Top 5 missing links in Melbourne’s bus network identified as advocates call for boosted services

Some routes across Melbourne are completed quicker by runners than buses as other services get partygoers home more reliably than they get them to work. We reveal the city’s top five “missing links”.

Commuters relying on buses across Melbourne face long wait times, “awkward” backtracking, and painfully indirect routes as we reveal the top five ‘missing links’ to revitalise the public transport network.

Advocates calling for an overhaul of the city’s bus network have identified vital routes that are sooner completed by runners than buses, and “party bus” routes that are better serviced after a night out than on your way to work.

Former transport planner Peter Parker said there was a raft of missing links across Melbourne that if addressed would make public transport far more useful for popular trips that are currently difficult.

Many commuters only elect for buses as rail replacements such as these Elsternwick passengers. Picture: David Crosling

Mr Parker said commuters often faced “ridiculous” backtracking, significant wait times, or multiple vehicle transfers, despite high-usage and the clear benefit of direct routes.

“Melburnians sometimes define themselves by what side of the Yarra they live on, but crossing the river can be difficult as half the key bridges east of Yarra Bend Park have limited bus services,” Mr Parker said.

“It’s also incredibly hard to get from relatively close suburbs in the inner north to the inner east, a lot of people would make these journeys but the timetable is designed for a limited purpose and the termini aren’t very logical.”

PT advocate Peter Parker writes detailed posts on the city’s network via ‘Melbourne on Transit’.

“Travelling from Sunshine to the airport is excruciating, there’s no less than two changes of vehicle and because nothing is direct, travel is slow.”

Mr Parker compared the approximately 90-100 minute bus and train journey from Sunshine Station to Melbourne Airport (18km) with the running time of Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo who completed the Lisbon Half Marathon in 57.31.

“You don’t have to be the world’s fastest runner to beat a bus to the airport.”

Top 5 Missing Links:

Sunshine Station > Melbourne Airport

A limited stop bus would bring forward many benefits of the one and off again Airport Rail Project. Its catchment would include hubs such as Geelong, Wyndham Vale, Caroline Springs, Melton, and Williamstown via a simple change at Sunshine.

Inner North > Inner East

It is difficult to get from neighbouring suburbs such as Kew and Fairfield via bus despite recent upgrades and widening of the major road link, Chandler Hwy. The primary bus route (609) has just five daily trips, none of which go the full distance.

Tarneit Station > Laverton North

There is currently no direct route despite huge populations and forecast growth in Tarneit and Truganina and the thousands of jobs at Laverton North. Commuters must catch a bus to Williams Landing, a train to Laverton and then an indirect and infrequent bus to Laverton North (route 417). A direct bus route would save time and connect residential areas to industrial and commercial zones.

Caulfield Station > La Trobe University via Camberwell or Auburn

A direct route would link one of Melbourne’s busiest rail junctions to one of its busiest tram junctions, including almost half its train lines and two major universities. There is no frequent direct service between these two junctions, with only awkward backtracking possible. An alternative via Auburn would be more convenient for Swinburne Uni. The latter would involve boosting service frequency on part of the 624 bus route (currently only every 30 min weekdays, hourly weekends).

Knox City > Bayswater Station via Scoresby Rd

Jokingly labelled the “party bus” route, commuters venturing down Scoresby Rd currently have better service at 2am on weekends (Night Bus 967) than at any other time. On weekdays, all it has is the 745a which runs just once daily in one direction.

Mr Parker said a bus service from Sunshine Station to Melbourne Airport would provide great benefit while commuters waited for the Airport Rail Project. Picture: Ian Currie.

A Transport and Planning Department spokeswoman said it constantly reviewed the network to identify where improvements could be made and welcomed feedback from the community.

“We have consistently increased the bus operating budget, investing more than $550m in new and upgraded bus services since 2014,” the spokeswoman said.

“Buses are a critical part of our public transport network keeping Victorians connected – we’ll keep working to ensure public transport services are the best fit for the community.”

When responding to the Tarneit Station to Laverton North “missing link”, the spokeswoman said locals had access to the on-demand bus service, FlexiRide, to connect them with schools, shops, and train stations.

The spokeswoman said the state government’s Victoria’s Bus Plan was delivering a more frequent and reliable network through initiatives such as better contracts with operators, improving existing routes, adding new ones, and transitioning the fleet to zero emissions.

Transport disruptions have been common across Melbourne due to major works such as those on the West Gate Tunnel Project. Picture: Ian Currie

However, Mr Parker said on-demand services helped the elderly and less mobile commuters but argued they “fall down” once they had high-usage as they deviated via homes and were neither consistent nor reliable.

“They can’t be relied upon during peak periods and they really are no substitute for permanent and well-serviced routes,” Mr Parker said.

He also said the bus plan did well to diagnose problems in the network but was unfunded, lacked detail and should be further progressed that its current status.