Double Decker Skybus Melbourne

[collcars]

I had a little chuckle to myself when i heard the advert on the radio for the double-decker sky bus and how you could rise it for no extra cost..... i would expect a discount as more seats per trip to reign in revenue than with a standard bus.

considering the normal service is operated by an Articulated Bus that seat 60+ seats, I doubt the Double Decker will carry anymore people

 

[Isochronous]

I always found the "we need a dedicated train with special luggage spaces" rather strange. Every city I've ever trained from the airport (Frankfurt, Singapore, HK, Narita) has always involved a transfer onto another train/subway. So, eventually you have to make do with the space you have.

I would like to see Sydney's airport station fee drop a few dollars, but it's far better to have it then not.

Most people with luggage in say, HK, will then take a cab from say Kowloon or HK Central Station rather than change on to the main MTR. Dedicated luggage space from the dedicated airport train is very important!

 

[Deleted member]

An interesting idea but I can see issues, e.g. who would trust their fellow travellers and leave their luggage at the bottom? Wonder why they don't have more articulated buses.

As per everyone else bring on the train.

Articulated busses are on the nose as it appears they are a congestion problem, DD busses on the other hand carry as many pax with less traffic congestion. ....,apparently !

 

[badseed]

Another vote for 'bring on the train'.

I'm often connecting on public transport anyway as I like the win the office prize for 'most frugal traveller' ;-) So the main thing for me would be not having to walk down into the depths of the bus depot at Southern Cross. Just making it a simple platform change would save me 5 to 10 minutes anyway.

 

[Ausbt]

I'm often connecting on public transport anyway as I like the win the office prize for 'most frugal traveller' ;-)

Do you enjoy lording-it over colleagues about penny-pinching as much as I do? Don't get me wrong, I prefer to fly J, but when it comes to public transport that can be had for a third of the price of a taxi, I'm always reminding colleagues "...I saved $x doing this" (naturally with the not-so-subtle message what's your excuse?). In London a while back, I made two colleagues catch two trains and a bus to get out to LHR to pick up a hire-car! We probably could have had the car delivered or got a cab for not that much more, but the challenge! The best bit was we all came from different directions, so I planned it all out that so-and-so would meet at this platform or that carriage - pure gold.

Incidentally one of those colleagues didn't miss with her retribution ...inviting me out to dinner with others and then advising "oh, I don't have any money on me" (I had to cover her and am yet to be reimbursed). Probably spent it on a cab getting there.

 

[whatmeworry]

I always found the "we need a dedicated train with special luggage spaces" rather strange. Every city I've ever trained from the airport (Frankfurt, Singapore, HK, Narita) has always involved a transfer onto another train/subway. So, eventually you have to make do with the space you have.

I would like to see Sydney's airport station fee drop a few dollars, but it's far better to have it then not.

For some reason, the link from the Airport has to go to Southern Cross Station. According to politicians (Bureaucrat... I don't know) the link can't be done till the metro underground is completed so it can free up track lines.

I don't why it can't just terminate at Sunshine Station for now? People can still change there for metro and Vline trains. Before the re-development of Sunshine station, I remember there was a disused station platform.

People might ask why do we need a train to MEL? Have you ever seen the traffic around MEL? Most roads are at capacity and if we could get thousands of people to switch to public transport, we can avoid building more roads.

 

[dk4]

IMO Skybus is great at off-peak times, it has good frequency, doesn't fill up AND is express between Southern Cross and the airport (& vv) - so I doubt that a train service will be able to offer that level of convenience/service during off-peak.

However, during AM & PM peaks Skybus struggles - the queues/wait-times are large/long (have you noticed that overflow queue area near their Southern Cross ticket stand? Well even that overflows, and that's with the double lining in the bus boarding queue) - so at peak times I think that a train service would be able to offer better convenience/service than Skybus.

 

[opusman]

Finally went on one of the double deckers today. Horrible experience.

I love how the website proudly claims "New double decker buses and still only $18!". They should give you a discount for forcing you to ride in one of those things.

 

[serfty]

yeah ... had one on Sunday ... fortunatly from the T3 end and I got the single seat near the driver.

It's mainly luggage storage down below with most forced upstairs find a seat.

 

[Melburnian1]

I actively avoid expensive, peak hour delayed Skybus.

Let's not forget the Metro train to or from Broadmeadows (Craigieburn line) and then change to or from the route 901 SmartBus. Cost for an adult: A$3.76 one way (A$1.89 one way if pensioner/ Senior/ child and so on).

This connection is best on weekdays when the bus runs every 15 minutes until 2100 hours. Today (Saturday) it's only half hourly (and the trains are every 20 minutes.)

JessicaTam (who with a bit more planning could have saved at least 10 minutes if I recall) and serfty are among AFF regulars (and in their case moderators of this forum) who have used the train/ 901 bus combination.

Even someone who lives in Shepparton (including Kialla) or Albury/Wodonga could use the 901 because the V/Line trains stop at Broadmeadows.

The train and bus combination will not suit everybody (as many AFFers are in a huge hurry for work reasons) but during weekday peak periods, Skybus can take 45 minutes or more and that's when the Metro (weekday) trains run more frequently.

Using the 901 bus/train combination, my quickest Melbourne Airport to Southern Cross station journey has been a bit under 55 minutes. It is quickest going to the airport because the transfer from train to bus is only 20 metres (travel in the second last carriage of a Craigieburn train from Melbourne's CBD stations) but going to the city you have to walk down and up two ramps to get to the Flinders Street bound platform, and the 901 bus has been stopping opposite Broadmeadows station due to side street construction works that are behind time. This means a walk across the main road called Pascoe Vale Road.

 

[Austman]

I've done the train/901 about 50 times.

It's cheaper but not as convenient as the Skybus and can take much longer.

If you are lucky, the Skybus really does take just 20 mins. But that's a dream time-wise on the 901/train combination at any time of the day or night.

And heaven help you on the train/901 if you have sizable checked luggage. Luggage racks? haha.

And Broadmeadows station is delightful, NOT!

HLO and not in a hurry and don't care about awful Broadmeadows station? Then it's fine.

 

[clifford]

Let's not forget the Metro train to or from Broadmeadows (Craigieburn line) and then change to or from the route 901 SmartBus. Cost for an adult: A$3.76 one way (A$1.89 one way if pensioner/ Senior/ child and so on).

That's really good info. Unless you're really in a great hurry, the Skybus seems to be a bit of a ripoff.

Can you pay with cash on the 901 or does it have to be myki? (Obviously I haven't been to Melbourne using public transport for a while).

 

[Melburnian1]

clifford, you need either a myki or (for country travellers) a V/Line paper ticket such as a single (one way) or return long distance ticket or a Family Traveller ticket.

See Home - Public Transport Victoria and (for country travellers) V/Line - Regional public transport for Victoria

You can purchase a myki from the 901 bus driver and you can also top up (or put an initial fare) on the myki through the bus driver. They do not give change. There is also an hourly metropolitan bus to Sunbury (handy if you live in Kyneton or Bendigo, or even Swan Hill or Mildura, as Sunbury is on the Bendigo, Echuca and Swan Hill railway line) as well as irregular buses to Moonee Ponds (but in most cases for the latter it's best to get the 901 and change at Broadmeadows to the Metro train.)

For instance an adult myki smartcard is A$6; the minimum fare is for two hours based on touch on times (i.e. when you place your myki on a validator on board a bus or tram, or at the entrance to a railway station) - sometimes at the platform, sometimes at top of any stairs or across a concourse and is A$3.76 so a $10 note or coins should do the trick nicely for myki plus an initial fare. Once you are on board the last vehicle in your two hour period you can travel (without changing) to the last stop so really it's more like a 'two hour 45 minute' validity period if you use it to the maximum.

The daily fare across all of zone 1 plus 2 is A$7.52 for adults: as many transfers as you like: bus, train and tram. This will get you to Healesville, Pakenham and Stony Point if you wish.

There is also a myki (blue) machine on the ground floor of MEL international arrivals, landside, near the cloakroom and also close to where one of the check in agents (DNata?) has lots of luggage usually stored. The myki machine accepts cash and cards. You still need to validate the myki on a bus, tram or at a railway station.

Touch on each time you use it (and for V/Line, which you may not use, ensure that you touch off at the station).

 

[serfty]

...
Let's not forget the Metro train to or from Broadmeadows (Craigieburn line) and then change to or from the route 901 SmartBus. Cost for an adult: A$3.76 one way (A$1.89 one way if pensioner/ Senior/ child and so on). ...

I take the 901bus and two trains when I can - but arriving at 7pm into MEL on a Sunday night - I am NOT going to hang around Broadmeadows station after that time of night for 20 minutes - even if I did I would still not get home until after 9:45pm - or 10:30 last Sunday with no trains between Cheltenham and Mordialloc.

Not even if it costs me NOTHING (extra) in the way of $$$ to do so, having a Myki pass expiring some time in February.

 

[moa999]

Given my beloved TripView app has recently added Melbourne, seems there is another option to the 901 bus.

478/479 to Airport West then 59 Tram.
Bus seems to be hourly on weekends and half hourly on weekdays with the 59 splitting the city down to Flinders St station (useful for Westin for example).

Any locals comment on this route versus 901

 

[JessicaTam]

Given my beloved TripView app has recently added Melbourne, seems there is another option to the 901 bus.

478/479 to Airport West then 59 Tram.
Bus seems to be hourly on weekends and half hourly on weekdays with the 59 splitting the city down to Flinders St station (useful for Westin for example).

Any locals comment on this route versus 901

I think the tram will be quite a bit slower than the Broady train.

 

[AstroDamo]

Given my beloved TripView app has recently added Melbourne, seems there is another option to the 901 bus.

478/479 to Airport West then 59 Tram.
Bus seems to be hourly on weekends and half hourly on weekdays with the 59 splitting the city down to Flinders St station (useful for Westin for example).

Any locals comment on this route versus 901

I've used this before but not all the way from the city mainly to get from a Sharp Airlines flight at Essendon to Tullamarine. Tram does take forever if you are going all the way to the city though.

 

[serfty]

Given my beloved TripView app has recently added Melbourne, seems there is another option to the 901 bus.

478/479 to Airport West then 59 Tram.
Bus seems to be hourly on weekends and half hourly on weekdays with the 59 splitting the city down to Flinders St station (useful for Westin for example).

Any locals comment on this route versus 901

The 478/479 bus went via Airport West - but until a bit over 12 months or so ago they used to stop at Essendon Railway station - an 18 minute train ride from the City.

One can still use them - but doing so to be most efficient 478/479 bus to Airport West, 13 minutes, Tram to stop near Essendon R/S, 5 minute walk from to R/S), 18 minute train to city. Catching 901 Bus is more efficient.

 

[Melburnian1]

I agree - the tram plus local bus routes is the slowest option of all. Not practical unless one was going to say Essendon or Moonee Ponds.

The Metro Craigieburn line train to or from Broadmeadows connecting to or from route 901 is the best public transport alternative. Especially on weekends, either use the PTV journey planner (you have to open a set of tick boxes at the bottom and deselect 'airport bus' or similar otherwise it will only show expensive Skybus) or look up timetables under 'metropolitan train' and 'metropolitan bus' separately. If anyone needs any help with this send me an AFF PM and if I am around I'll see if I can help.

Unfortunately the buses and trains run on different frequencies so not every connection is equally good: some are superb - 30 second at Broadmeadows from train to bus is about my record (luck!) but you can also wait 19 minutes for a train offpeak or 29 minutes for a bus very late every night of the week plus on weekends if you time the arrival at Broadmeadows badly (or if it so happens...)

Don't however think that everyone must pay the outrageous A$18 single or A$36 return on Skybus for a 21 or so kilometre trip. Regular public transport is a reasonable alternative but as noted above, not for everyone, understandably.

 

[serfty]

I think the tram will be quite a bit slower than the Broady train.

Tram Airport West to City (Mel Centra) is timetabled at 42 minutes (47 to lFinders St.).

Timetables - Public Transport Victoria - Tram Route 59

Train Broadmeadows R/S to Melbourne Central R/S is timetabled at 29 minutes (34 for Finders St.)

Timetables - Public Transport Victoria - Craigieburn Line