ACTION
| File:Wikipedia ACTION logo.jpg | ||
|---|---|---|
| ACT Internal Omnibus Network | ||
| ACTION | ||
| Mode | Omnibus | |
| Type | Government owned ACT Government | |
| Founded | 19 July 1926 Trading name change to ACTION 14 February 1977 | |
| Area Served | Belconnen Gungahlin North Canberra South Canberra Woden Valley Weston Creek Tuggeranong | |
| Corporate Colours | Green, orange and white | |
| Slogan | Going your way. | |
| Depots | Belconnen Tuggeranong (Greenway) | |
| Interchanges | Belconnen City Woden (Phillip) Tuggeranong (Greenway) | |
| URL | www.action.act.gov.au | |
ACTION is a public transportation service in Canberra, Australia. It is operated by the ACT Department of Territory and Municipal Services. The name ACTION is an acronym of Australian Capital Territory Internal Omnibus Network.
History
The first government bus services available to the general public appeared in 1926, running from Eastlake to Ainslie. The first major expansion of public bus routes occurred in the 1950s. Canberra's bus service has borne many names since its founding, finally settling on ACTION on 14 February 1977.
On 2 June 2008, to coincide with the launch of Network 08, ACTION's logo and corporate colours were modified.
Buses
ACTION's regular service fleet comprises approximately 370 buses, divided into the following models:[1]
- Renault PR100.2 (Ansair "Metro" MkI, rigid) - 89
- Renault PR180.2 (Ansair "Metro" MkI, articulated) - 26
- Renault PR100.2 (Ansair "Metro" MkII, rigid) - 112
- Renault PR180.2 (Ansair "Metro" MkII, articulated) - 7
- Renault PR100.3 (Austral Denning "Starliner", rigid) - 42
- Dennis Dart SLF (Wright "Crusader", medium rigid) - 25 (all wheelchair accessible)
- Irisbus Agora "Line" (Custom Coaches [1] "CB60", rigid) - 20 (all wheelchair accessible)
- Scania L94UB (Custom Coaches "CB60", rigid) - 53 (all wheelchair accessible, CNG powered)
- MAN 18.310 (Custom Coaches "CB60 Evo II", rigid) - 1 as of June 25 2008 (wheelchair accessible, CNG powered)
The newer Irisbus Agora Lines, Scania L94UBs and MAN 18.310's feature a livery of green, orange and white which symbolises change, and a newer, 'greener' fleet. These buses are comparatively environmentally friendly (hence "green"), accessible to disabled patrons and air conditioned. They are all also fitted with bike racks for a program called Bike 'n Ride.[2]
Apart from buses with all over advertising or special designs, the remainder of the ACTION bus fleet have a livery featuring ACTION's former corporate colours of blue, orange and white.
There are an additional 2 Renault PR100.2 (MkI) which are exclusively used for driver training and a fleet of mini buses (Hino AC and Mitsubishi Rosa) used for special needs transport. ACTION also operates a single Mack tow truck.
ACTION have ordered 19 MAN 18.310 CNG Buses, which are to be delivered between June and October 2008. One of these has being delivered.
Services
ACTION offers many different types of services, from Route to Peak and School services.
The current network of routes (Network 08) commenced 2 June 2008. This network was intended to operate the same routes 7 days a week, but initially ACTION will operate the changed services on weekdays only.[3] A slightly modified version of the previous Network '06 weekend routes will continue to operate until ACTION is able to recruit sufficient weekend drivers.[4]
ACTION's current route and timetable information can be found at http://www.action.act.gov.au/routes_timetables.html
Route Services
ACTION's regular route services operate either as feeder services to a single interchange or connect two or three interchanges via suburban streets. During weekdays, these services are recognised by a one- or two-digit route number.
During weekends, all bus services use a three-digit route number in the 9** range. These services generally do not provide the same level of service as the weekday services by being less direct and operating less frequently.
Intertown
The Intertown provides a regular service between Canberra's 3 town centres and the City. Prior to Network 1998 it operated as route 333 between Tuggeranong, Woden, City and Belconnen Interchanges. Network 1998 replaced the single route 333 with the "100" and "300" series routes. Under the Network 08 changes, the Intertown services comprises only the "300" series routes.
During weekday daytime, Intertown routes travel from suburbs in Belconnen or Tuggeranong then travel through all four interchanges along the Intertown trunk route and terminate at the last interchange (or vice-versa). At night the Intertown service consists of Route 300 only which travels between the four interchanges.
On weekends, the Intertown service operates as Route 900 which travels between the all interchanges as well as the Erindale Centre. Some Route 900 services on Saturday serivce only Woden, City and Belconnen interchanges.
The Intertown routes are as follows:
Weekdays
300 - Tuggeranong, Woden, City, Belconnen
312 - Tuggeranong, Woden, City, Belconnen, McKellar, Evatt, Spence Terminus
313 - Tuggeranong, Woden, City, Belconnen, Page, Scullin, Charnwood, Fraser West Terminus
314 - Tuggeranong, Woden, City, Belconnen, Flynn, Charnwood, Fraser
315 - Tuggeranong, Woden, City, Belconnen, Florey, Melba, Spence
318 - Gordon, Tuggeranong, Woden, City, Belconnen
319 - Conder, Banks, Bonython, Tuggeranong, Woden, City, Belconnen
Weekends
900 - Tuggeranong, Erindale Centre, Woden, City, Belconnen
Intertown Services travel via main roads only to create a fast service between the four Interchanges. Outside of the Intertown trunk route, the services turn into route services and run through suburban streets. These services may also operate just the suburban component of the route in which case the route number will be the last two digits.
Xpresso
Xpresso services are routes which operate during peak hours to provide direct links to the City Centre, Parliamentary Triangle and Airport Business Parks or direct services between Interchanges bypassing the City. These services are designed to reduce the travel time for commuters to get to and from work.
Xpresso services are numbered 7**. The exception to this is route 170, which is classed as an Xpresso Route but travels along the Intertown trunk route between Woden and City Interchanges.
170 - Monash, Gowrie, Fadden, Wanniassa, Woden Interchange, City Interchange, City West
701 - Spence, Melba, Evatt, Northbourne Ave, City Interchange, Constitution Ave, Kings Ave, Barton
702 - Fraser East, Charnwood, Flynn, Northbourne Ave, City Interchange, Constitution Ave, Kings Ave, Barton
703 - Fraser West, Dunlop, Macgregor, Belconnen Way, City Interchange, Constitution Ave, Kings Ave, Barton
705 - Tuggeranong Interchange, Belconnen Interchange via Drakeford Drive & Tuggeranong Parkway
710 - Belconnen Interchange, City Interchange, Constitution Ave, Kings Ave, Barton
720 - Farrer, Mawson, Garran, Hughes, City Interchange via Adelaide Ave & Commonwealth Ave
729 - Cooleman Court, Rivett, Duffy, Holder, City Interchange via Tuggeranong Parkway & Parkes Way
732 - Woden Interchange, Curtin, City Interchange via Adelaide Ave & Commonwealth Ave
737 - City Interchange, Constitution Ave, Brindabella Business Park, Fairbairn Park
749 - Woden Interchange, Belconnen Interchange via Tuggeranong Parkway
757 - Gungahlin Town Centre, Constitution Ave, Brindabella Business Park, Fairbairn Park via Majura Ave, Limestone Ave & Anzac Parade
768 - Calwell, Isabella Plains, Chisholm, Barton, Parkes, Constitution Ave, City Interchange, City West via Monaro Highway
769 - Theodore, Calwell, Richardson, Gilmore, Chisholm Shops, Barton, Parkes, Constitution Ave City Interchange, City West via Monaro Highway
785 - Conder, Banks, City West, City Interchange via Tuggeranong Parkway & Parkes Way
787 - Lanyon Marketplace, Gordon, City West, City Interchange via Tuggeranong Parkway & Parkes Way,
788 - Gordon, Banks, Conder, Barton, Constitution Ave, City Interchange, City West via Monaro Highway,
Other peak services
Other peak hour services operate as an extension to existing route services. These routes are numbered as 1** and 2** where ** represents the two numbers of the regular route service. The 100 series routes listed below travel along the Intertown trunk route between Woden and City Interchanges. The 200 series routes will travel via Barton, Kings Ave then either Constitution Ave and the City or to Campbell Park.
Routes 28 and 63 also have peak hour extensions to their regular route but the route number does not change.
28 - Cooleman Court, Duffy, Holder, Weston, Lyons, Woden Interchange, Barton, Kings Ave, Brindabella Business Park, Fairbairn Park
63 - Tuggeranong Interchange, Monash, Wanniassa, Phillip, Woden Interchange, Barton, Kings Ave, Russell, Campbell Park
111 - Tuggeranong Interchange, Isabella Plains, Calwell, Theodore, Erindale Centre, Woden Interchange, City West, City Interchange
160 - Tuggeranong Interchange, Kambah West, Woden Interchange, City Interchange, City West
161 - Tuggeranong Interchange, Oxley, Wanniassa, Kambah, Woden Interchange, City Interchange, City West
162 - Tuggeranong Interchange, Kambah East, Woden Interchange, City Interchange, City West
225 - Cooleman Court, Duffy, Holder, Weston, Woden Interchange, Barton, Kings Ave, Russell, Campbell Park
226 - Chapman, Stirling, Cooleman Court, Woden Interchange, Barton, Kings Ave, Russell, Campbell Park
227 - Cooleman Court, Rivett, Fisher, Waramanga, Woden Interchange, Barton, Kings Ave, Russell, Campbell Park
265 - Tuggeranong Interchange, Isabella Plains, Richardson, Gowrie, Fadden, Wanniassa, Phillip, Woden Interchange, Barton, Kings Ave, Constitution Ave, City Interchange, City West
267 - Tuggeranong Interchange, Calwell, Richardson, Gilmore, Chisholm Shops, Fadden, Woden Interchange, Barton, Kings Ave, Constitution Ave, City Interchange, City West
School Services
School services are provided by ACTION to public and private primary schools, high schools and colleges. These are normally three number route numbers which rarely ever change. These services can only be accessed by School students and staff, and are not used by the general public. They are not listed on timetables at bus stops. These are numbered between 401 and 899.
Details of school services can be found at http://www.action.act.gov.au/school_services.html
Ticketing and Fares
ACTION uses a Wayfarer Transit Systems produced system to sell tickets on board buses, and to validate pre-purchased tickets. Two types of tickets are used: printed paper tickets for one way fares issued on buses, and cardboard magnetic stripe tickets, either pre purchased or purchased on board buses.
Fares come in three types, adult, concession and student. Adult and concession fares can be used on any day or time, while student tickets can only be used on school days. The standard fare is for a single trip, with a 90 minute transfer available at no extra charge. Daily and 10 ride tickets are also available, in addition to weekly and monthly periodical tickets. Off peak fares are also available.[5] There are over 100 ticket agents in the ACT, these range from local shops to newsagencies, as well as small kiosks at bus interchanges.[6]
The Wayfarer validator machines are located onboard each bus (one machine per bus) at the entrance. Portable validators are also located at the Woden and City Interchanges to allow pre-validation and rear door boarding. Articulated buses once featured an additional validator fitted in the rear door stairwell area, to allow rear door boarding on school services, but have since been removed.Due to numerous breakdowns of the Wayfarer machines the ACT Government is investigating a replacement program, with the technology used not stated.[citation needed]
Public infrastructure
ACTION maintains a number of bus stops throughout Canberra. It also operates 4 major bus interchanges, which act as hubs for the different districts of Canberra. Some stops are laid out as termini, a few of which have a small facility for drivers' needs.
There are four interchanges:
- Woden Interchange (opened 1972, second stage opened 1982) serves Woden Valley and Weston Creek;
- Belconnen Interchange (opened 1979), serves the Belconnen and Gungahlin areas;
- City Interchange (opened 1982 and remodelled 2000), in the City Centre, serves Gungahlin, North and South Canberra;
- Tuggeranong Interchange (opened 1991), serves the Tuggeranong district. Tuggeranong was originally called a Bus Station, and the signage still indicates that, however ACTION now refers to it as a Bus Interchange.
City bus interchange is unique because it allows delivery vehicles to access part of the interchange and is built on the normal street outlay. The others only allow buses and emergency vehicles. City, Woden, and Tuggeranong interchanges are all built at street level however the Belconnen Interchange is above street level.
ACTION's bus stops vary in many different ways. Some have drivers amenities at termini, some have shelters, some have seats, and some have nothing at all. Canberra has concrete bunker shelters which have been since 1975, and various other designs of shelters have been installed at many bus stops around the ACT. Yellow and black signs and posts mark bus stops in the ACT. Most stops consist of a steel pole with a rectangular "Bus Stop" sign, however there remains some stops with a wooden post with the words "Signal Bus". Recently new Orange, Green and White Bollard style stops have begun to be installed along major routes, like the Intertown and the two 15 Minute Weekday frequency corridors. The New Bollard stops have timetable and stop information, along with more detailed route information.
In 2007, Adshel [2] were awarded a contract to install and maintain bus shelters with advertising in the ACT. Construction of the new shelters commenced in August 2007.
Depots and Headquarters
ACTION has two bus depots to house their bus fleet, one in the southern region of Canberra, and the other in the northern region of Canberra.
- Tuggeranong Bus Depot (South Region) is home to a bus wash, workshop, undercover bus parking, CNG Refill and Diesel refill facilities, drivers amenities and is also home to ACTION House, which was previously ACTION’s headquarters, but is now used by the Australian Government for a department of Medicare Australia.
- Belconnen Bus Depot (North Region) is home to a bus wash, workshop, undercover bus parking, diesel refill, drivers amenities and the networks Radio Room.
Both depots’ sign on and amenities buildings house small offices for Special Services buses, Schools Liaison services and other services which are required in each region and depot. The Special Service division caters for aged care, and special school routes and services whilst operating with a fleet of Hino and Mitsubishi buses. The Schools Liaison service caters for all school routes, any damage on buses, monitoring school fare evaders and also runs an education program for school children.
ACTION's headquarters are now located in Macarthur House (corner of Macarthur Ave and Northbourne Avenue) which houses a call centre, and various departments relating to the operation of the bus service in the ACT.
References
- ^ "ACTION fleet list". ACT BUS. Retrieved 2008-04-24.
- ^ "ACTION Buses - Bike and Ride". www.action.act.gov.au. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
- ^ "New bus timetable 'running well'". ABC News. www.abc.net.au. June 2, 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
- ^ "More drivers needed for new bus network". ABC Canberra. www.abc.net.au. May 13, 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
- ^ "ACTION Buses - Fares". www.action.act.gov.au. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
- ^ "ACTION Buses - Ticket Agents". www.action.act.gov.au. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
External links
- ACTION Official website
- ACT BUS (unofficial bus enthusiast website)
- ACTION photos by Todd Milton
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