Many eastern Melbourne middle-suburban centres have bus routes running between them. They often provide diagonal connectivity to complement the area's mostly grid-based network and improve transfer-free access to the larger centres. Examples include routes like 738 (Mitcham - Knox City) and 742 (Chadstone - Ringwood).
Another example is Route 850 between Glen Waverley and Dandenong. Shown below, key intermediate destinations include Brandon Park Shopping Centre and Waverley Gardens.
It's hard to see on the network map below, but not much of Route 850 has unique coverage. Key overlaps include with 742, 885 and 902 on Springvale Rd, 862 on parts of Wellington, Jacksons and Police roads and 804 on Gladstone Rd. There is unique coverage on Brandon Park Dr but the nearby parallel Monash Freeway limits walking permeability. Otherwise 850's strongest areas were it's the only route are on Menzies Av and James St in Dandenong.
Route 850 serves several state seats including Mt Waverley (Matt Fregon MP), Mulgrave (Daniel Andrews MP) and Dandenong (Gabrielle Williams MP). Mt Waverley is considered marginal with the others considered safer. However recent elections (eg 2018 Vic state and 2022 federal) have redrawn the political atlas with large anti-Labor swings in some of these 'safer' seats despite overall Labor victories. The common thread, whether it's areas as diverse as Melton, Kooyong or Fowler, is that voters hate being taken for granted.
A large stretch of suburbia between Mulgrave and Dandenong has many bus routes that (at best) operate hourly and lack weekend service. This is despite favourable catchment demographics and strong patronage on the trips that do run. Even the otherwise comprehensive 2006 minimum service standards upgrades extended to less than half of the area's routes.
This pattern continuing to this day. Whatever shortcomings premier Daniel Andrews may have, pork-barrelling in his own seat of Mulgrave with regards to bus services is not one of them. In fact it is hard to find anyone who has benefited less from his government's transport agenda than local bus users. Such populations, once considered reliable Labor voters, are no longer necessarily so, as this year's federal election results showed with large anti-Labor swings in 'left behind' low income catchments.
The 850 bus, however, is better than most. Unlike many nearby routes such as 800, 802, 804, 814 and 885 it runs seven days per week. Finish time is around 9pm as, unlike those just mentioned, it gained upgrades to 'minimum standards' about 15 years ago.
Also, apart from the area's widely spaced SmartBuses, the 850 wins on the frequency stakes too. On weekdays interpeak it runs a clockface 30 minutes, beating the more common 40 - 60 minute frequencies on local routes like 813, 848 and 862. Morning peak waits are a little longer, with non-clockface 32 - 33 minute frequencies typical, possibly due to traffic delays. Also weekday starts are somewhat late for a minimum standards route with the first arrival at Glen Waverley not until 6:44am.
Weekends, as normal for buses in the area that run, has close to a flat hourly frequency. Last buses leave Dandenong and Glen Waverley just after 9pm on both days. However, like many former Grenda group services, Sunday starts are late, with the first bus getting people to stations not much before 10am. This was an austere interpretation of the 2006 minimum standard which specified a 9am start.
Even 9am has been realised as being too late for many travel needs with some local bus routes starting at around 8am or before. Particular effort to improve early Sunday services was made recently in Craigieburn where earlier Sunday trips were added on several routes. A good example is Route 529 whose first Sunday trip now arrives at Craigieburn station before 7:30am.
Travel time from Dandenong to Glen Waverley is slightly under 60 minutes most times. This means that the 850 uses four buses on weekdays and two buses on evenings and weekends.
Route 850 is a long-standing route that has seen minimal change over the last 50 years. Network maps show it first appearing in 1972. Then its alignment was slightly different in the Dandenong North area, with the later discontinued Route 847 taking its place on James St.
The most significant change occurred about 15 years ago, when the 850, like many others across Melbourne, gained longer operating hours including new Sunday service as part of 'Meeting Our Transport Challenges' minimum service standards upgrades.
The Manningham Monash Whitehorse metropolitan bus service review from April 2010 recommended that Route 850 be rerouted via the Waverley Park housing development to improve coverage. It also considered Route 850 to be significant enough to be included on the Principal Public Transport Network of major routes with more frequent service. However, like many other review recommendations, neither happened.
You might think that Route 850 wouldn't get much usage given all the overlaps it has with other bus routes. However much of its catchment demographics are so good that you can throw bus service at it and people will use it anyway. Boarding numbers reflect this strength. With passenger boardings per service hour at 31 (weekdays) and 26-27 (weekends) it is an above average performer for buses in Melbourne.
Other factors that help include its strong termini at both ends, reasonable directness and higher service levels than other routes in its catchment.
Conclusion
Despite overlap with other routes, the 850 serves a useful function. While those travelling direct from Dandenong to Glen Waverley stations might get the train to Springvale and then the 902 to Glen Waverley (about 45 min), those who want to start from Dandenong North might prefer the 850 rather than backtracking. The route also serves some medium sized destinations, often being one of the few 7-day routes along the way.
Due to overlapping in areas like Mulgrave and Dandenong North there may be scope to reduce the number of bus routes while increasing their frequency and operating hours. The area has not had significant bus network reform for decades and is overdue for it. But no matter what happens it is hard to see a future reformed network that does not keep the 850 in a form at least similar to now, likely with increased frequency.
Thoughts on the 850 and its future are appreciated and can be left below.
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