Caroline Springs/Fraser Rise/Aintree/Rockbank
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.
Both 463 and 464 will run every 20 min across the week - substantially more frequent than the existing 461. Operating hours will also be long. This continues the welcome tendency of operating major new or upgrading routes to approximately 11pm-midnight (10-11pm Sunday) instead of a 9-9:30pm finish as is the case for most Melbourne bus routes.
Found on a note on the 463 timetable is this advice: 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 are the substantial network reforms and route extensions in Epping/Wollert. If I was a betting man I would tip that something would be announced on this quite soon.
Details at: https://transport.vic.gov.au/news-and-resources/news/better-bus-services-sunday-4-october
Cranbourne
https://cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au/news/2026-05-19/new-casey-bus-routes-revealed/
The local MP has further information but there's 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.
