Are you being served? Commentary on the service aspects of public transport in Melbourne, Australia. Covers networks, routes, timetables, planning, co-ordination, information, marketing and more.
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Executive Summary: Improved buses to major shopping centres are the 'low hanging fruit' of the bus world. They have high patronage gains relative to their cost and often do not need network reform or new bus purchases. Many examples given here. Large shopping centres are also major destinations and employers. Especially for young people and students who are major public transport users. Retailing…
Buses are a write-off for most Melburnians travelling after dark. After 7pm bus frequency is typically down to every 40 minutes and service has often finished by 9:30pm. Trains are a bit more frequent, run longer hours but are frequently replaced by buses. Trams are the best of the three modes but are largely limited to inner suburbs. This is one reason why Melbourne ranks with Brisbane as being…
Executive Summary: Potential exists to make better use of our existing buses to better connect Melbourne Airport to surrounding suburbs. A cost-effective example with improved airport connectivity for Sunbury, Airport West, Essendon and Moonee Ponds is presented here. Last week I covered improved access to Melbourne Airport , with an emphasis on what can be done in the short term. This is…
Executive Summary: A worthwhile package of improvements that makes rail travel more useful for more trips. But despite political messaging about the dependence these have on large infrastructure projects, many could have been done years ago. The Melbourne suburban rail network will be almost free of 40 minute gaps between trains when a new timetable starts in less than two weeks. The timetable…
Executive Summary: Despite not yet serving passengers, the second airport in Australia's second biggest city has better public transport access than the main airport in Australia's biggest city. Described is a way to cost-effectively deliver the overdue better bus service Melbourne Airport workers and visitors deserve. Regardless of new premier Ben Carroll's enthusiasm for Airport Rail, its…
New premier Ben Carroll is busy putting his stamp on the state Labor government he took the leadership of last week. After distancing himself from his predecessors ("I'm not Daniel Andrews. I'm not Jacinta Allan") his first action was to call a royal commission into construction industry corruption, something the previous premier refused to do. Mr Carroll has assembled his inner office and has…
This was yesterday 30 July 2026. Watch my video account of the first in-service trip from Essendon depot to the city below. This item was written by Peter Parker www.melbourneontransit.blogspot.com
On Tuesday, after the resignation of Jacinta Allan followed by a long Cabinet meeting, Ben Carroll emerged as Premier. Current transport minister Gabrielle Williams is his deputy. Election analyst Antony Green noted that that long-term three leader governments typically end in landslide victories for the opposition . However Jacinta Allan's polling as premier was so dire that even members of her…
One of the many Melbourne bus routes that have been without Sunday service is the 536 between Glenroy and Gowrie. Linking the Craigieburn and Upfield lines it provides the only public transport for a large section of northern Glenroy that was once known as Gowrie Park. The area has social and public housing with significant numbers of people on low incomes. Route 536 has above average passenger…
As noted last week , today marks the day that all bus routes in Melbourne will be accepting credit and debit card full fare payment. This adds buses to trains and trams that have already been transitioned over. The benefits for buses are particularly high. Myki worked well for regular train commuters. Every Metro station had a card vending and top up machine. Regular commuting was a frequent and…
