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Uni express bus boost

Monash University students will get a faster ride to uni come second semester as the Victorian Government initiates a $1.25 million express bus trial

June 1, 2011

Starting in July, students travelling to Monash University’s Clayton campus can take advantage of a $1.25 million trial of a new frequent express bus service.

Victoria’s Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder says the new Route 601 bus service would run express between Huntingdale Station and Monash University, and would begin as a one-year trial next semester.

“The new Route 601 bus will be the most frequent and direct public transport option for students travelling from Huntingdale Station to Monash University, with services approximately every four minutes during semester time,” Mulder says.

“The bus will run express which means the journey time will take only around four minutes.”

Mulder says the express bus service was based on a similar highly successful service, which operates between North Melbourne Station and Melbourne University.

“The express service between North Melbourne Station and Melbourne University has been up-and-running for three years and has proven very popular with students, carrying around 20,000 passengers each week and cutting a passenger’s journey time by about 30 minutes a day,” he says.

“We hope the new Route 601 bus will prove as popular with Monash University students.”

The new Route 601 express bus will operate on a pre-pay system.

“Passengers will need to have a ticket before boarding the bus, which means quicker boarding times and fewer delays in peak times,” Mulder says.

“And it will operate in the Zone 1/2 overlap, which means passengers can travel with either a Zone 1 or a Zone 2 ticket.”

Mulder says the new bus route was great news for Monash University students.

“Students come to Monash University from all over Melbourne, and many of those catch the train to Huntingdale Station and then take a connecting bus to the University,” he says.

“With the introduction of Route 601, there will be three bus routes and nearly 400 trips a day between Huntingdale Station and Monash University, which means shorter wait times and more frequent connections to the University.”

Mulder says the added public transport option from Huntingdale Station will relieve crowding and provide an affordable alternative to driving.

“I invite students to take advantage of this new express bus service, and jump on board when it begins next semester.”

Route 601 will begin on Monday 18 July, in time for semester two orientation.

During the university semester, Route 601 will operate approximately every four minutes from 7am to 7pm on weekdays only, and every 12 minutes between 7pm and 9.30pm.

Existing bus Routes 900 and 630 will continue to operate between Huntingdale Station and Monash University.

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