[Jack Malarkey]

Transport Canberra (ACTION) buses operated by the ACT Government will be providing bus services to the Canberra Airport terminal from Monday 20 March 2017. Transport Canberra (MyWay) cards and standard cash fares will apply.

The new route 11 will have 32 city to airport services each way on weekdays from 6.26 am to 9.11 pm. Return trips will run from 6.48 am to 9.40 pm. This works out at a service every half hour, better during peak times, on weekdays.

The bus service will operate 13 times on Saturdays and 12 times on Sundays and public holidays. This works out at a service every hour on weekends and public holidays.

The travelling time will be 15 to 19 minutes.

There will be signs installed at the terminal to inform arriving passengers of the public transport options. The buses will drop off and pick up near the main entrance.

The new services will have wheelchair access.

At present, there is a private shuttle bus service to and from the city that operates 12 times each way on weekdays and 10 times on weekends. This service costs passengers $12 one way or $20 return.

ACTION buses also currently operate services to nearby Brindabella Park on weekdays during the working day.

We will need to wait and see what effect the new public transport option has on demand for Uber services to and from the airport.

(See http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act...sport-service-introduced-20170309-guu46u.html.)

Here is a link to the full timetable: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/cqstatic/guu4iq/airportbus.pdf.

 

[Skyring]

My experience of taking luggage onto standard public transport services is that it is awkward and inconvenient. It will generate complaints from passengers expecting a dedicated vehicle. Will they be able to buy MyWay cards at the airport?

Having said that, it is a welcome and long-delayed service. There will be a steady demand, and of course it will impact on taxi and Uber services.

 

[Jack Malarkey]

My experience of taking luggage onto standard public transport services is that it is awkward and inconvenient. It will generate complaints from passengers expecting a dedicated vehicle. Will they be able to buy MyWay cards at the airport?

Having said that, it is a welcome and long-delayed service. There will be a steady demand, and of course it will impact on taxi and Uber services.

I have found the Canberra bus service to be reasonable for transporting luggage because they provide a decently sized luggage storage area near the front of the bus. I have often used the bus service with luggage to travel to the Jolimont Centre or railway station.

Those without a MyWay card have the option of paying cash. Adult and student MyWay cards are available on line or by phone (five business days needed). Otherwise, they can be purchased ($5) only at Access Canberra shopfronts.

The airport newsagency doesn't at present offer MyWay top up, but perhaps that will change.

 

[Jack Malarkey]

Something I'd like to see is national interoperability of public transport access cards
so, for example, a Melbourne resident can use their Myki card in Sydney and a Sydney resident can use their Opal card in Melbourne.

The need for this has become greater since there are no longer cash fare options in Sydney or Melbourne. You need to have the local card to pay for public transport, even if it's for a single journey however short.

In my case, I have a MyWay card for Canberra and an Opal card for Sydney and expect to obtain a Myki card for Melbourne soon.

There has long been national interoperability for toll road tags. This means, for example, that a Brisbane driver can use their toll tag on Melbourne toll roads and a Melbourne driver can use their tag in Brisbane.

I had hoped that, as an enthusiast for public transport, Prime Minister Turnbull would have championed such interoperability for public transport cards but that hasn't yet happened.

In relation to the new public bus service to Canberra Airport, I too welcome it, setting aside my vested interest as an Uber driver. I do, however, have a strong sense of unease about how the current private operator has been treated. See the 'Canberra Times' article linked to in my original post for details.

 

[BlackNight]

"I do, however, have a strong sense of unease about how the current private operator has been treated. See the 'Canberra Times' article linked to in my original post for details.

I have a stronger sense of unease about how long it was the case that government transport services eschewed the airport to leave it solely in the hands of a commercial concern.

 

[Jack Malarkey]

Statement by new airport bus passenger as quoted in the 'Canberra Times':

"It's really convenient, rather than waiting half an hour for an uber or taxi," he said.

"We were just on our way to the uber terminal when we saw the signs for the bus."

https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp...-canberra-airport-begins-20170319-gv1ock.html

 

[Jack Malarkey]

The new bus service drops off and picks up from directly outside the front door of the Uber lounge.

We can expect some bus passengers will wait in the lounge for their bus and use the Uber lounge's free wi fi. This may mean it becomes a little more difficult to identify your Uber passenger.