Platinum Bus Service to Compete on the SYD to CBR Route

[pjohn]

Found an interesting article online today and would be even more interested to hear the thoughts of the AFF masses? Especially those who fly this route regularly?

"The fight for business class coach passengers on the Canberra to Sydney route is on in earnest with this week’s launch of Greyhound’s ‘Platinum’ service"

"This coach has a greater seat pitch with high quality Napa leather seats... and added power and USB connections to each seat"

"The service leaves Canberra at 6am and arrives in Sydney at 9.15am and back to Canberra at 4.30pm, allowing people from Canberra a full day’s work, travelling city centre to city centre"

"We are really after that Canberra community market that is looking for an alternative to flying"

Appears there is only 1 bus currently in this service though their thinking is to extend it and expand in to other similar-timed routes.

 

[Paddy55]

... and how many SCs and points post to QF?

 

[moa999]

and WiFi
Greyhound Platinum Business Class

 

[Ewing]

The 4:30pm departure means that I'll never be able to try it.

On weekends where I go back to Canberra I either catch QF805 @ 1755, DJ664 @ 1805 or the 6pm Murrays service. The Murrays services already have leather seats, but don't have power or wifi.

But:

- In seat power: No use to me, my laptop has more than enough power to last the entire trip, including watching movies.
- Wi-Fi: I have a 3G hotspot on my phone.

I'd be more likely to try it if it departed at 1730 or 1800.

 

[Mal]

Nothing wrong with it and i think it will have its market.

I don't mind catching buses and imho once you factor in mucking around time it would probably bris about the same time as flying.

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[simongr]

Hmm - a quick comparison. You need to be there 20 mins before departure (about the same as I leave for my short hop flights). It then takes three hours and 15 mins. Add to that I need to get to/from the pick up and departure points. All in all it is a very slow option...

 

[pjohn]

For those who don't like to fly (obviously none of us in here ), the $38 fare seems reasonable. In saying that though, as simongr rightly points out it's a very slow option and I could picture looking out the window and watching 2 or more CBR to SYD flights rocketing overhead...

 

[Ewing]

about the same time as flying.

To get a 6pm flight I leave the office at 5pm. I'll be at my house in Canberra by about 7:30.

To get a 6pm bus I still leave the office at 5pm. I'll be at my house in Canberra by 10pm.

So an extra 2.5 hours. I don't mind the bus though - watch a movie and a TV episode or two and you're there.

When I make a decision to go back to Canberra I look at the overall cost. The bus is ~$25-$40, and the flights can be anywhere up to $400 one way (in Y). If the flight is more than about $120, I'll take the bus.

Of course with the double SCs at the moment I've swayed more towards flying

 

[harvyk]

They are missing the mark IMHO, where such a service would come in handy is as a international connections service.
IME, most people who wish to do work in SYD for the day will either fly or drive (in their own private car).
The only people I know who actually use the bus service are weekenders and those who are connecting onto an international flight, and in each case they have used the bus due to price. Make it a cheap "J" service designed to connect to international flights and I'd say they would be on a winner.

 

[docjames]

"The service leaves Canberra at 6am and arrives in Sydney at 9.15am and back to Canberra at 4.30pm, allowing people from Canberra a full day’s work, travelling city centre to city centre"

Interesting as their definition of "a full day's work" is a litte different to mine!

To get a 6pm flight I leave the office at 5pm. I'll be at my house in Canberra by about 7:30.

To get a 6pm bus I still leave the office at 5pm. I'll be at my house in Canberra by 10pm.

I presume this means your office isnt in the CBD? As the time saving is CBD--> airport --> security



Interesting concept - price seems quite reasonable. I would expect there might be a market from Newcastle area, perhaps with 1-2 pickup points on the way?

 

[Flying Fox]

The people in the pics look cramped to me. I would be more impressed if they had 1-1 seating (like some services in SE Asia) or even 1-2 seating vs their displayed 2-2. Might even be easier for some to sleep.

Overhead luggage compartments look like the standard bus config and hence quite small.

I think that there is still room for improvement.

 

[Ewing]

Interesting as their definition of "a full day's work" is a litte different to mine!

Yes indeed.

I somehow doubt TPTB at my employer would let me get away with a 0915-1630 work day (actually it'd be more like 0945-1530 once you take into account getting from the bus to the office and vv) :mrgreen:

I presume this means your office isnt in the CBD? As the time saving is CBD--> airport --> security

Nope, it's in Alexandria/Mascot.

One train stop away from the domestic airport, 2 stops from Central.

Getting to the airport is therefore exceptionally easy, but getting to Central where the buses go from is also very easy.

 

[Ewing]

The people in the pics look cramped to me. I would be more impressed if they had 1-1 seating (like some services in SE Asia) or even 1-2 seating vs their displayed 2-2. Might even be easier for some to sleep.

Yes. I like this.

1-1 or 1-2 and a later departure would almost certainly result in it being my preferred option.

 

[Isochronous]

I hate buses. I get car sickness unless I'm driving, so I'd be sticking to the plane.

 

[medhead]

I presume this means your office isnt in the CBD? As the time saving is CBD--> airport --> security

The time is about right for me to get from Darlinghurst to the airport. Leave at about 6pm, walk to Museum Station, train to Mascot, walk to airport and I can get there by about 7pm - in time for island dining. Otherwise, leaving at about 5pm for a 6:10pm DJ flight is pretty easy with the walk to museum and train all the way to the airport.

 

[mosanator]

I travel that route all the time and it won't suit me at all. Only benefits I see are that it gets you right into the city, but it would only take a minor issue on the M5 parking lot to change those times dramatically.

 

[samh004]

I travel that route all the time and it won't suit me at all. Only benefits I see are that it gets you right into the city, but it would only take a minor issue on the M5 parking lot to change those times dramatically.

And the thing with road travel is, after a delay you can’t speed to get to your destination any quicker, but you can in the air

 

[Jkyn]

If I was going to take up the bus option I think I would drive myself. Rarely drive to Sydney these days from CBR unless only spending time out West. Car is only a hassle once there as most time is spent in the city and home in Bondi.

Think I will stick to flying.


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[Simo]

Price is very good.

I can see benefit in it.

 

[elbarto]

Could come in handy to bring down positioning costs on status runs. But lack of SCs....