The Adelaide O Bahn : Guided busway

[mops7273]

Такое ощущение что он по эскалатору поднимается.

[ilikesthe69]

its hell helpful, but sometime i feel alittle edgy on it

[frosty956]

The o Bahn is great we should have a full network of them throughout the city

[Chezzababii95]

I freaking love this thing! I live like literally two streets away from the ttp interchange! it's so handy!! gets me to the city pretty fast :)

[TheTurbulant]

The tire wear has been a issue with newer buses as the trailing axels aren't as narrow as they are on the old Mercs and they have to slow down a bit for the bends as the tire wall rubs against the guide wheel walls on the track.

The O'Bahn track is cheaper to maintain than say the Belair light rail line and if the track is closed because of a breakdown or some nume skull who some how gets their car on the track the buses can travel on the road to contiue services unlike a rail or tram line.

[TheTurbulant]

Reading through the comments this is a safe busway even though there was 2 serious accidents in the first year of operation when it opened, all buses are now fitted with a stopped bus alarm that the driver activates if breakdown or tire blowout or bus speed is below 40kph, all buses will slow down to 40kmh on alarm, the tires are fitted with a run flat device that allows the bus to be driven at low speed to exit the track at the first station the driver reaches.

[J0Boa]

that's gotta be hard on the tires

[Rocketboy1950]

@J0Boa why would it be any different to a regular road

[J0Boa]

@Rocketboy1950 notice the steering wheel as the bus shifts side to side in the inside the guided road.That wears the front tires prematurely

[Rocketboy1950]

@J0Boa I considered that some time ago but then weighed it up against the normal amount of adjustment that a driver would make plus the additional braking and ducking and weaving that would occur on a public road. You may well be correct but I considered it might be an even money bet either way.

[Mokhas45]

@Rocketboy1950 This Obahn thing doesn't make any sense to me...is this cheaper to do than a regular road?

[Rocketboy1950]

@Mokhas45 How about much faster than mixing with traffic.

[t3subde]

emagine the driver flooring the gas pedal

[Rocketboy1950]

@t3subde Why ?

[t3subde]

@Rocketboy1950 i will choose not to answer that.

[californiahummus]

All Americans should be forced go to Australia to see reliable Mass Transit in every large city. We literally messed our cities up in comparison.

[Rocketboy1950]

@californiahummus I would strongly advise that you try Europe or Japan first, Australia has failed to keep up with urban growth and it is becoming a bit of a mess.

[johnnyshady]

@Rocketboy1950 don't forget the mass transit in Hong Kong, Japan do have an efficient hardware, but i guarantee you that their operation efficiency are no match of Hong Kong's. I do however, think the japanese are more efficient to keep up their reputation of highly productive.

[Rocketboy1950]

@johnnyshady I have been to Hong Kong and most major cities in Japan and I can assure you that the Japanese are as good as if not better in every respect........and they do provide toilets at all stations unlike Hong Kong. I might also add that the Japanese people have infinitely better manners and do not jump queues and push in like the Chinese do in Hong Kong.

[mixedbreed19]

omg, this looks amazing...I'm from toronto canada...so, totally different. you would never see this kind of thing there....this looks amazing...I need to live in Europe...badly! lol

[Rocketboy1950]

@mixedbreed19 Whilst there may be some in Europe this one is in Australia.

[MrTechnicality]

@Rocketboy1950 my nan drove that bus

[ARASHI9900]

ゆとりーとラインでもこういう線路のように走らせるバスとかあっ­たなｗ

[nicechewi]

dang, i never went on this when i was in adelaide. missed out

[trainmaster5000]

any idea what the speed limit is on the guided bus way

[Rocketboy1950]

@trainmaster5000 I think we did 100

[A60stock]

@Rocketboy1950 That's KPH not MPH. I seemed to recall they were limited to 50MPH when I travelled it in 2002. I'm told the bus way is to be closed due to heavy maintenance costs. Can someone please confirm this?

[stonpio]

@A60stock Last year the Labour government of South Australia talked about the possibility to extend the O'Bahn service. Nothing has been confirmed, nor which way it's going to extend. Yes the maintenance is high but compared to other transport systems such as trains and tramways, it's not too much.

[A60stock]

@stonpio Many thanks. I did find it a great service.

[Gepardflakpanzer]

Wont that wear out the tyres?

[Rocketboy1950]

@Gepardflakpanzer It is no different to being on any road. The steering/guiding if you like is done by rollers at the side

[gtasandman]

@Rocketboy1950 oh i was ondering the same thing

[honeyshrike]

is that dylan driving it?????

[Rocketboy1950]

@honeyshrike No, I think he was doing a gig in London that day.

[24staples]

why didn't brisbane base it's busway on this system instead of a canadian system that has room for snow melt.

[Rocketboy1950]

@24staples Climate change :-)

[JBofBrisbane]

@24staples - '... a Canadian system that has room for snow melt"? Never heard of it. Tell me more.

[1910agl]

oque é isso um trem em forma de onibus?

[Rocketboy1950]

@1910agl No its not a train its a bus running on a guideway

[boeing1125]

hahaha Funny Train :D

[makmegs]

whats wrong with just plain old roads? Those tracks look expensive

[Rocketboy1950]

@makmegs They are expensive but then people value their time. To get people on to public transport it has to be reasonably fast and efficient and this system is just that.

[vartal]

Это ж надо до такого додуматься-то...

[counterclockwise123]

what a great idea

[dracomalfoy772]

that is so lazy,

[Rocketboy1950]

@dracomalfoy772 You're only saying that because those boneheads in NSW didn't build one :-)

[dracomalfoy772]

@Rocketboy1950 yeah yeah, i'm a bus enthusiast

[donh6]

what kind of safety feature is there if the guide system fails,in mid trip?

[Rocketboy1950]

@donh6 It's a pretty simple sysytem. Just fixed rollers attached to the side of the bus and not much to go wrong. However I guess if things went awry the driver would have to steer it the same as he/she would anywhere else.

[massa101257]

do they steer them manuly or is it done automaticly, and does it drive itself or the driver does it?

[Rocketboy1950]

@massa101257 The driver works the throttle and brake and steering is guided by rollers on the side of the bus that run inside the side walls

[TheCahla]

HOW UNIQUE. A BUS THAT OPERATES LIKE A TRAIN. THAT IS AWESOME!

[MrAlexfreiburg]

Is very funny, regards

[thatstheone87]

@MrRhino777 ???

[ThatAdelaideGuy]

@MrRhino777 No, We are just smart enough to not spend million of dollars for a railroad, Plus this system is 10x quicker in that you dont have to get off your bus.

[gamwam]

ive never quite understood this ,.. we hav a few here,.. but would it not be easyier and cheeper just to build a bus only roadway?,.. at least then emergency services could get to the vehicle if three wa sa fire ect

[DreamChasing]

@gamwam its faster and safer on its rails seeing as it only needs to take people in and out of the city to various checkpoints (depots) on the way. Emergency services arent really neccessary. I've never seen an accident on the O bahn.

[alextrainrider]

Зачем нужно такое извращение, автобус по трековой эстакаде пускать.

[adunio89]

OMG... How it works? There are no accidents here?

[KenanVideos]

I went on public transport for the first time today and got on the O Bahn :D loved it

[FuneFeai]

I think the O-Bahn concept is great! Very fast, comfortable and safe. What a shame that it was not developed more before all the land was taken for housing etc.

[coewee]

i just hoped off this bus about one hour ago all the way to the end paradise interchange well well done rod rocket  10 out of 10 a trip again wild

[thatstheone87]

@coewee The end is actually at the Plaza

[cat4forlife]

This is soooo cool,a sort of hybrid between light rail and bus.

[NevilleGoanna]

Quality German engineering. Way ahead of its time. Extend in to Golden Grove! and knock a few houses to get there!

[applesweeter]

Why does the bus company(s) build such a railway for buses?

This rail is funny!!

[Rocketboy1950]

They took the buses off public roads and dramatically lowered the travel times for commuters going to the north of Adelaide. There's nothing funny about saving travel time and doing it safely.

[applesweeter]

@Rocketboy1950

The funny part is that a bus actually becomes a train or a tram.

[Rocketboy1950]

No, it becomes a guided bus. The guidance system is not remotely related to that of rail.

[king7wood]

Very good video. We are investigating the same idea for our city transit system, though in the U.S. we tend to refer to it as "Bus Rapid Transit".

[fletcherhf73]

like a train

[squidge316]

how did you get this shot and how were you even allowed to?

[Rocketboy1950]

I purchased a ticket and got on the bus. I then set my video camera up and proceeded to take the video. It was remarkably easy. I fail to understand the issue you seem to be having.

[squidge316]

did the bus driver tell you off? or security? sheesh, i try to ask a question and i get snubbed...

[Rocketboy1950]

tell me off for what, what security, it's a friggin bus not the space shuttle

[xdaftpunkedx]

In the US we have the whole terrorism issue. We aren't even allowed to take pictures in subways or anything of the sort or you will have transit police to deal with.

[HugoSVK98]

@squidge316 Mine videos are only fro mthis positions... and i dont work in bus company it´s very easy you must have just friends there .)

[trainman3801]

So all the driver has to do is brake/accelarate?

[Rocketboy1950]

Yep, just like driving a train except that steering becomes a bit of an issue at the end of the guideway

[trainman3801]

Why? What happens with the steering?

[Rocketboy1950]

There's no guideway so you have to start steering.

[trainman3801]

LOL lazy drivers. :P

[iwantpies]

BBAHA yeah i live in adelaide o'bahn gets me from the city to tea tree gully in like under 20 mins!

[DominikHerz0201]

Wow, O305 buses are long gone here and they're still used in Adelaide :o

[Ldntrains]

we now have one in cambridge cambridgeshire in england

[asumazilla]

@Ldntrains almost?

[bergenstation]

what's the point to have such system?

[Rocketboy1950]

I'm sure that you could Google up plenty of information

[carouselcarouse]

It avoids about 45 mins traffic in peak hours

[101silentkiller]

@bergenstation it is faster because there are only buses and u don't need to turn(it is like a bus on train tracks)

[josuettcruz]

O motorista tem que ser muito bom. Ou o veículo tem que ter guia a lazer.

[darkyoda]

Anyone know what the cost effectiveness of this is?

[Rocketboy1950]

I'm sure that you can Google a wealth of information on the system. How you measure the time saved by people travelling to and from work is debatable. There would be further costs saved in reduced accident rates and etc. Somebody thinks that they are a good investment or they wouldn't exist.

[davaflava323]

does anyone care

[darkyoda]

If I didn't care, I wouldn't have asked.

[Djelibaybi]

I would say it would be fairly cheap overall. I mean, essentially they are just big slabs of concrete, and they require very little maintenance, coupled with the shear convenience of not having to get on and off several different forms of transport...

[DDELE7]

Actually the Cambridge busway is almost identical to the O'Bahn. And when that system opens, it will be the longest guided busway in the world, almost double the length of the O'Bahn.

Plus the Cambridge Busway uses Double Decker buses. The O'Bahn doesnt. And it will also have other features that some O'Bahn buses dont have light Wi-Fi enabled buses, AC, and leather seats.

[Rocketboy1950]

All the advantages of current technologies. Just wait until the Melbourne - Sydney teleport service starts.

[Intransitman]

The Cambridge busway is also fiasco, they took an existing railway and trashed it.

[iaintgonletup]

Damn, that bus is booking it!

[oxenforde]

wikipedia has a lengthy and detailed entry about the O-Bahn_Busway.

[videocreatorgr]

What is this? The buses are guided by a guiding system? Somebody explain, please!

[Rocketboy1950]

They are regular buses. They pick up in the central areas of Adelaide and go in to the guideway for the run north. There are small rollers at the front of the bus to guide it. You can Google O Bahn for details

[videocreatorgr]

Thanks for replying! Never seen this system before!

[wcuryan07]

why not build a light rail system seems as though it would be cheaper and safer??

[Rocketboy1950]

It would be far more expensive. Electrification is expensive and laying tracks in cities likewise. The bus system offers far better flexibility especially if a change of route is required for any reason.

Adelaide does have a tram/light rail as well as the O Bahn

[Intransitman]

In the long run that would cost less.

[neogam209]

Looks like Cambridge line

[kylecascadden]

Call me american but i have no idea how this works... can some one explain?

[Rocketboy1950]

The bus runs in a guideway, there are wheels/rollers at the side of the bus that keep it between the guides. You should see them in Paris.....it's called the Metro except that it's trains. Underground mostly but they do have some surface running..

[kylecascadden]

Oh ok. well when i go to paris i'll check it out... Thanks

[bentleyv8t]

Is that 545 at 3:25? Looks like it.

[Rocketboy1950]

Can't read it, not even off the original.

[secondlifeundergroun]

That would be so silly in the UK.

[Rocketboy1950]

I'm sure that there are provincial cities where it would work a treat. Obviously it would look a bit silly running down Euston Road KIngs Cross

[leapoffaith20]

We do actually have some in Leeds, we need more of them

[bentleyv8t]

Ahh , the good ol' o305g's. Still workin' hard. Will be sad to see them go. The original O-Bahn buses.

[elsebelse123]

Australia is so cool!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want to be down under. Greetings from Germany!

[Rocketboy1950]

Buy a ticket and come, they let Germans in, they even let French in, they are everywhere up north in their hired campers and cheap used cars.

[trainspotter15]

thts smart!

[Nudelsalatbomber]

nice footage, sir!

i have never been in australia and i probably will never be, because if the extended flight from germany to australia!

[Rocketboy1950]

The flight is no big deal, come on down. Lots of German tourists here.

[lilcapz444]

wow, i never knew such thing existed.. were abouts is this?

[Rocketboy1950]

Your profile says you live in Australia. What's the video called again ?

[lilcapz444]

i mean what suburbs does it go through? i live down south around nourlunga and crap so i dont get to see it

[Rocketboy1950]

And I live in Melbourne, how hard would it be to find out. I did.

[chiefwaterboy2]

tee tree plaza area

[ufn489]

Years ago it was a toss-up whether to use this system or light rail.Many preferred light rail however this system has been a success although on some occasions errant car drivers have found there way onto it and become a real health hazard Ha! Ha!

[d5onald2]

I did not know about it

[PolxenTwo]

Neither did I untill I saw in on a plane, I thought there was a bus on the train tracks

[XrotarebiL]

It depends on which suburb you're in. For me it's a simple step of catching the T500 bus at the Salisbury Interchange into Adelaide.

From Adelaide, you'd catch the same bus (or several others) to the Paradise Interchange.

[ryanthescooterguy]

I used to have a pamphlet, featuring a MAN SG280H on the O-Bahn, but I don't where it is now...

[Rocketboy1950]

when I was 14 I was mad about a girl called Susan and I have no idea where she is either

[sparrowkid]

hahaha fucking classic.

[juniornutshell]

Interesting. Never knew it existed until I got a postcard from Adelaide.

[LhenzieArlene]

GREAT VIDEO.. I LIKE THE VIEW...

[plusplusplusplusp]

Ah-huh! Longest guided busway in the world -- yet another wierd landmark for us Adeladians to brag about. A couple of years back some tourists drove a van onto the O'Bahn and almost got hit! There's a very clear sign 'Busway buses only'.

[ryanthescooterguy]

And the folding signs, 'CAUTION: WORK ON TRACK'

[robinalexlewis]

Well I live to the southen part of Adelaide, Hackham West for 25 years, Warradale for the past 3, and ive always been cheesed off that we dont have this going south......

[islandcaptain]

I was wondering why I was sitting here watching some kind of train going along its tracks but then it drove off the tracks and crossed the road and jumped back onto another set of tracks and then it turned out it wasn't even a train and those weren't tracks. Nows there's some unexpected plot twists. Pretty cool.

[kbusses]

nice system

[usshaven]

Большое Кино. Поддержите на высоком уровне хорошую работу.

[Rocketboy1950]

вы

[usshaven]

Great system, except that your busses are on the wrong side of the road...hehehe!

[fanboy112]

It looks cool and very practical but maybe the tires would get worn out very quickly when it rubs on the side just before the train joins the track from the road. Very cool though.

[lumpygoatman]

The buses have another set of small 'bumper' wheels on the side to guide it. The driver doesn't even need to steer.

[ryanthescooterguy]

One of the Mercedes buses, numbered 581, still had the guide wheel bracketry on the middle and rear axles.

[logan0xm]

This is a really cool system! Riding the O305G must be awesome ;)

[bentleyv8t]

shame they're retiring soon

[robinalexlewis]

Realy???? When is it going to happen?????

[ElvisGrey]

The o bahn buses have reached there "life span" if you can call it that, the buses will be replaced.

[PolxenTwo]

Shiit I've seen lil buses now. They look so fked up like they bought it off Kanga or something

[ryanthescooterguy]

and now behaving like see-saws! If you notice carefully, the weight of the engine at the back is reducing the front wheel's contact with the road and the O-Bahn track!

[Wtf20007]

Whateva

[Wtf20007]

Hey, I must say i use the O-bahn every day. i travel to tafe at ttp From Klemzig. and this saves me at least 30-40 mins At least. each way

Thanks alot for uploading this now i can show my mates what im always talking about.. this is just so much Prove that Adelaide is Miles ahead in Transport *GO ADELAIDE*

[Rocketboy1950]

I wouldn't get too carried away. You haven't got a train service worth talking about yet.

[Wtf20007]

And...WHO THE F**K MENTIONED TRAINS?.. HMM?

[Rocketboy1950]

You said transport. That's a pretty broad sweep. Had you just said buses I would most probably have agreed.

[Wtf20007]

uve got a point there,

Ok then, I spose we do have an Advanced Bus System? XD

[Rocketboy1950]

You said transport. That's a pretty broad sweep. Had you just said buses I would most probably have agreed.

[AdeoyinJ]

We have an unguided version in Trinidad and Tobago. And because it's unguided all types of motor vehicles use it and we end up stuck in traffic defeating the entire purpose.

[JimmySand9]

Now this is Bus Rapid Transit. Not that Silver Line BS in Boston.

[whatabouturrightleg]

hi rocketboy1950.. if the obahn is so good why isn't it all over the world?...how easy is it for the bus to be towed away if it breaks down on the track ? how easy is it for the emergency services to gain acces?..

have you seen the condition of the track with all it's undulations?..how does the state goverment plan to carry out major repairs needed..with alot more drivers speaking poor english how certain are you of passenger safety if a breakdown occurs and correct location confirmed.

[Rocketboy1950]

You actually need to write to your local MP. I neither know the answers or give a stuff. I just shoot the video for the entertainment of others.

[whatabouturrightleg]

that seems a bit of a cop out by you,you seem to have so much knoledge and an obvious

fondness of the system that your comment surprises me. my local m.p and state goverment are the idiots looking after it. and as such will not fix there mistakes or even admit it is a mistake. acopout...sound familiar.p.s sir your a hypercrite read your comments and smell the stench of hypocrasy.

[Rocketboy1950]

Nowhere do I extol that this system is any safer than the next one you illiterate fuckwit.

You're blocked bonehead. There's no future arguing with idiots !

[fanboy112]

haha n1

[stang1985]

Hey whatabouturrightleg.. you're an idiot.

[kimmarie801]

5 stars! It's fantastic!!!

[LTU932]

We've discussed this type of transportation in a German forum, because of the plans to re-start the tram in Hamburg. We've all come to the conclusion that this O Bahn (and similar types) is simply impractical, which reaffirms that the tram is a much better choice for another rapid transit medium.

[ConrailSD80MAC]

ok. so do these buses also drive on the regular roads? And is it just buses that drive these special roads? this is all new to me...

[Rocketboy1950]

They do run on regular roads. They use the busway once they finish picking up in town. No other vehicles use the busway.

[columbusmozart]

Not if they want to keep their sumps, anyway...

[Pyronology]

we gotta have these in holland

[winvistafan]

But how can the Bus driver steer it, when it's on these special "roads"???

[Rocketboy1950]

The bus driver does not steer when in the guideway. There are small guide wheels on the side of the bus that run inside the concrete guideway. You surprise me, this is a German innovation......"O Bahn".

[NeoFalcon69]

Why doesn't the tracks continue thru the bus staions?

I'm assuming so the buses can be diverted from the station to the roads or so it allows other buses ie. express buses continue on their journey?

[Rocketboy1950]

Yes, as you see in the clip my bus doesn't stop so if it were locked in to following the preceding bus it may get unnecessarily delayed.

[JdBoii94]

Because some people have to get off inbetween the stations!

TTP > Paradise > Town > Mawson Lakes ??