Three new bus routes including an innovative ‘on demand service’ and upgrades to four existing routes will be rolled out
Three new bus routes including an innovative ‘on demand service’ and upgrades to four existing routes will be rolled out after a detailed review of bus services in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, Minister for Public Transport Lynne Kosky says.
“The Hume/Moreland bus review was a great success, with local residents, bus operators and council representatives all contributing to the discussion on how to improve local bus services in the region,” Kosky says.
The on-demand Gowanbrae bus service (Route 490) is the first of its kind in the City of Moreland.
“As part of the bus review, we received strong community feedback that public transport in Gowanbrae was needed,” she says.
“The bus will operate to a set timetable between Airport West and the Gowanbrae shops, where it will divert to pick up passengers from a number of designated bus stops throughout Gowanbrae.
“Due to narrow roads within the area, conventional large buses are not suited to Gowanbrae. The new demand responsive bus is a small, low-floor, stepless entry vehicle which can easily manoeuvre through the area and provides accessible entry for all passengers.”
She says Craigieburn township would benefit from two new local bus routes – 528 and 529 – which will provide more comprehensive links between the Golf Links and Highlands residential estates, and Craigieburn train station and town centre. These routes will be in service by June 2008.
“I am extremely pleased with the level of constructive feedback we received through our public workshops and submissions process and as result we are implementing a number of changes,” Kosky says.
“I am particularly pleased these changes will serve the growth areas of Craigieburn, and established suburbs such as Gowanbrae, Coburg North, Fawkner and Coolaroo.”
Other local bus routes to be upgraded by mid-year include:
- Route 530 (Campbellfield – North Coburg) – extension of existing route to Gowrie Railway Station and central Coburg
- Route 533 (Craigieburn North – Craigieburn South) – restructuring of existing route to provide better coverage
- Route 534 (Glenroy – Merlynston) – extension of existing route to central Coburg and extension of operating hours to 9pm seven days a week
- Route 540 (Upfield – Broadmeadows) – extension of operating hours to 9pm seven days a week (service began on 31 March, 2008)
The Gowanbrae demand responsive bus will operate between 6am and 6.30pm on weekdays and between 9am and 5pm on Saturdays, with a service frequency of every 30 minutes at peak times and about every 60 minutes at off-peak times.