“Smart Bus routes are really important, and you know what I was talking to the Public Transport Minister just this week about what can we do to maybe have more Smart Bus routes where the buses go more direct, they’re taking more passengers and they are really really economically valuable and good value for our taxpayers ..
.. I think for buses they say that for every dollar invested in buses it’s five dollars return to the Victorian community because they’re cheaper to get going, they use existing road network so yes buses are a big part of our future.”
Hon Ben Carroll MP, 16 June 2026
Premier Ben Carroll has stressed the importance of buses for Melbourne's transport future in a wide-ranging video interview on transport matters.
Speaking on June 16 while still deputy premier, Mr Carroll told Shriram from Kiddo Explores that improved buses returned about five dollars of benefits per dollar invested (interview below).
He also revealed that he had asked the then Public and Active Transport Minister (Gabrielle Williams - now Deputy Premier) about more SmartBus routes.
This is significant since the last SmartBus route was added in 2010 when John Brumby was still premier. The nine routes, including three orbitals, transformed travel between suburbs, contributing to a large increase in bus usage.
Melbourne's suburbs added more than a million people since 2010 but, as the Auditor-General recently found, progress on bus network reform against Victoria's Bus Plan was slow. Infrastructure Victoria has also recommended more direct and frequent SmartBus-like routes.
However, despite some recent improvements most of Melbourne's 350 bus routes remain indirect and infrequent, with just 4 operating every 15 minutes or better seven days.
This number is low because, with two exceptions, SmartBus has service every 15 minutes on weekdays but only every 30 minutes on weekends. This contrasts with similar premium routes in Perth and Brisbane which run every 15 minutes or better all week. Instead our SmartBuses are more like the main bus corridors in smaller cities like Adelaide and Canberra, where 30 minute weekend services are common. The Public Transport Users Association has been one of those advocating for more frequent weekend SmartBus and other routes, with their priorities for 2026 here.
Scope exists to accompany SmartBus upgrades with network reform to reduce costs and add a small number of trips to non-SmartBus routes that are already very close to SmartBus service standards. New SmartBus routes are also justified on both patronage potential and equity grounds. This is particularly so in the west, where not one SmartBus route operates west of Sunshine or Altona versus eight in the east.
A refreshed SmartBus network
A refreshed SmartBus program that upgrades the most amount of routes for the least amount of money while meeting modern travel needs could involve the following components:
(i) Small upgrades to about 12 existing frequent but non-SmartBus corridors to meet SmartBus service standards to provide a unified service offer across Melbourne's busiest bus routes. very low cost and simple to do for 'quick wins'
(ii) Boosting SmartBus service on weekends from every 30 to every 15 minutes between approx 7am to 9pm. Sunday 9pm - midnight service would also be added. medium cost, relatively simple but highly transformative uplifts on key main road corridors
(iii) Simplifying bus routes on certain multi-route corridors to enable more frequent and even routes that meet SmartBus service standards. less simple but highly cost-effective uplifts on key main road corridors that selectively revive Bus Plan network reform
(iv) New SmartBus corridors mostly comprising upgrades to existing direct routes but also including new corridors to key destinations and as precursors to Airport Rail, Suburban Rail Loop North and Suburban Rail Loop East. higher cost but connects biggest job areas, provides west-east equality and revives the 'social licence' of major projects
(v) Passenger experience upgrades at key SmartBus stops and interchange points including double-length shelters and improved passenger information. low cost high benefits that communicate benefits of the above transformed bus services
Priority SmartBuses by area
West
- Upgrade these routes to SmartBus standard: 150, 170, 216*, 220*, 223*, 411, 418, 420, 426, 460 and 494/495
- New SmartBus corridors (a) between Sunshine Station, Keilor East and Melbourne Airport as a precursor to Airport Rail, (b) between Footscray and Highpoint, (c) along Ballarat Rd and (d) Taylors Rd, potentially incorporating some of the above.
North
- Upgrade these routes or combined corridors to SmartBus standard: 250/251*, 390, 508, 513/514, 541 and 561.
- Upgraded SmartBus corridors (a) Melbourne Airport - Broadmeadows - Greensborough Doncaster as an SRL North precursor, (b) Coburg - Preston - Northland - Heidelberg and (c) La Trobe University - Heidelberg - Doncaster, potentially incorporating some reformed or simplified routes.
East
- Upgrade these routes or combined corridors to SmartBus standard: 200/207*, 302/304*, 664, 670, 703*, 733 and 737.
- New SmartBus corridors (a) between La Trobe University - Swinburne University and Monash Caulfield via Burke Rd, (b) La Trobe University and Swinburne University via Chandler Hwy and (c) Doncaster - Box Hill - Clayton - Cheltenham as an SRL East precursor.
South-East
- Upgrade these routes to SmartBus standard: 630, 693, 791, 800, 828, 841 and 926
- Short-workings on weekends to boost SmartBus orbital frequencies to every 15 min (a) 903 between Doncaster and Mentone, (b) 902 between Nunawading and Keysborough and (c) 901 between Ringwood and Frankston. These could be precursors to wider orbital reform.
Inner
- Upgrade these routes to SmartBus standard: 234*, 235*, 241*, 246* and 402*.
(*) Frequencies already approach or even exceed SmartBus at most times so only a small number of extra trips are needed (mostly slightly extended operating hours).
Conclusion
Upgrading existing and adding new SmartBus routes does a lot for public transport connectivity for relatively little money. In many cases new buses are not even required.
It is encouraging that the Premier has expressed interest in SmartBus services. The Opposition has said it favours increased cost-effectiveness in transport project selection, which SmartBus certainly is. Victorian Greens have said they want $270m extra for better bus services.
With interest gathering, the time is ripe for SmartBus and other main route bus upgrades to become a topic in the upcoming election campaign as a beneficial transport and cost of living measure.
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