North Melbourne to Uni shuttle bus

[dbowen]

The Vic government has announced a shuttle bus service to start in March.

It'll be limited stops: North Melbourne to Hospitals precinct to Uni/Lygon Street. No fares will be sold on-board (it's aimed at current train travellers heading north of the CBD). It'll run on weekdays, 7am to 7:30pm, every 3 minutes in peak, 6 minutes outside peak.

They're hoping it'll relieve some of the crowding on the Northern loop, and saving about 10 minutes for passengers.


Daniel

[jarf]

Are you serious - every 3 minutes in peak?

That'd require about 10 buses, which will be coming from where exactly?

[mjja]

It's not on their web site, and Smart Passengers hasn't been informed - where does this info come from?

[revenue]

PRESS RELEASE

Thursday, 18 October, 2007

NEW BUS BOOSTS LINKS FOR COMMUTERS

People travelling to key hospital, university, entertainment and business precincts in Carlton and Parkville via North Melbourne train station will have a quicker and more direct route when a new bus link starts next year, Premier John Brumby, announced today.

At North Melbourne train station to inspect progress on the Government’s $38.5 million upgrade project, Mr Brumby said bus route 401 would transport people from North Melbourne station to the University of Melbourne and Parkville hospital area along a unique, two-stop only route.

“This is about giving people commuting in from Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo as well as Melbourne’s north and west an alternative mode of public transport which is quicker and more direct because it means they’ll no longer have to travel through the City Loop,” Mr Brumby said.

“Bus route 401 will be the only route in Victoria to run every three minutes during the morning and evening peaks, transferring up to 1000 passengers an hour and saving commuters at least 10 minutes on current travel times. It also frees up space in the City Loop.

“The new bus service is the next step in this Government’s plan to find new and innovative ways to address crowding, particularly on the metropolitan train network which has experienced unprecedented growth of about 20 per cent over the past two years.”

Bus route 401 will start in March next year, to coincide with the commencement of first semester classes at the University of Melbourne, and operate Monday to Friday from 7am to 7.30pm.

Minister for Public Transport, Lynne Kosky said the bus would run every three minutes during the peak and every six-minutes during off-peak and non-semester times.

“This new bus route will help ease congestion during peak periods by delivering a quick and convenient service,” Ms Kosky said.

“Because passengers will need to have a ticket before boarding the bus the time spent at bus stops will be dramatically reduced. The prepay system will mean passengers can board quickly allowing the buses to run more frequently and on time, which is very important to commuters travelling in peak hour.”

The 401 bus will pick-up passengers at North Melbourne station, run via the Royal Melbourne Hospital to Grattan Street outside the University of Melbourne and then return to North Melbourne station. The university bus stop is also only a short walk from the Royal Women’s Hospital and Lygon Street shops, businesses and eateries.

Mr Brumby today also announced the government’s ‘Early Bird’ free train travel trial on the Sydenham and Frankston lines would start on Monday, October 29.

“Tickets will be available from Wednesday, October 24, which gives people time to prepare and I encourage train passengers on the Sydenham and Frankston lines who can travel off peak to beat the crowds, save money and take advantage of the Early Bird ticket,” Mr Brumby said.

“During each morning peak period, about 150,000 passengers travel on our trains. By encouraging passengers to take earlier trains we hope to spread the peak-hour load across more services.”

The Early Bird trial will provide free travel for passengers travelling inbound, outbound or between stations on the Sydenham and Frankston lines, if their train is scheduled to arrive at its destination by 7am. If successful the Early Bird initiative will be rolled out across the metropolitan train network in 2008.

“We’ve just announced funding of $272 million to bring forward the purchase of eight new, six-carriage trains, which is on top of the 10 trains we’d already ordered,” Mr Brumby said.

“We said public transport was among our top priorities and we continue to work hard to address the challenges.”

The 10xEarly Bird ticket will be available for free from premium stations on the Frankston and Sydenham lines as well as Central Business District (CBD) stations from Wednesday, October 24. Each card will be valid for 10 morning trips.

Ms Kosky said by testing the Early Bird initiative on two very busy train lines the government would be able to accurately assess its effectiveness in shifting the load and the public’s response to it.

“The free Early Bird ticket means a zone 1 and 2 trip scheduled to arrive at its destination by 7am will be free, saving passengers up to $52 a fortnight on the normal cost of a 10x2 hourly Metcard,” Ms Kosky said.

“We estimate a regular traveller using this system could save up to $1100 a year.”

[mjja]

Thanks Revenue - I just got it on the email and was about to post it!

[1whoknows]

Presumably they will call a tender for 401's operation - someone will then need to hustle up some new buses in a hurry!!

[PaxInfo]

Will it be known and marketed as the BATBYGOBus?

More seriously, it will be interesting to see what impact it has on Route 402, which performs a somewhat similar function from Footscray, Kensington and Macaulay (10 min peak service to Melb Uni and beyond).

[Fleet Lists]

There are always some ex STA Mercedes O305's available.

[gen man]

Presumably they will call a tender for 401's operation - someone will then need to hustle up some new buses in a hurry!!

Maybe it might become a joint service like the 400, given the 401 will be in Sita territory at the North Melbourne end, and Dyson's at the Melbourne University end, though just my opinion of course.

[BroadGauge]

There are always some ex STA Mercedes O305's available.

Do they fit the requirement that all new routes in Melbourne are to be be run with low floors?

[yueses]

Are you serious - every 3 minutes in peak?

That'd require about 10 buses, which will be coming from where exactly?

Must be a short peak hour where you live.....?

I'd be tipping Ventura/ National get it- seeing as they lost the tourist shuttle i can see them trying hard to get one back, but thats just my opinion.

I'd only want to see Ventura/ Dysons get it- definately not sita.

but GREAT IDEA about pre-pay tickets only!! This should be mandatory over all buses now! Tickets should NOT be for sale on them at all. no ticket- no travel.

Plus this will work okay- but would be much better if this new route had dedicated bus lanes where applicable etc...!

[John Beech]

What about Wizzy?

I think it is an excellent idea. Perhaps articulated buses could be used.

[Nexas]

Hopefully Melbourne Bus Link will get it

[Andrew]

What about Wizzy?

I think it is an excellent idea. Perhaps articulated buses could be used.

Are you still here.....

[mrmoopt]

Looks like this is a test to see if the rail link from the north will be shelved if this shuttle bus seems successful, unless patronage outgrows demand. It seems I might have a quicker link to North Melbourne, Western suburbs and beyond in the future instead of going to Flagstaff or Melbourne Central in peak time.

Will there be smartbus infrastructure to be installed given the high priority as a rail replacement?

[Melbournetransport]

PRESS RELEASE

Thursday, 18 October, 2007

NEW BUS BOOSTS LINKS FOR COMMUTERS

People travelling to key hospital, university, entertainment and business precincts in Carlton and Parkville via North Melbourne train station will have a quicker and more direct route when a new bus link starts next year, Premier John Brumby, announced today.

At North Melbourne train station to inspect progress on the Government’s $38.5 million upgrade project, Mr Brumby said bus route 401 would transport people from North Melbourne station to the University of Melbourne and Parkville hospital area along a unique, two-stop only route.

“This is about giving people commuting in from Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo as well as Melbourne’s north and west an alternative mode of public transport which is quicker and more direct because it means they’ll no longer have to travel through the City Loop,” Mr Brumby said.

“Bus route 401 will be the only route in Victoria to run every three minutes during the morning and evening peaks, transferring up to 1000 passengers an hour and saving commuters at least 10 minutes on current travel times. It also frees up space in the City Loop.

“The new bus service is the next step in this Government’s plan to find new and innovative ways to address crowding, particularly on the metropolitan train network which has experienced unprecedented growth of about 20 per cent over the past two years.”

Bus route 401 will start in March next year, to coincide with the commencement of first semester classes at the University of Melbourne, and operate Monday to Friday from 7am to 7.30pm.

Minister for Public Transport, Lynne Kosky said the bus would run every three minutes during the peak and every six-minutes during off-peak and non-semester times.

“This new bus route will help ease congestion during peak periods by delivering a quick and convenient service,” Ms Kosky said.

“Because passengers will need to have a ticket before boarding the bus the time spent at bus stops will be dramatically reduced. The prepay system will mean passengers can board quickly allowing the buses to run more frequently and on time, which is very important to commuters travelling in peak hour.”

The 401 bus will pick-up passengers at North Melbourne station, run via the Royal Melbourne Hospital to Grattan Street outside the University of Melbourne and then return to North Melbourne station. The university bus stop is also only a short walk from the Royal Women’s Hospital and Lygon Street shops, businesses and eateries.

Mr Brumby today also announced the government’s ‘Early Bird’ free train travel trial on the Sydenham and Frankston lines would start on Monday, October 29.

“Tickets will be available from Wednesday, October 24, which gives people time to prepare and I encourage train passengers on the Sydenham and Frankston lines who can travel off peak to beat the crowds, save money and take advantage of the Early Bird ticket,” Mr Brumby said.

“During each morning peak period, about 150,000 passengers travel on our trains. By encouraging passengers to take earlier trains we hope to spread the peak-hour load across more services.”

The Early Bird trial will provide free travel for passengers travelling inbound, outbound or between stations on the Sydenham and Frankston lines, if their train is scheduled to arrive at its destination by 7am. If successful the Early Bird initiative will be rolled out across the metropolitan train network in 2008.

“We’ve just announced funding of $272 million to bring forward the purchase of eight new, six-carriage trains, which is on top of the 10 trains we’d already ordered,” Mr Brumby said.

“We said public transport was among our top priorities and we continue to work hard to address the challenges.”

The 10xEarly Bird ticket will be available for free from premium stations on the Frankston and Sydenham lines as well as Central Business District (CBD) stations from Wednesday, October 24. Each card will be valid for 10 morning trips.

Ms Kosky said by testing the Early Bird initiative on two very busy train lines the government would be able to accurately assess its effectiveness in shifting the load and the public’s response to it.

“The free Early Bird ticket means a zone 1 and 2 trip scheduled to arrive at its destination by 7am will be free, saving passengers up to $52 a fortnight on the normal cost of a 10x2 hourly Metcard,” Ms Kosky said.

“We estimate a regular traveller using this system could save up to $1100 a year.”

These early bird tickets will only benefit public transport users that currently use trains services before 7am; personally I Can’t see as many people will change their travelling habits, so they can have a possibility of saving couple dollars a day.

People will not be happy if they decide to get an early train and they discovered their early train has been cancel.

To make problem worst, then they discover the next train will not arrive at their location before 7am and now they have buy a new or use a metcard they have brought so they can travel on the train service.

The end day it will only lead to unhappy public transport users and then most public transport users will then discover early bird ticket is not for them.

The train service only needs to be cancel couple of times and the state government will find itself with lots people unhappy about new ticket.
What happens if my train is cancel?

If a scheduled train service that would have arrived at the passenger’s destination before the ticket expired does not run, and the next scheduled train service would not arrive at the passenger’s destination before the ticket expires, the ticket is not valid for the passenger’s journey and the passenger must purchase a valid Metcard for that journey.”.

This new bus service from North Melbourne to University of Melbourne is a good idea and the state government should not wait till next year to introduce the new service and should be done as soon as possible.

This new service should be extended from University of Melbourne to Rathdowne Street (Carlton).

[MAN 16.242]

Hopefully Melbourne Bus Link will get it

nah they would need more buses for it and there depot really haS no room for it.but mbl are think about running.dunno where they would put the extra buses

[jb17kx]

Must you use every post you make, Melbdrip, to pick apart every perceived injustice you can find in ticketing regulations?

-----

Moving on - I think this is a decent way to deal with the current connection difficulty between North Melbourne and the Uni/Nth Swanston Street, and depending on journey times should be quite popular - if, of course, the people who it's aimed at can be bothered demeaning themselves by using a bus.

A good choice for the introduction of the Prepay concept, as well.

[mrmoopt]

I think the students will find it popular if the time savings are worth it! Look at the growth on 900 when first introduced to now.

[E.L.Wood]

From an article in the ABC mag it was said that Busvic has no opposition to new contracts being tendered, and although it was about the new orbital network, one assumes that it will happen here and a tender will be announced as others have speculated. So there should be no reason why any operator couldn't get the contract, although it does eeem to be a peak only contract, depending on the hours of the uni of course.
Of course the question is what happens when busloads of people get off the buses and head to the platforms at North Melbourne?
Interesting times ahead

[mrmoopt]

It's a 12 hour operation. 7am-7pm rough time frames.

[RickyT]

A good move by the State Government. I am sure many students would be happy to utilise the service if the time savings are noticable (min 5 minutes).

I have to agree with comment by cal_t that route 900 has grow tremendously since it was first introduced. On each of my occassional trip to Monash from the city, the bus is always standing room only from Huntingdale station to Monash.

I hope they will introduce more pre-pay only routes in Melbourne...

[John Beech]

I don't know why they haven't thought of running extra tram tracks up Swanston St to clear Flinders and Melbourne Central Passengers out to the Uni more quickly. Even so, the streets are pretty wide in North Melbourne up to Melbourne Uni so why not some extra tram networks there??

[mrmoopt]

Because a bus service can be put in place much quicker than a tramline.

[John]

I don't know why they haven't thought of running extra tram tracks up Swanston St to clear Flinders and Melbourne Central Passengers out to the Uni more quickly. Even so, the streets are pretty wide in North Melbourne up to Melbourne Uni so why not some extra tram networks there??

As cal_t stated it is quicker to establish a bus route but also take into account that the cost of establishing a bus route is far less than a tram route.