Sky Bus on the Gold Coast

[BAM1748]

Haven't seen it posted but Sky Bus, seems to be the Melboune company, is advertising for staff including drivers out of Coolangatta airport.

So no doubt they will try and block the tram extension when the time comes. (I suspect that's why it's so hard to build a Railway to Tullamarine.

 

[moa999]

The 777 + Light Rail is pretty direct and the 777 bus doesn't stop that often.

And it's under $4 on GoCard.

I can't imagine an Express Bus saving more than 5min, and with worse frequency

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I have to agree with moa999. The GCCC 777 bus has limited stops between the airport and Broadbeach (few but short and worthwhile stops) and the light rail from Broadbeach north is about as best you can get as the traffic lights are controlled by the light rail. A tram doesn't stop, busses do!

Possibly the only benefit for a Skybus service would be directly up the motorway to more quickly service Burleigh, Mudgeeraba, Nerang , Pac. Pines and Helensvale, although I suspect it wouldn't be overly successful. As an example, to travel Airport to Nerang on a 777 and connecting bus, costs about $5. A taxi costs about $80 and an Uber is somewhere in between (roughly $45 I'd think). Where is the margin for a Skybus service? Either pax want a quick ride (taxi or Uber) or they want a cheap ride (bus), but all of them are relatively painless. The cheap ride does require connections which may (if you time it badly) be 1 hour, but it's at Pac. Fair where shops or coffee houses are plentiful to fill the time.

 

[samh004]

The 777 + Light Rail is pretty direct and the 777 bus doesn't stop that often.

And it's under $4 on GoCard.

I can't imagine an Express Bus saving more than 5min, and with worse frequency

I have used this method to get to university and the airport, so I think it's absolutely shocking that Skybus thinks they could offer a better service... however I imagine they're just trying to cash in on the Commonwealth Games and may even leave following the event.

With regard to them blocking the light rail, that connection is perhaps a decade away, they're still investigating stage 3 which is only as far as Burleigh. While I would love the light rail to eventually connect, its main issue is that it stops everywhere, so from Helensvale to Broadbeach (when open early next year) it will take 45 minutes. In good traffic I can drive in half that, however I will probably take the tram so I can drink. But stretch that out to Burleigh, then Coolangatta and the journey is about as long as the pathetic Gold Coast to BNE heavy rail service.

I believe the heavy rail should start being built soon again, as the main holdup was a car wrecking yard operator in the path after Varsity. That has gone through the courts and when the site has been cleared it'll probably be an extra 3 stations to the airport. Sure, heavy rail to Helensvale and then backtracking on the tram isn't ideal, but from what I've seen of stages 3 onwards of the light rail the idea is not to take the tram further South than Burleigh initially, as this would require new bridges and stiff opposition from residents in the already over-trafficked Palm Beach/Currumbin, but to take the tram west to Varsity/Robina heavy rail, creating another connection to heavy rail. Still it's all probably over a decade away, but makes far more sense.

 

[collcars]

Skybus, have taken over the Gold Coast tourist shuttle service so it is not an express service just a service for the theme parks

 

[samh004]

Skybus, have taken over the Gold Coast tourist shuttle service so it is not an express service just a service for the theme parks

Seems logical.

On another note, if any AFF member ends up visiting Wet n Wild or Movieworld and would like to meet a fellow AFFer before or after, I live next door and am happy to socialise.

 

[Mattg]

Gold Coast does not need SkyBus. It's such a rip-off and if the example they've set in Melbourne is anything to go by, they'll use their market power to block other modes of transport and increase the cost of getting to/from the airport.

 

[JohnK]

Train not extending past Varsity Lakes?

 

[BAM1748]

Form the Gold Coast Bulliten

A MELBOURNE-based airport transfer service has snapped up the Gold Coast Tourist Shuttle (GCTS) as part of an aggressive expansion plan.

SkyBus, which was founded in 1978 and transports five million passengers in Victoria and New Zealand each year, will rebrand GCTS to SkyBus Gold Coast from early next month.

It will compete with Gold Coast bus company Con-X-ion among others in the heavily contested airport transfer service market.

Gold Coast Airport chief operating officer Marion Charlton welcomed the development.

 

[serfty]

They have basically taken over all the airport PAX bus services in the Melbourne metro region.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Not so sure about the info posted earlier about Skybus being interested in just theme park shuttles. The ones I've seen say airport shuttle, with no mention of theme parks. I'll be annoyed if they try to force the 777 route out of OOL.

 

[BAM1748]

I guess they are setting up their longer term future, with the constant talk of a Melbourne rail connection it's smart business to expand like this.

But yes, they should leave the 777 alone as well I'm sure they'll be bad mouthing the tram extension to the airport in due course.

 

[Deleted member]

I would use this if I had HLO or no luggage at all. Otherwise I prefer the comfort and convenience of an Uber or similar.

 

[JohnK]

Skybus been sitting there around 25 minutes and has just left with a few on board.

The first 777 was here around 20 minutes ago and was here 10-15 minutes with long line of people boarding and another 777 arrived 10 minutes ago to take some of the load and more boarding.

I haven't checked. What does Skybus cost?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I haven't checked. What does Skybus cost?

Without knowing particulars of the travelling party, it's hard to compare on a one for one basis as Skybus let kids (up to 4) ride for free.

Having said that, for a couple spending a weekend in Surfers, the Skybus would cost them $40 one way or $78 return (for two people), if bought on-line.
The 777+ the G (light rail) on a Go-Card would cost them $7.92 one way or $15.84 return (for two people).

So in that scenario, Skybus costs almost 500% more than 777+ the G ... a real bargain and Skybus is priced at the lower end of an estimated Uber trip. Throw some kids in the mix and I'm think both Skybus and Uber become marginally more palatable for convenience sake only, and on that basis I'd be thinking Uber may be the way to go (depending on how many kids and how much luggage).

 

[JohnK]

Interesting that Skybus allows kids under 4 for free. ConXion wanted to charge for my daughter. No thanks. I'll hire a car.

 

[Fifa]

Interesting that Skybus allows kids under 4 for free. ConXion wanted to charge for my daughter. No thanks. I'll hire a car.

Skybus allows 4 kids (age 4 to 16) to travel free! Even better.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Interesting that Skybus allows kids under 4 for free. ConXion wanted to charge for my daughter. No thanks. I'll hire a car.

My bad with the wording. As Fifa has stated it's quantity of 4 tin lids. Age can be up to 16 years old.