Future Victoria: Best way to travel to city from Melbourne’s east

School traffic chaos was evident when the Herald Sun tested three modes of transport from Box Hill to Southbank. See the results.

Craig Dunlop, Susie O’Brien and Paddy McPhee take part in the Herald Sun Commuter Challenge. Picture: Ian Currie

Anyone who lives in Melbourne’s private school belt in the eastern suburbs knows to avoid the area at drop-off and pick-up time.

The certainty of main road congestion and lines of cars – often SUVs – outside the school gates was illustrated by the Herald Sun Commuter Challenge.

The timed journeys tested three of the most popular modes of transport – car, bicycle and train – for the morning-peak trip from Box Hill to Southbank.

Paddy McPhee enjoyed a smooth journey in 41 minutes by train. Picture: Ian Currie

Quickest on the day was train traveller Paddy McPhee who enjoyed a smooth ride in 41 minutes, showing why it was best to avoid the roads.

Motorist Susie O’Brien was almost half an hour slower as she negotiated the school zones and drop-off traffic, not helped by wet weather which probably forced even more families into cars. Susie’s journey took a full 70 minutes.

Susie O’Brien’s journey by car took 70 minutes. Picture: Ian Currie

“Through the city traffic, through lots of school zones and rain on the road. So, it’s been a complete nightmare,” she said.

Cyclist Craig Dunlop also had to contend with the wet weather on the roads and took 43 minutes.

His 16.7km journey of Whitehorse Rd, Cotham Rd, Studley Park Rd then cutting through Abbotsford and East Melbourne had him arrive just two minutes after the rail commuter.

Cyclist Craig Dunlop had to contend with wet weather and his ride took 43 minutes.. Picture: Ian Currie

“It’s a bit wet, but otherwise good,’’ he said.

“Not the nicest day for it but everyone was stuck in traffic and I could go straight past them.

“It’s a bit windy so that slowed me down I think and the weather was not the best for it.

“It wasn’t the best ride, I took the quicker route rather than the nicer route.”

Train passenger Paddy said he had a comfortable trip and changed trains at Richmond station to avoid the City Loop and went straight to Flinders St station instead.

“The train got busier as we got closer to the city, it started out quite easy, but I had a seat so it was fine.”

Times on the Belgrave and Lilydale lines have improved since the level crossings were removed at Mont Albert Rd in Mont Albert and Union Rd in Surrey Hills and the two lines reopened in August.

The works earlier this year caused months of disruptions and bus replacement services. The new Union station has been built between the two previous stops.