A Victorian community campaign is calling on the state government says certain areas aren’t benefiting from recently announced free public transport offers on weekends this summer.
Dandenong-based campaign Fix Dandy Buses says many areas in Victoria’s east and south-east don’t benefit from new free weekend PT measures.
The free weekend public transport offer was recently unveiled ahead of the opening of the Metro Tunnel on November 30 until the entire train network on the tunnel is made available on February 1, 2026.
“While those near trains and trams might benefit, many Dandenong area neighbourhoods would not as their buses do not or rarely operate on weekends,” Fix Dandy Buses convenor Peter Parker says.
He says Route 814 is one example of this – running between Dandenong and Springvale South via Noble Park North, this service operates one bus per hour between 8am and 1pm on Saturdays.
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“With a timetable based on 40 year old shop trading hours, there is no Saturday afternoon or Sunday service,” Parker says.
“Unfortunately buses 804, 844 and 857 have similar limited timetables. And, despite serving popular weekend destinations such as Oasis Pool and Dandenong Market, Dandenong North’s Route 802 has no Saturday or Sunday trips at all.”
Parker says limited bus hours is a Melbourne-wide problem, with more than 60 residential area bus routes lacking a seven-day service. Six of these are in Greater Dandenong, with Parker saying they typically have above average patronage on the days they do run.
“This means that if you add weekend service on Dandenong buses you will get strong usage, as last year’s Route 800 upgrade demonstrated,” he says.
He says the most expensive trips are those that are not currently reasonably practical on public transport, largely due to service gaps.
“Free fares can’t fix this but better service, including improved bus operating hours and frequencies can,” he says.
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