I took a ride on the 788 today and was concerned to note:

1: chronic late running
2: most passengers not touching on
3: almost every passenger not touching off
4: most passengers not wearing masks

Paul in Melbourne

What is today on the site of the Transway Depot at 3 Coglin Road at Elizabeth? (I am trying to put GPS on some old photos).

Paul in Melbourne

This thread is fascinating reading and if we can step back into the bigger picture for a moment demonstrates what Australia has become. To think that such disruption could happen in what was once described as one of the world's most liveable cities is a cause for great concern. Men and women who mak...

Recently discovered and in very good to excellent condition is a set of MMTB bus general arrangement drawings that must be approaching 60 years old. Despite the age of the documents, they're in very good to excellent condition. Buses covered are: AEC Regal Mark 3 41 seater AEC Regal Mark 3 31 seater...

One thing I've noticed riding the routes is the widespread damage to bus stop signage that often takes a long time to rectify. Graffiti is the main offender but there is also general wear and tear (mostly fading) and of course inevitable accident damage. Who will look after things like bus stop sign...

Tram books all sold. Bus books still for sale.

Paul in Melbourne

Adelaide on the Move, Steele, 1978 Auckland's Bus Fleets, Sean Miller, 1986 Australian Double Decker, G J Travers, 1977 Destination City (Melbourne trams) The Bay Line, State Transport Authority, 1979 From Omnibus to O Bahn, Steele, 1986 History of Geelong Electric Tramways, O'Neil, 1994 In and Arou...

Good and thought provoking responses; a sad reflection on our community and our culture.

Paul in Melbourne

After nearly three years, I notice the weekend evening diversion of route 901 away from Roxburgh Park shopping centre and railway station remains in force. The Roxburgh Park station precinct is considered a bad area where the safety of bus drivers and passengers cannot be assured. Even with the adve...

Another good one is the 381 terminus at Diamond Creek. Similar facilities to the 742 terminus at Ringwood.

Paul in Melbourne

I wondered about Werribee and but it's not a location I use regularly.

Sometimes when I ride the routes I simply enjoy the "gunzel" experience but other times I also try to take in the experience as a "regular" passenger.

Paul in Melbourne

Considering Melbourne has experienced some miserable weather recently, I wonder what would be the contenders for Melbourne's most desolate and/or least appealing bus terminal? Last Wednesday, I had occasion to wait for a bus at the Knox City terminal. It was cold but not freezing. However, the wind ...

Vic was one of the first bus enthusiasts I ever met - around 50 years ago. He was certainly something of a character, always chasing the "gen", employed in the industry (Caringbah BS when I knew of him) and raising a large family. Still going strong chasing the gen well into his 80s. Until fairly re...

I am pleased to report I travelled in a Transdev bus yesterday where the driver removed recently applied graffiti (before it has dried completely) during a layover at a suburban terminus. However, the general condition of the bus still wasn't anywhere near as good as I'd experienced on Transdev buse...

One would hope that the cleaning facilities will lead to an improvement in the presentation of the vehicles. I've travelled in Transdev buses in different parts of the world and most of them have been clean and free of window scratching and graffiti. But, one has to accept that Melbourne is a city w...

I have for sale a metal destination indicator from a former Nuline Bus Lines vehicle. It is in the form of a "barrel" that was attached inside the front windscreen and rotated according to the destination of the bus. It probably dates from the 1950s but certainly no later than the 1960s. The indicat...

Good to see at least one bus has received a deep clean. It's amazing that Melbourne people are so disgusting in their habits. Little wonder bus operators have such a problem keeping their vehicles clean. Recently I was in San Francisco and Los Angeles. There are many disadvantaged and homeless peopl...

I recently spent some time riding public transport in San Francisco and Los Angeles. I used the smart cards in both cities; Clipper in San Francisco and TAP in Los Angeles. What I noticed was that each had some "quirks" (mainly to do with senior' fares). It seems that every smart card system has som...

I've some the past two days riding BCC buses in Brisbane and have been impressed with the effectiveness of the air conditioning. I'm no technical expert but it seems they gave e bigger air conditioning than the typical Melbourne route bus.

I've spent the past two days riding BCC buses in Brisbane and have been most impressed with how clean they are.

Maybe, full time professional railway/transport enthusiasts should be entitled to a Centrelink pension and the benefits that go with it? They are the people who keep our hobby going and should be recognised. At the same time, there is a general community opinion that older people (those over 60) are...

What about professional railway/transport enthusiasts?

Paul in Melbourne

Surely one would have to suspect that this is a deliberate policy by New South Wales to maintain its position as the "premier state"? NSW seniors would be assumed to be "better" people than their interstate counterparts? The people affected would be those who hold a seniors' card but do not received...

My question was certainly "fair dinkum". It was about the "experience" of riding buses in Melbourne as distinct from the "severe gen" of the vehicles or the routes. I recall eating on buses in certain cities was definitely not allowed; Brisbane? And certainly overseas; Taipei (Taiwan) is a good exam...

Why is eating allowed on route buses in Melbourne? I've noticed in my travels interstate and overseas that many systems either prohibit eating on public transport vehicles or actively discourage it. In Melbourne, eating is allowed on most (if not all) buses and other public transport. The community ...