Sunday special: Progress towards 7 day bus services

Today three more of Melbourne's bus routes will gain 7 day service. These are 236, 551 and 885. I discussed these (and the other bus changes starting today - notably around Caroline Springs) on Thursday. 

Is there some method in the order in which bus routes are getting 7 day service? 

Just before the 2022 state election I suggested upgrading more bus routes to run 7 days would be a good idea. I listed routes in decreasing order of Saturday productivity, since a route likely to be busy on Saturday will also do well on Sunday (if service was added). This has been proved to be so with upgraded routes like the 800 performing well on Sundays. 

Since there are some five day routes that may also justify Sunday (and Saturday) service I made another list of these, again in descending order of (weekday) productivity. 

Below are these lists (from 2022 based on 2018 productivity) and what has happened since with regards to 7 day service:  

Six day routes in descending order of Saturday usage (boardings/hour, 2018)

800 Dandenong - Chadstone SC UPGRADED
506 Westgarth - Moonee Ponds 
536 Gowrie - Glenroy UPGRADED
885 Glen Waverley - Springvale UPGRADED
281 Templestowe - Box Hill 
804 Chadstone SC - Dandenong UPGRADE FUNDED
814 Dandenong - Springvale South
284 Box Hill - Doncaster Park & Ride UPGRADED
559 Thomastown Station - Lalor loop
612 Chadstone SC - Box Hill UPGRADED
773 Frankston South - Frankston
509 Brunswick West - Barkly Square SC
404 Footscray Station - Moonee Ponds
503 East Brunswick - Essendon 
549 Ivanhoe - Northland SC
----- >> (20 boardings/hour)  << -----
772 Eliza Heights - Frankston
414 Footscray - Laverton Station
512 East Coburg - Strathmore Station
542 Roxburgh Park - Pascoe Vale (southern half) UPGRADE FUNDED
550 La Trobe University - Northland SC
844 Dandenong - Doveton
677 Chirnside Park SC - Lilydale
671 Croydon - Chirnside Park SC
538 Somerset Estate - Broadmeadows
431 Yarraville - Kingsville
558 Reservoir - Reservoir
776 Pearcedale - Frankston
271 Box Hill - Ringwood UPGRADED
694 Belgrave - Mt Dandenong*
468 Highpoint SC - Essendon
526 Reservoir - Coburg UPGRADE FUNDED
697 Belgrave - Belgrave South
415 Williamstown - Laverton Station
548 La Trobe University - Kew
236 Garden City - Queen Victoria Market UPGRADED
407 Highpoint SC - Avondale Heights
483 Moonee Ponds - Sunbury
273 Nunawading - The Pines SC UPGRADE FUNDED
857 Dandenong - Chelsea
490 Airport West - Gowanbrae
689 Montrose - Croydon Station
766 Burwood - Box Hill UPGRADED
672 Chirnside Park SC - Croydon
285 Camberwell SC - Doncaster Park & Ride UPGRADED
699 Belgrave - Upwey*
840 Pakenham - Gembrook*
786 Rye - St Andrews Beach*

FlexiRide Croydon

FlexiRide Lilydale

FlexiRide Mooroolbark

Five day routes in descending order of weekday usage (boardings/hour, 2018)

237 Fishermans Bend - City
774 Frankston - Delacombe Park
309 Donvale - City (Queen St)*

675 Chirnside Park SC - Mooroolbark
821 Southland SC - Clayton ROUTE DELETED
551 Heidelberg - La Trobe University UPGRADED
802 Dandenong - Chadstone SC UPGRADE FUNDED
783 Frankston - Hastings
546 Melbourne University - Heidelberg Station UPGRADED

----- >> (20 boardings/hour)  << -----
680 Lilydale - Mooroolbark
705 Mordialloc - Springvale*
609 Kew/Hawthorn - Fairfield*
343 Greensborough - Hurstbridge
389 Mernda Station
758 Knox City SC - Knoxfield
531 Upfield Station - North Coburg
823 North Brighton - Southland SC
757 Knox City SC - Scoresby
842 Fountain Gate SC - Endeavour Hills SC*
686 Badger Creek - Healesville UPGRADED WITH 685 MERGER
745 Bayswater - Wantirna / Boronia*
795 Cranbourne - Warneet* 
838 Fountain Gate SC - Emerald*
706 Mordialloc - Chelsea*
511 Craigieburn Station - Mandalay Circuit* UPGRADED
777 McClelland Drive - Karingal SC* UPGRADE AND EXTENSION FUNDED
687 Chum Creek - Healesville* DELETED IN NETWORK REFORM
886 Rosebud - Chisholm TAFE Rosebud Campus* 
696 Monbulk - Olinda*

FlexiRide Rowville

FlexiRide Rosebud

(*) Routes that run only a few trips

What contributes to chances of upgrade?

For six day routes patronage productivity is clearly the main factor that influences whether a route gets a 7 day upgrade or not. For example 6 of the most productive 10 routes got a 7 day upgrade implemented or at least funded in the last four years. 

Of the productive routes that missed out, 506 in Brunswick is relatively close to 508 (which did get an upgrade funded) and 559 is a loop route also with relatively little unique catchment. 281 and 814 have portions that overlap with other routes but their cases for 7 day upgrades are still very strong. 

Productivity was a weaker factor for five day routes. There the distribution was around the two extremes - that is productive routes had some higher likelihood of 7 day upgrades but so did less productive routes. However in cases like the 511 and 777 the low productivity may reflect the routes' previously specialised function and/or very low service. The three more productive 5 day routes that got 7 day funding all served universities - La Trobe for 551, Monash for 804 and Melbourne for 546. The latter was also part of network reform associated with the Metro Tunnel project and Parkville Station. 

Other factors include a strong local campaign (526), reform of other local routes (eg 903 rerouting via Deakin triggering 766's upgrade) and it serving brownfield redeveloping (236) or greenfields growth (511) areas. 

Revised high priorities for 7 day service

Substantial progress in adding 7 day service has changed priorities for the next round of upgrades. Routes like 506, 281, 814 and 559 in the 6 day list stand out with 773, 404, 503 and 549 having substantial merit on patronage productivity grounds. As do some other like 844 in Dandenong on social equity grounds, 468 due the patronage potential derived from it linking the busy Craigieburn line with Highpoint and 431 due to its basically zero cost if implemented along with timetable adjustments to 432. 

On the five day list 237 along Lorimer St, Fishermans Bend is prominent, followed by a couple of routes in the Frankston/Hastings area (774 and 783).  While only a middle productivity route, 531 is notable for it covering (along with the also limited service 538) the socially disadvantaged and poorly serviced Somerset estate in Campbellfield. 

Of course all these assessments depend on a route with generally acceptable alignment existing. There are certain cases (eg Sunshine - Melbourne Airport, or in the inner north-east between the Hurstbridge and Belgrave/Lilydale line where they either do not or their termini is weak (eg 548 and 609). These need genuine network reform, not just timetable tinkering. 

See Timetable Tuesday items here

UN 250: Upcoming and proposed bus changes - Caroline Springs, Cranbourne, Clyde and more

A quick summary of upcoming bus service changes happening on Sunday October 4, 2026 and some others being consulted on.   

Caroline Springs/Fraser Rise/Aintree/Rockbank

Funded through the 2025 State budget and/or the Growth Area levy, these are major service changes, including more frequent service, longer hours and reformed routes. 

New route 464 and the extended 463 replace the 461.

Route 464 is notable in that it provides a direct east-west connection from Rockbank to Watergardens via Aintree. Previously this was a difficult trip involving a lot of switching between buses and trains. It runs along Taylors Rd, an increasingly important corridor in this part of the west. The Watergardens end operates via the eastern part of the 461.

The growth suburb of Aintree is worth discussing in detail. Previously Aintree just had the 444 bus to Rockbank station. A problem with this (and which also applies to Mount Atkinson's short 140A route) is that there is basically nothing there. So if people want to go to destinations even in the next suburb they are typically up for a convoluted trip involving a train and two buses. As a long cross-regional route the 464 helps a lot, even if it still needs a change to another route to reach the Caroline Springs Town centre. As for the Route 444, some speculated it might have been incorporated into the 464 but, according to the Transport Victoria website its route and timetable are not changing.  

Route 463 was previously a dead-end Watergardens - Hillside route. The extension, which takes in the western part of the 461, provides a simple connection to Caroline Springs Town Centre which is significant for its commercial activity and schools. In addition a section of Aspire Bvd gets a bus for the first time. This has been a long time coming and will be welcomed by many.  

The timetables of both 463 and 464 are remarkable. Operating hours are wide, with services starting around 5 or 6 am - even on Sundays. Finish times are typically around 11pm (about an hour earlier on Sunday).

Like growth area bus routes in Wyndham (but not Craigieburn or Clyde!) there is a 20 minute service for most of the week, even on weekends. This finishes around 7 or 8pm. Both routes even have better Sunday morning service levels than many trams and trains with the 20 minute frequency starting a little after 6am.

In the local context this gives the 463 and 464 superior frequencies to other main routes including the 460 to Caroline Springs Station (particularly on weekends) and 420 (with regards to operating hours on most evenings).

Weekend service is also twice as good as the Melton train line (still every 40 minutes on weekends). This means that there will be people in areas like Caroline Springs and Fraser Rise for whom the bus will be helpful in getting people to the more frequent train services at Watergardens. 

Details at: https://transport.vic.gov.au/news-and-resources/news/route-464-and-route-463

As text-based rather than graphic oriented people, Transport Victoria has a reluctance to use even their own maps to explain network changes. Below is my go at annotating their existing local area map with the new or amended routes. 

Not all new bus stops will be operational on 4 October. Advice on that here: https://transport.vic.gov.au/disruptions/disruptions-information/article/route-463-some-planned-new-bus-stops-cannot-be-serviced-from-sunday-4-october-2026

These are the second last bus upgrades funded in the 2025 state budget to be implemented. The only remaining package is the substantial network reforms and route extensions in Epping/Wollert. If I was a betting man I would tip that there would be a great eagerness get this running very soon.  

Other October 4 changes

Three bus routes, funded in the 2026 state budget will gain 7 day service and later finishes at night (typically 9pm). These are: 

236: City - Fishermens Bend

551: Heidelberg - La Trobe University

885: Glen Waverley - Springvale (campaigned for by Fix Dandy Buses) 

These continue recent themes of improving buses in the Fishermans Bend area (236) around universities (551) and around Dandenong. Of these routes the 885 possibly has the highest patronage potential due to its high productivity on Saturdays (which is a good indicator of how well a bus is likely to do on Sundays). And though it will only be hourly, the 885 will provide some relief to the underserviced  and sometimes crowded 902 on Springvale Rd (every 30 min weekends). 

Smaller adjustments will be made to some other bus routes. These include a small number of extra trips on routes 465, 467, 510 and 766.

And while Transport Victoria don't draw attention to it, the eagle-eyed may notice that public holiday arrangements on some non-standard routes appear to have been standardised. 558 for instance has the standard template (Saturday service on most public holidays except for Good Friday and Christmas Day when a Sunday timetable is in effect) on the 4 October timetable but not on the timetable prior. Public holiday arrangements have long been something that has confused passengers due to variations across routes though they are gradually being standardised.

Details at: https://transport.vic.gov.au/news-and-resources/news/better-bus-services-sunday-4-october

Cranbourne

Consultation is currently being done for a revised network for Cranbourne, Clyde and Westernport Bay towns. The emphasis is on simplifying the bus network. This is much needed due to some routes remaining very complex for a long time (like the tangled 795), the need for new growth area coverage and the tendency for growth area routes to be layered over each other with uneven services on main roads.

Bus funding under GAIC is highly conditional and limited term. But when this transitions to budget funding then there can be more flexibility for network planners, enabling simpler and more frequent routes. 

Details at: https://engage.vic.gov.au/casey-bus This has a helpful slider-style before and after map. Relating to previous comments, Transport Victoria has a better record of using maps to aid network consultation than to explain or sell a new network. However, especially as a state election is soon, there is potential to include the Caroline Springs area in the Love The Bus campaign 20 minute frequency maps.   

The Engage item is somewhat vague on frequencies for most routes. But it is understood that the 888 will be getting a large improvement from hourly to every 20 min on weekdays, as reported previously: 

https://www.busnews.com.au/casey-bus-upgrades-growth-suburbs/

https://cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au/news/2026-05-19/new-casey-bus-routes-revealed/

This 888's frequency upgrade should offset a reduction in the number of routes on the Clyde Rd corridor. However, unlike the new Caroline Springs routes, weekend service on the 888 will only improve slightly to every 40 min. 

Possibly most controversial is that the western part of the 897 (currently every 20 min) will be split off from the main route, with the western portion becoming a new (actually reused) route number 896. Affected areas will get a large service cut as 896 will be only every 40 minutes.

Something else that might concern some is that access to Berwick's main street shops will be reduced from the south due to the removal of the 836 and no compensatory 846 or 888 northern extension. Some local news coverage about 836's removal here.  

The local MP has further information but note an error with 896 shown twice (should be 897) 

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1445875844018169&set=pcb.1445875900684830

If you thought that October 4 was a significant date for buses, this was true in 2010 when the Doncaster Area Rapid Transit (DART) started with four new SmartBus routes (905, 906, 907, 908). This has been a substantial success story. Details of DART's first day here.

An index to all Useful Network items is here

Travel Tuesday: Matthew Guy's transport learnings from South America

Politicians are often frankest in their first (and last) speeches. Listen to those to hear their background, their interests and acknowledgements to the people who helped them win their seats.

Another time where MPs can veer off the limited agenda set by their parties is in the reports they must submit if they go on parliament-funded overseas study trips. Not only do these accounts describe what they saw overseas but they also discuss lessons and applicability for here. 

Failure to adequately report on the latter invites derision from political rivals and the general public (which overwhelmingly regards taxpayer-funded overseas travel by politicians, especially opposition and backbench members, as junkets).  

Shadow Public Transport Minister Matthew Guy MP travelled to South America in 2019, 2023, 2024 and again in 2025. A substantial part of all trips included inspecting and talking to locals involved with running its public transport. Mr Guy also reflected on the applicability of what he saw to our public transport network. 

Because few will have read them below is my summary. It could be topical as current opinion polls have the Coalition ahead to win November's state election. 

2023 trip (notes here)

* Potential to learn from Buenos Aires metro in respect to these: 
- On board PSOs in large numbers
- Free wi-fi on board and charging stations at stations 
- Use of station space for local art with this exploited for tourism
- Zero tolerance to graffiti and vandalism with vandals fined and forced to clean it up

Above were described as being 'not without merit'. 

* Potential to learn from Argentinian railways with regards to 
- rapid response to crime 
- 200 security staff and police on one line alone
- visible command control centres

This was considered to be an advance on our PSO program and potentially implemented. 

* Trains had the following features 
- Position displays of the train location between stations 
- Windows that could slightly open at the top
- Widespread use of third rail to supply power 

Third rail was considered particularly beneficial to economically extend electric traction to areas beyond overhead power. It could also be retrofitted to existing rolling stock and be rolled out quickly. This point is relevant for recent debate over Melton and Wyndham Vale electrification. 

* Main stations in Buenos Aires were covered with a large central roof. 

Mr Guy regarded Southern Cross Station as a success and recommended that Flinders Street be covered with a large semi-circle roof. 

* Having three rail gauges presented significant operational difficulties in Buenos Aires. Dual gauging was considered complex and not widely used. 

Based on this research, Mr Guy described the decision to build the Suburban Rail Loop with standard gauge and different operational specifications as 'absolutely mad'. He wanted rolling stock and maintenance procedure to be the same across the whole rail network with the SRL interoperable with the existing Metro system. 

* The National Railway museum was inspirational. Mr Guy said that Victoria had done less with rail heritage than other states. He saw potential in the use of Newport workshops for this purpose. 

* Mr Guy compared the SUBE travel card favourably with Melbourne's Myki system. However I don't think he was sufficiently clear on how it was superior. 

* Buenos Aires had an extensive and well used bus network. This included a terminal in the CBD.  

Mr Guy supported a similar terminal for Melbourne but it wasn't clear whether this was for metropolitan or regional buses. He suggested at least initially terminating more buses at Southern Cross. 

* Buneos Aires has a short distance University Train to connect the campus to the main rail network. It was too crowded for Mr Guy to ride. 

Mr Guy strongly backed Geelong having a regional commuter rail system such as NSW operates in the Hunter Valley and Illawarra regions. He also mentioned Coalition policy for this. 

2024 trip (notes here)

* Trip (which included Wayne Farnham MP) was focused on infrastructure (particularly rail). Mr Guy saw value in learning from cities that had growing rail networks but built them cheaper than we did. 

* Potential to learn from the low construction costs of the rapidly expanding Santiago Metro
- Santiago is tunnelling 76km of new metro lines at a cost of $US 9b
- Metro construction cost is less than 1/10 that of Melbourne
- Contracts are broken up and tendered as small parts to get the best price 
- Procurement is not controlled by the union movement (which Guy claimed was the case here)
- Contracts are more open with less secrecy than he associated with the Big Build 

* Mr Guy toured the control centre for the Metro. Lines operated independently and were supervised separately, though staff were all in the same room. 

* A briefing on Barrio Bellavista (an older inner city neighbourhood) was given. It had high tourist visitation. Mr Guy saw merit in doing similar preservation of a Melbourne inner northern or eastern neighbourhood. 

* Sao Paulo metro carries 4.5 million passengers per day. A major project is to standardise rail gauges.
- Line 7 was digging about 30 metres of tunnel per day 

Like in 2023 Mr Guy said that it was extraordinary that our SRL was being built on a different gauge to the rest of the suburban system. Also that our tunnelling rate was much slower at 30 metres per month. 

* Mr Guy returned to Buenos Aires and met people running the Metro. Expansion had been halted but was being reconsidered again. Again he reaffirmed the ticketing as being easier to use than Myki. Credit card ticketing was on the agenda (since achieved here). 

* Buenos Aires had an ebike system. This was considered easy to use. Heavy fines exist for dumping or abandoning bikes. Mr Guy supported these systems for Melbourne. 

* The Tren de la Costa is a 15km long light rail serving the northern suburbs of Buenos Aires. It runs between the heavy rail and the metro. it is slow (40km/h) but well used.

Mention was made about the potential for similar systems to serve parts of Melbourne including East Werribee, Rowville and Doncaster. 

2025 trip (notes here)

* Travel this time included Paraguay. Key observations were:
- Its last trains ran over ten years ago so a visit to a museum was arranged. Their rail was set up by British people so it had similarities with systems in Commonwealth countries. Mr Guy said that if rail does close it was essential to preserve the rail corridor for future reopening. 
- Street closures for community events were very successful in revitalising downtown for community events
- Bike tracks were being improved in Asuncion with these separate from main roads, thus not impeding road traffic or removing vehicle lanes. This was favourably contrasted with Melbourne. 

* The Brazilian state capital of Florianopolis was also visited. Key observations:

- There is no urban rail but there is an extensive bus system with 60 lines serving a dozen central bus stations. These run 5am to midnight with a smart ticket system. A frequent service runs to the airport.
- The airport is a mixed use precinct with concerts and events often held there. 

Mr Guy said that the lessons for Melbourne remain around frequency and connectivity; with bus timetables designed to link to each other, similar to that of a metro rail network.

* Buenos Aires was again visited. Discussions were had about the Subte metro rail network which has had periods of state and private operation.
- Themes from previous trips, such as them doing ticketing, security and crime prevention better than us were reaffirmed. 
- The Subte was built with very small trains which limited capacity. Mr Guy drew a parallel with the Suburban Rail Loop which had only four car trains with him seeing this as a false economy to make the SRL business case stack up.  
- Maintenance standards were declining on both the metropolitan and regional rail networks. This meant more derailments. 
- Crowding was a major issue in the north-western suburbs where diesel trains were required to do a suburban rail's job. There was a need for electrification due to its potential for higher capacity, with a parallel with Melton drawn. 
- Multiple operators run trains in Buenos Aires. While acceptable for buses, many Mr Guy spoke to said that this fragmentation was a problem for rail including a lack of timetable efficiency. In his report he drew a parallel with the Suburban Rail Loop (if it is to be completed) that it be linked in with the existing rail and tram providers. While not stated this effectively means that he repudiates the network fragmentation that happened under the Kennett government's franchising (and potentially the Sydney decision to build an operationally separate driverless metro). 
- Trenes Argentinos, the country's regional freight and passenger operator has severe problems with lack of infrastructure investment and derailment. Speeds are often reduced rather than tracks upgraded. Mr Guy drew parallels with Victoria where some lines have 65km/h limits (versus 115km/h in NSW). 
- Shrinkage of the ebike network and a deterioration of service since previous visits.

Summary

Through these trip reports the shadow minister has articulated some ideas for transport in Victoria. This could include: 

* Tougher South American-style security
* A rebuilt Flinders Street with a large arched roof
* A central bus interchange in Melbourne CBD
* Faster tunnelling at lower cost on major projects with greater transparency 
* A Suburban Rail Loop that has bigger trains, is interoperable with the Metro network and is potentially run by the same operator  
* Potential for Geelong to have its own rail system and light rail in some Melbourne suburbs
* Bicycle tracks should be off-road and not involve slowing of cars or taking space from them 

Mr Guy's apparent support for bigger trains on the Suburban Rail Loop appear to indicate a view that it could carry more passengers than some if its detractors claim. And it seems to discount the possibility that automated driverless trains run close together at high frequencies can still mean a high capacity,  even if they are small, like Rail Futures' light metro concept. 

Have you been to South America and observed transport there? What's your thoughts on Mr Guy's ideas? Either way please let us know in the comments below.  

See Timetable Tuesday items here