 10 to 15 minutes during off-peak. It was also the first service in Brisbane to operate 24 hours on Friday and Saturday and operates for 18 hours every other day.[2]
In April 2014 a petition started by a local worker was signed by 1,070 people and called upon the Brisbane Transport to reroute the westbound service from Teneriffe via Skyring Terrace past the Gasworks Shopping and Restaurant Precinct rather than via Commercial Road. Brisbane City Council supported the rerouting of the service and relocating the Commercial Road bus stop to Skyring Terrace. These changes were implemented on 15 December 2014.[5][6]
The Blue CityGliders were garaged at Brisbane Transport's Bowen Hills depot, then Toowong depot after Bowen Hills depot was closed, until early 2020 when all were transferred to the Eagle Farm Depot. This occurred in preparation for the introduction of Volvo B8RLEA Volrgen Optimuses to the route.[7] In January of 2019, the Blue CityGlider fleet was replaced with new Volvo B8RLE’s (Fleet number 2820-2838), replacing the previous-generation MAN 18.310's (Fleet number 1030-1049).
Maroon CityGlider
| 61 | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| System | TransLink |
| Operator | Brisbane Transport |
| Garage | Carina |
| Began service | 18 February 2013 |
| Route | |
| Start | Ashgrove |
| Via | Paddington South Bank busway station Woolloongabba busway station Stones Corner |
| End | Langlands Park busway station |
| Service | |
| Level | Daily |
This second CityGlider east to west route commenced on 18 February 2013.[8] Also known as route 61, the Maroon CityGlider runs from Ashgrove via Paddington, South Bank busway station, Woolloongabba busway station and Stones Corner to Langlands Park busway station.[9] It connects major sporting, entertainment, shopping and dining precincts.
The Maroon CityGliders are garaged at Brisbane Transport's Carina depot, using a fleet of 13 Volgren CR228L bodied Volvo B7RLEs (Fleet number 2036-2048).
References
- ^ CityGlider bus services Brisbane City Council
- ^ a b Trenwith, Courtney (11 April 2010). "Brisbane's 24-hour buses hit the road". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
- ^ Mass transit investigation report (PDF). Brisbane City Council. September 2007.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Blue CityGlider route map Brisbane Transport
- ^ Newstead gasworks precinct needs this bus stop as its already home to a major employer Energex with new headquarters for both Bank of Queensland and Tatts Group on the way Quest Community Newspapers 12 August 2014
- ^ City Glider-to-be-rerouted Brisbane Times 14 August 2014
- ^ "ATDB • View topic - Transport for Brisbane Observations 2020". www.busaustralia.com. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
- ^ Cityglider spreads its wings Brisbane Times 11 March 2011
- ^ High frequency services (includes BUZ and CityGlider) Brisbane Transport