UN 244: Better Buses to Big Shopping Centres

Executive Summary: Improved buses to major shopping centres are the 'low hanging fruit' of the bus world. They have high patronage gains relative to their cost and often do not need network reform or new bus purchases. Many examples given here.   

Large shopping centres are also major destinations and employers. Especially for young people and students who are major public transport users. Retailing is already getting a higher political profile as new premier  Ben Carroll talks up his K-mart Airport West background. 

Unlike industrial areas or airports, major shopping centres already have extensive bus networks. At least on paper. Look up almost any local area public transport map. You will see many routes converging on shopping centres. It's not uncommon for shopping centres to have 10 or more bus routes feeding them. 

The problem is that many have timetables that are out of kilter with retail activity. For instance buses may start too late and finish too early for worker shifts. And it is common for service levels to collapse down to only every 40 to 60 minutes on weekends - the exact days that major shopping centres are busiest.

Having a weaker position in the labour market, flexible hours is more often on the employers' rather than the employees' terms. And unlike relatively privileged government sector workers, there are no work from home options.

For retail and hospo workers job-ready public transport requires wide operating hours and good frequencies, including on weekends. Compared to cases where new coverage is needed (such as many industrial areas), this is a good problem to have; in many cases improvements are possible just by operating existing routes more frequently for more of the week without needing to buy more buses. And the usage payoffs can be huge; Route 800 between Chadstone and Dandenong for example got a 200% patronage increase on Saturdays when its weekend bus services were improved in 2024. 

Here's my list of Melbourne's major shopping centres and suggested top three bus service improvements for each: 

Melbourne West

Altona Gate
* Boost 411 to every 15-20 min 7 days with longer hours 
* Boost 471 to every 20 min weekends with longer hours # 

Note: Network reform is desirable to simplify complex routes in Altona North area.  

Brimbank Shopping Centre
* Boost 420 bus with longer hours #
* Boost 423 bus to every 20 min with longer hours 
* Boost 424 bus to every 20 min with longer hours

Caroline Springs
* Boost 460 to every 20 min weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 418 to every 20 min with longer hours
* Boost 426 to every 20 min with longer hours

Central Square
* Boost 411 to every 15-20 min 7 days with longer hours 
* Boost 498 to every 20 min with longer hours 
* Boost 415 to operate 7 days with longer hours

Note: Network reform is desirable to consolidate 411 / 412 in Altona Meadows area. 

Highpoint
* Boost 406 bus to every 20 min or better on Sundays with longer hours #
* Boost 408 bus to every 20 min or better on Sundays with longer hours #
* Boost 468 bus to run 7 days with longer hours #

Note: Network reform could consolidate 223 and 406 to provide a simpler 10 min 7 day service from Footscray.

Keilor Central Shopping Centre
* Boost 418 bus to every 20 min and longer hours 
* Boost 421 bus to every 40 min on weekends with longer hours # 

Manor Lakes Shopping Centre
* Boost 190 bus to every 20 min on weekends
* Boost 166 bus to every 20 min 7 days with longer hours 
* Boost 191 bus with longer hours

Pacific Werribee
* Boost 170 bus to every 10 min 7 days
* Boost 166 bus to every 20 min 7 days with longer hours
* Boost 181 bus to every 20 min 7 days with longer hours and merge with 498

Point Cook Town Centre
* Boost 494 and 495 buses to every 20 min 7 days with longer hours #
* Boost 498 bus to every 20 min 7 days with longer hours
* Operate Route 400 to Point Cook Town Centre (instead of Laverton) to improve north-south access

Tarneit Central
* Boost 170 bus to every 10 min 7 days
* Boost 150 bus to every 20 min 7 days with longer hours 
* Boost 152 bus to every 20 min 7 days with longer hours

Watergardens Shopping Centre
* Boost 420 bus with higher evening frequency and longer hours #
* Boost 460 bus to every 20 min on weekends # 
* Boost 425 bus to every 20 min and longer hours 

Williams Landing Shopping Centre
* Boost 150 bus to every 20 min with longer hours
* Boost 152 bus to every 20 min with longer hours
* Boost 151 bus to every 20 min with longer hours

Woodgrove Melton
* Longer hours on all bus routes serving centre
* Revise timetables to a flat frequency across the week

Note: A bus network review to improve directness and frequency in Melton is essential as many routes have been substantially unchanged for decades and have been overtaken by growth. A concept network is here.

Melbourne North 

Airport West
* Boost 902 to every 15 or 20 min weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 477 to every 20 min weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 479 to every 60 min weekends with longer hours #

Note: Network reform is desirable to simplify complex 469 and improve connectivity to Melbourne Airport via 478/479. More here.

Broadmeadows Central
* Boost 901 bus to every 15 - 20 min on weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 902 bus to every 15 - 20 min on weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 541 bus to every 20 min weekends with longer hours #  

Campbellfield Plaza
* Boost 902 to every 15 or 20 min on weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 531 to operate 7 days with longer hours #
* Extend both 536 and simplified 558 to centre

Craigieburn Central
* Boost 529 and 533 to every 20 min weekends #
* Boost 541 to every 20 min weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 525 to every 20 min 

Gladstone Park
* Boost 901 bus to every 15 - 20 min on weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 902 bus to every 15 - 20 min on weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 477 bus to every 20 min weekends with longer hours #  

Greensborough Plaza
* Boost 902 bus to every 20 min on weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 514 to operate every 20 min 7 days between Greensborough and Glenroy
* Boost 517 to operate every 20 min on weekends with longer hours #

Note: The Greensborough - Eltham area has a large number of complex and poorly used bus routes. Scope exists to simplify services while providing better coverage and connectivity with trains.  

Milleara Shopping Centre
* Boost 406 to every 20 min Sundays with longer hours #
* Boost 465 to every 20 min Sundays with longer hours #
* Boost 407 to run 7 days with longer hours #

Mill Park Stables
* Boost 566 bus to every 20 min, longer hours and simplify route
* Boost 382 with longer hours
* Boost 564 with longer hours

Northland
* Boost 527 bus to every 20 min or better on Sundays with longer hours #
* Boost 903 bus to every 20 min or better evenings and weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 556 bus to every 20 min weekends with longer hours and more direct alignment #

Note: Network reform could consolidate 527 and 903 to prvide a simpler 10 min 7 day service between Coburg and Heidelberg via Northland. 

Pacific Epping
* Boost 901 bus to every 15 or 20 min on weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 556 bus to every 20 min weekends with longer hours and more direct alignment #
* Extend 566 bus to centre with service boosted to every 20 min and longer hours

Note: It is desirable that the currently in delivery network reform at Wollert include buses every 20 min or better to this centre with longer hours. 

Roxburgh Village
* Boost 901 bus to every 20 min on weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 541 bus to every 20 min weekends with longer hours #  
* Boost 544 bus with longer operating hours 

Melbourne East

Box Hill Central
* Boost 903 to every 15 min on weekends with longer hours # 
* Boost 733 to every 15-20 min on weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 767 to every 20 min on weekends with longer hours #

Brentford Square
* Boost 765 bus with higher frequency on weekends and longer hours #
* Boost 738 bus with higher frequency on weekends and longer hours # 
* A new Canterbury Rd bus between Box Hill and Ringwood

Chirnside Park
* Boost 670 to every 20 min weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 901 to every 15 min on weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 742 to every 30 min weekends with longer hours #

Doncaster Shoppingtown
* Boost 907 to every 10 min day / 15 min nights #
* Boost 281 with 7 day service and longer hours # 
* Boost 302/304 weekends to every 30 min each with longer hours #

Note: Network reform could consolidate 281 with 293 and remove deviations from 279 to provide a simpler and more frequent service. 

Eastland
* Boost 901 bus to every 15 min on weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 670 bus to every 20 min weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 742 bus to every 30 min weekends with longer hours #

Forest Hill Chase
* Boost 735 bus with higher frequency on weekends and longer hours #
* Boost 736 bus with higher frequency on weekends and longer hours # 
* A new Canterbury Rd bus between Box Hill and Ringwood

Mt Waverley Village
* Boost 733 to every 15-20 min on weekends with longer hours #

Pinewood
* Boost 703 bus to every 20 min on weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 737 bus to every 15 min on weekdays and 20 min weekends with longer hours 

Templestowe Village
* Boost 905 to every 15-20 min weekends #
* Boost 902 to every 15-20 min weekends #
* Boost 281 with 7 day service and longer hours # 

Note: Network reform has potential to consolidate 281 with 293 and provide for a simplified Heidelberg - The Pines route with resources from split 901. 

The Glen
* Boost 902 bus to every 15 min on weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 737 bus to every 15 min weekdays and 20 min weekends with longer hours 
* Boost 742 bus to every 30 min weekends with longer hours #

The Pines
* Boost 905 to every 15-20 min weekends #
* Boost 906 to every 15-20 min weekends #

Note: Scope exists to provide a simplified Heidelberg - The Pines route with resources from a split 901 to simplify buses in the area. 

Melbourne South-East

Bayside Frankston

* Boost 791 bus to run every 20 min on weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 901 bus to run every 15 min on weekends with longer hours #
* Upgrade 833 bus to run every 20 min or better 7 days with longer hours

Note: Network reform is desirable to simplify bus routes in the Karingal (770/771), Frankston South (772/773/774) and Hastings (782/783) areas. 

Casey Central
* Boost 841 to every 20 min with longer hours
* Boost 892 to every 30 min on weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 835 to every 40 min Sunday with longer hours #

Note: A bus network review to improve bus route directness is desirable in the Narre Warren South area.

Chadstone
* Boost 900 to every 10 min 7 days with longer hours #
* Boost 903 to every 15 min on weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 623 to every 20 min on weekends with longer hours #

Note: Network reform could consolidate 623 with parts of 624 and 693 with part of 742 to provide simpler routes and higher frequencies (every 20 min 7 days suggested).  

Cranbourne Park
* Boost 841 bus to every 20 min with longer hours 
* Boost 791 bus to every 20 min weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 897 bus with longer hours #

Dandenong Market
* Boost 901 to every 15 min weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 811 to every 20 min 7 days with longer hours
* Extend Route 861 to Fountain Gate  

Dandenong Square
* Boost 828 to every 20 min weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 893 to run until midnight with earlier weekend starts #
* Boost 844 to run 7 days # 

DFO Moorabbin
* Boost 828 to every 20 min weekends with longer hours #

Fountain Gate
* Boost 828 bus to every 20 min on weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 841 bus to every 20 min 7 days with longer hours
* Boost 926 bus to every 20 min 7 days with longer hours

Karingal Hub
* Boost 791 bus to run every 20 min on weekends with longer hours #
* Simplify routes 770 and 771 to run the same way both directions with higher frequency and longer hours

Knox City
* Boost 901 bus to every 15 min on weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 737 bus to every 15 min weekdays and 20 min weekends with longer hours 
* Boost 732 bus to every 20 min weekends with longer hours #

Pakenham Marketplace
* Boost 926 bus to every 20 min with longer hours 
* Boost all other routes with higher frequencies and longer hours

Parkmore Keysborough
* Boost 828 bus to every 20 min on weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 824 bus to every 20 min with longer hours 
* Boost 813 bus to every 20 min with longer hours

Note: Network reform could simplify local bus services and enable higher frequencies on key routes. 

Southland
* Boost 828 bus to every 20 min on weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 822 bus to every 30 min on weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 708 bus to every 30 min on weekends with longer hours #

Note: Network reform could realign 822 and 828 to provide a direct Bay St bus to Sandringham. Further simplification with Route 767 could provide a direct Chadstone - Southland bus via East Boundary Rd. 

Springvale Central
* Boost 902 bus to every 15 min on weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 811 bus to every 20 min with longer hours 
* Boost 813 bus to every 20 min with longer hours

Note: Network reform in area is desirable to simplify complex routes 813 and 814 and enable higher frequencies. 

Stud Park
* Boost 900 bus to every 15 min on weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 901 bus to every 15 min on weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 691 bus to every 30 min on weekends with longer hours #

Note: Major bus network reform is needed in the Rowville/Lysterfield area to improve access to Stud Park. This should include the merging of FlexiRide into upgraded regular routes. 

Waverley Gardens
* Boost 850 bus to every 30 min on weekends with longer hours #
* Boost 813 bus to every 20 min with longer hours 
* Boost 814 bus to run 7 days with longer hours and higher frequency

Note: Network reform may be desirable to reduce inefficient overlaps on Police Rd and provide a new direct bus to Clayton Station via Centre Rd. 

(#) Possible with existing bus fleet 

Conclusion 

While a large number of upgrades is listed the majority make better use of the existing bus fleet.

Many are also already productive routes whose upgrade would improve bus connectivity for multiple trip purposes including rail feeders. 

An index to all Useful Network items is here