Some bus service stats

(compiled from http://www.alphalink.com.au/~parkerp/meltrip/bus.htm ).

Summary

Total number of metropolitan bus routes: 306*

Number that run until at least 7pm weekdays: 165 (54%)
Number than run until at least 9pm weekdays: 40 (13%)

Number that run Saturdays: 238 (78%)
Number that run Sundays: 87 (28%)

Number of 'full time' routes (run Mon-Sun and operate after 9pm weekdays): 35 (11%)

In detail

Routes that run Mon-Sun and operate after 9pm weekdays: 35

Routes that run Mon-Fri only and cease before 7pm weekdays: 32
Routes that run Mon-Fri only and cease before 9pm weekdays: 11
Routes that run Mon-Fri only but cease after 9pm weekdays: 2

Routes that run Mon-Sat only and cease before 7pm weekdays: 69
Routes that run Mon-Sat only and cease before 9pm weekdays: 82
Routes that run Mon- Sat only but cease after 9pm weekdays: 3
Routes that run Sun-Fri only but cease before 7pm weekdays: 1

Routes that run Mon-Sun but cease before 7pm weekdays: 17
Routes that run Mon-Sun but cease before 9pm weekdays: 32

Peak period only routes: 14
Limited service and special routes: 6
Sunday only routes: 2

Comments

* With Sunday service extended about 3-4 years ago, the proportion of routes offering Sunday service has increased from 20-25% to 28% today.

* More recent service increases (Jan and February 2006) have included some new routes, some extra Sunday services and one or two extra late services on weekdays. This has slightly reduced the number of 'C' routes (finishing before 7:00pm) and increased the proportion of 'D' routes (with the final service between 7:00 and 8:59pm). A few years ago the average Melbourne bus route ran every 40 minutes and finished at 6:53pm (source BAV). However with 54% of routes with a final service at 7pm or later, recent improvements will have extended the average finishing time to approx 7:10pm.

* Even under the slack definition used(**), barely 1 in 10 metropolitan bus routes can be considered to run 'full-time'.

Notes

(*) Includes only routes with a standard Met route number. 'The Bus' is includes as it has been assigned a route number by the Metlink website.
(**) Any route with a weekday service after 9pm is counted as 'full-time', even if it has no weekend evening service.