Victoria has added more than 200 additional services to key routes in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs
The Victorian state government has announced that more than 200 extra bus services per week will be added to Melbourne’s east to make it easier for locals to travel.
The additional bus services, which will be introduced across two high demand routes from April 30, include routes 733 (Oakleigh to Box Hill via Clayton, Monash University and Mt Waverley) and 766 (Southland to Box Hill via Chadstone, Jordanville and Deakin University).
The Victorian government says the additional bus services will better connect locals to employment, education and shops while forming part of Victoria’s Bus Plan that is delivering improvements to the state’s bus network.
It also follows community consultation, which highlighted that taking a bus was the most popular mode of transport when travelling to and from the Box Hill and Burwood area and that frequency is paramount.
Route 733 will have an increased frequency of every 15 minutes during the day on weekdays between Box Hill and Monash University and an increase of every 40 minutes on Sundays.
Route 767 will have an increased frequency of every 20 minutes during the day on weekdays. Services on the weekend will also commence earlier and finish later.
Both bus routes also operate via several of the future Suburban Rail Loop East locations including Cheltenham, Clayton, Monash, Burwood and Box Hill. These additional services will help meet travel demand while Suburban Rail Loop is being constructed.
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The Victorian government says it invested $109 million in the Victorian Budget 2022/23 to improve local bus services in growth areas, implement bus reform, improve accessibility and customer outcomes.
The additional bus services are the first phase of bus upgrades for the area, with the next phase of upgrades expected later this year.
“We’re delivering more than 200 additional bus services in Melbourne’s east to make it easier for locals to travel and connect them to employment, education, healthcare and other transport modes,” acting public transport minister Melissa Horne says.
Member for Box Hill Paul Hamer says: “These are two of our most popular bus routes – so these additional services will provide a huge benefit to the community and help make it easier for students and residents to get to key locations including Monash University, Deakin University, Southland, Chadstone and Box Hill.”