Victorian Route and Timetable changes 2021

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PaxInfo
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Victorian Route and Timetable changes 2021

Post by PaxInfo »

The biggest Metro & V/Line train timetable change for some time with 450 extra services per week.

New train timetables start Jan 31.

It should fix some long-standing problems with better consistency and frequency on some lines.

More here:

https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/more/the-new ... n-network/

https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/building ... ork-future
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Heihachi_73
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Re: Victorian Route and Timetable changes 2021

Post by Heihachi_73 »

Doesn't seem to be anything for the usual stalwart lines on the Hillside half, or a Sunday morning shakeup. At least the Upfield line is finally getting some attention though.

The return of off-peak fares is good news, after being lost for eight years after the last Metcard was sold. Just need to convince PTV to extend the Early Bird trips to buses and trams so we're not singing with Alanis Morissette "it's a free ride when you've already paid". No point in a free trip when the bus or tram costs a Zone 1 (or 2) to get to the station.
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Re: Victorian Route and Timetable changes 2021

Post by PaxInfo »

The Hillside group (especially Burnley group) are where most of the marginal seats are.

Maybe they're saving up changes on those to nearer the election?

Certainly some great opportunities to sort out RIngwood and the 30 min frequencies beyond.
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Re: Victorian Route and Timetable changes 2021

Post by Richard1207 »

Heihachi_73 wrote: Tue Dec 01, 2020 8:30 pm The return of off-peak fares is good news, after being lost for eight years after the last Metcard was sold. Just need to convince PTV to extend the Early Bird trips to buses and trams so we're not singing with Alanis Morissette "it's a free ride when you've already paid". No point in a free trip when the bus or tram costs a Zone 1 (or 2) to get to the station.
The freeloaders I see every day would be singing "it's a free ride when you don't touch on" as they know drivers won't say anything and inspectors are never seen. Paying for a fare seems to be an option in Melbourne.
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Re: Victorian Route and Timetable changes 2021

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More detailed write-up on Daniel Bowen's blog

https://www.danielbowen.com/2020/12/01/ ... uary-2021/

The Frankston loop changes remind me of reforms they were proposed in 2015 but then scrapped (reported here).

https://www.theage.com.au/national/vict ... ih8cb.html
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Re: Victorian Route and Timetable changes 2021

Post by 1whoknows »

Why run a special shuttle bus between Deer Park and Melton which effectively duplicates an existing bus route?
Are rail passengers really such snowflakes that they can't board a regular bus?
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Re: Victorian Route and Timetable changes 2021

Post by PaxInfo »

May happen in 2021 or 2022.

Mornington Peninsula bus upgrade announced by Ben Carroll MP & Chris Brayne MP today.

781 EXTENDED to Dromana
788 BOOSTED every 30 min weekday/40 min weekend
887 EXPRESS via freeway to Dromana/Rosebud

Info & video here: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_ ... 3677944189

My blog post here: https://melbourneontransit.blogspot.com ... raded.html
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Re: Victorian Route and Timetable changes 2021

Post by Mike M »

A new town bus network will be introduced in Sale effective from 1 February 2021 including Saturday services for the first time.

https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/footer/about ... -for-sale/
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Re: Victorian Route and Timetable changes 2021

Post by JRBUS123 »

PaxInfo wrote: Thu Dec 03, 2020 9:11 pm Mornington Peninsula bus upgrade announced by Ben Carroll MP & Chris Brayne MP today.

781 EXTENDED to Dromana
788 BOOSTED every 30 min weekday/40 min weekend
887 EXPRESS via freeway to Dromana/Rosebud

Info & video here: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_ ... 3677944189

My blog post here: https://melbourneontransit.blogspot.com ... raded.html
Thanks for the blog post. Very informative regarding the Mornington Peninsula network

I can sort of understand if the 887 runs every 2 hours on non-holiday periods and I do think it may be useful for some commuters, but during the summer holidays i think the frequency would be way too long, and that’s the real downside of it imo. The frequency!

Also, A massive difference (particularly from 80 minutes to 40 minutes weekend) for route 788.
I still feel like the 788 should run more frequently, particularly during the summer period when a lot of people come to the Mornington Peninsula, like for example at 15-20 minute intervals. I’m not saying it should run at those frequencies I suggested all year long, but particularly during the holiday season when it gets particularly busy in that area.

There’s definitely a few things that could be improved further, but it’s not bad overall.
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Re: Victorian Route and Timetable changes 2021

Post by PaxInfo »

New Jan 31 Metro and V/Line train timetables appeared on the PTV website last night.

Summary in this blog post. https://melbourneontransit.blogspot.com ... art_8.html

There will also be coordinating bus timetable changes. Some will start on Jan 31 while others will start later.
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Re: Victorian Route and Timetable changes 2021

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624 is getting a minor straightening in residential Chadstone from April to run more directly via Power Av.

https://www.facebook.com/WillFowlesBurw ... 7574798002
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Re: Victorian Route and Timetable changes 2021

Post by PaxInfo »

Details on Mernda - Craigieburn route on Tenders Vic website. It will be known as Route 390. Services will run 7 days every 40 min with peak service every 30 min. It may be coscheduled with overlapping 387 to provide a combined 20 min service in Mernda. It was a 2018 Labor election promise. Commencement date tba.
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Re: Victorian Route and Timetable changes 2021

Post by JRBUS123 »

I predict the route will most likely be handed to Dysons, but will be interesting to see who ends up running it

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Re: Victorian Route and Timetable changes 2021

Post by 1whoknows »

If they were "handing" the route to Dysons there would not be a tender. But, whilst Dysons could well end up being the operator, a tender is required under government purchasing policy.
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Re: Victorian Route and Timetable changes 2021

Post by JRBUS123 »

Ah ok thanks for clarifying that.

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Re: Victorian Route and Timetable changes 2021

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Projected commencement date for Route 390 Craigieburn - Mernda is 31 October 2021 (subject to change).
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Re: Victorian Route and Timetable changes 2021

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Confirmation of start date for 888 & 889 (28 March 2021)

Also new 881 Clyde North - Merinda Park starting next year.

https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/new-bus- ... south-east
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Re: Victorian Route and Timetable changes 2021

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The new 881 will run every 40 minute 7 days per week until approx 9:30 - 10pm. Services will start 6am weekdays, 7am Saturdays and 8am Sundays. Expect commencement in January 2022.
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Re: Victorian Route and Timetable changes 2021

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No mention of start date but interesting news on Cranbourne buses via Jordan Crugnale MP advising 897 & 898 extensions.

https://www.facebook.com/12394280762011 ... 178280222/

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=218 ... 3890986057
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Re: Victorian Route and Timetable changes 2021

Post by PaxInfo »

Many Night Network bus timetables are on the PTV website. These start 27 August 2021.

To get a list search by clicking: https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/search/getFo ... F08%2F2021
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Re: Victorian Route and Timetable changes 2021

Post by Mike M »

PaxInfo wrote: Fri Jul 30, 2021 1:34 pm Many Night Network bus timetables are on the PTV website. These start 27 August 2021.

To get a list search by clicking: https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/search/getFo ... F08%2F2021
Looking through the list & associated timetables I can't help thinking that many of these services will be mostly carrying fresh air. I hope that I am wrong.
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Re: Victorian Route and Timetable changes 2021

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Mike M wrote: Sun Aug 01, 2021 11:41 am
PaxInfo wrote: Fri Jul 30, 2021 1:34 pm Many Night Network bus timetables are on the PTV website. These start 27 August 2021.

To get a list search by clicking: https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/search/getFo ... F08%2F2021
Looking through the list & associated timetables I can't help thinking that many of these services will be mostly carrying fresh air. I hope that I am wrong.
This is very true for many existing Night Network services. Most of them do worse than even relatively quiet daytime routes.

It's probably a fair bet that usage of the new services will be generally less than the loadings they typically get during the day.

BUT boardings will still be more productive on average than many existing 900-series Night Network usage.

The network has included some 'trimmings'. Eg adjustments to frequencies and (in exchange for some more outer area coverage) fewer routes starting in the CBD. So it may have been a relatively cheap change. Which is probably as it should be since there are many bigger problems with the regular daytime network that should have money spent on first (with likely far bigger payoffs in increased patronage).

I can particularly see gains around 5am - 8am weekend mornings on routes like 150, 180, 630, 703, 788, 833 & 907 with use by passengers who didn't think of themselves as Night Bus users. Right now they might want to use buses but couldn't do so as the operating hours weren't there on their regular route. Or they got confused by the different routes so thought it was all too hard. Another problem were those big 3 and 4 hour gaps.

There have been cases where early Sunday morning trips have been busier than other trips on that route during that day. That may indicate a level of early weekend timetables previously missed. To some extent this has been officially realised. Eg when minimum standards started it was an 8am start on Saturday and 9am on Sunday. However some routes that got upgraded or introduced subsequently had weekend trips start about an hour earlier than that standard.

To summarise, many new trips may still be quiet by daytime standards but a high proportion will probably be busier than those they replaced (some of which were VERY dead). And because the network has been relatively cheap to implement overall bus network productivity (and certainly legibility) should be better than now.
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Re: Victorian Route and Timetable changes 2021

Post by PaxInfo »

MORE ON NIGHT BUS: PTV's page on the 27 August changes is now live. See it at: https://ptv.vic.gov.au/nightbus
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Re: Victorian Route and Timetable changes 2021

Post by PaxInfo »

Due to curfew PT won't operate during the small hours on weekends.

https://transport.vic.gov.au/about/tran ... for-curfew

This curfew period includes the date the revised Night Bus network was due to start (27/8/2021).

However parts of this network include evening and am trips outside the small hours on upgraded regular routes so it will be interesting to see if these run.
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Re: Victorian Route and Timetable changes 2021

Post by Mike M »

An update on the PTV website indicates that the introduction of the revised night network has been postponed due to the curfew.
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