Melbourne Airport stalling and preventing bus stops at the main terminals

[whatmeworry]

I know the state government can't really do anything but shouldn't the Federal government force MEL to provide these spots?

Airport keeps buses at bay

 

[serfty]

Until the 901 smart bus service began, the stop was undercover right at the heart of the terminal outside International.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....tullamarine-transport-18524-2.html#post255552

I'm sure the airport owners would prefer no PT bus service at all.

In any case, I used it yesterday - I noticed they have now removed the bench seating from the current stop and reduced the bus 'bays' from 2 to 1.

 

[Austman]

A growing, if modest, number of travellers catch the SmartBus to the airport, mostly from Broadmeadows.

Read more: Airport keeps buses at bay
​

I'm one of them. It's certainly cheaper than the SkyBus and depending on where you live, it can be just as quick or even quicker. The uncovered walk to/fom the "T4" stop (which seems to have been recently moved closer to T4) and if you have large luggage are the issues. There should be a stop along the concourse. It's good enough for the SkyBus.

 

[aikman]

I'm surprised more people don't use this bus especially for T4 passengers. I'm usually the only one on the bus to/from the airport yet when I get to the terminal building I see huge queues of people waiting to pay $17 for Skybus.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I am willing to walk to t4 for the price saving, although I mostly use it with hand luggage only.

 

[serfty]

I am willing to walk to t4 for the price saving, although I mostly use it with hand luggage only.

It's a couple of hundred metres past T4.

https://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=d...144.84954&sspn=0.005027,0.007532&ie=UTF8&z=17

I used it yesterday with an annual Zone1/2 MyKi pass - so other than some additional minutes there was no additional cost to me. (10:55am #478 bus; arrived Essendon Station 11:20am, caught city train 11:30, alighted Melbourne Central 11:42)

 

[whatmeworry]

I knew about the very limited bus service from Moonee Ponds to the Airport. However I didn't know about the 901 bus that you could use from the Broadmeadows Train Station.

In theory you could use the 901 from Frankston to the Airport all the way in zone 2, however it would take over 4 hours. From where I live it only adds 15 minutes but saves $17 dollars.

If it wasn't for this article I wouldn't even know about this option. Interesting if try to use trip planner on metlink you have to uncheck the sky bus option so you can only see public transport options.

 

[Austman]

The stop got moved recently and is a bit closer to T4. But still a bit of a walk.

It's $5.54 for Myki Zone1/2 which takes you from the airport (Zone 2) to anywhere in Zone 1.

The cost for the SkyBus (one-way) + a Zone 1 Myki is $17.00 + $3.28 = $20.28.

My trip the other day from the airport to Parliament Station:

Date	Time	Transaction Type	Service	Zone	Description	Credit	Debit
24/08/2012	06:57:13	Touch off*	Train	1	Parliament Station	-	$3.28
24/08/2012	06:21:55	Touch on	Train	2	Broadmeadows Station	-
24/08/2012	06:20:39	Touch off*	Bus	2	Bus	-	$2.26
24/08/2012	06:02:43	Touch on	Bus	2	Bus	-

 

[tuapekastar]

I used PT recently to/from the airport. Train from Darling to Broadie, then 901 to the airport on a Saturday for $3.30 (capped on w/ends) then vice-versa on Sunday. IIRC was dropped pretty much bang in front of T4. An easy and cheap trip if you have the time. The walk is very short and no issue provided weather is OK, and you don't have a truckload of baggage.

If they're going to make the buses stop down there near T4 then they should (IMHO) provide a covered walkway to T3.

 

[serfty]

I knew about the very limited bus service from Moonee Ponds to the Airport. However I didn't know about the 901 bus that you could use from the Broadmeadows Train Station.

In theory you could use the 901 from Frankston to the Airport all the way in zone 2, however it would take over 4 hours. From where I live it only adds 15 minutes but saves $17 dollars.

If it wasn't for this article I wouldn't even know about this option. Interesting if try to use trip planner on metlink you have to uncheck the sky bus option so you can only see public transport options.

The 478/479 services that stop at Essendon station can be more efficient than the 901 but run less frequently and have limited hours. http://tt.ptv.vic.gov.au/tt/TTB/20120817-181812/vic/04C06_ttb_TP.pdf The bus takes up to 25 minute and the train from from Essendon to the CBD is a further 15.

You can still use those that go as far as Airport West Shopping Centre and take a 57 tram to the city - but that takes a while.

The 910 takes 20 minutes to Broadmeadows and the trains another 30 minutes.

I left the DJ lounge yesterday at 10:45am (before the stop was moved ½km south I would have left 10:50am) and alighted from a train at Carrum 12:40pm - since I have a "yearly ticket" it cost me no additional $.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

i used it 3 weeks ago, the 901 bus. it was outside T4. you can travel by train for free before 0715am so you just need zone 2 only at that time. very cheap

 

[serfty]

... IIRC was dropped pretty much bang in front of T4. ...

Unless you alighted stopped at a different place to normal, the stop is still 200 yards south of T4 - on the other side of (divided) "Service Rd.".

https://maps.google.com.au/maps?sad...0DuiCA&mra=dme&mrsp=1&sz=17&dirflg=w&t=m&z=17

The buses route west along Depot Dr. before turning left into Service Rd. and the bus stop. When departing it's left into Grants Rd. and through the roundabout on to Melrose Dr.

 

[BAM1748]

Let's hope Melb doesn't go down the Sydney path for off plane transport. Slowly push all the cheap options out and take a cut of the expensive ones.

Matt

 

[seanpodge]

I'm surprised more people don't use this bus especially for T4 passengers. I'm usually the only one on the bus to/from the airport yet when I get to the terminal building I see huge queues of people waiting to pay $17 for Skybus.

I don't think many people know it actually exists. Bus services in general are a confusing mess in Melbourne and poorly promoted. I wouldn't be surprised if over half of Melbournians didn't know about this option. Interstate and foreign visitors have no hope.

Of course, MEL isn't being very helpful here. Not sure how they can complain that the bus service doesn't get enough passengers when they've relocated the only bus stop out to East Adelaide. The bus stop needs to be moved BACK to the main terminal complex immediately. PTV can then help out by doing some decent promotion of the Broadmeadows+901 airport link. Of course, SkyBus will throw a tanty, but PTV are meant to be serving public transport passengers, not a private bus company. SkyBus could come to the party on this (if they really want to) by falling into line with the standard fare structure under a deal with PTV.

 

[whatmeworry]

I don't think many people know it actually exists. Bus services in general are a confusing mess in Melbourne and poorly promoted. I wouldn't be surprised if over half of Melbournians didn't know about this option. Interstate and foreign visitors have no hope.

Of course, MEL isn't being very helpful here. Not sure how they can complain that the bus service doesn't get enough passengers when they've relocated the only bus stop out to East Adelaide. The bus stop needs to be moved BACK to the main terminal complex immediately. PTV can then help out by doing some decent promotion of the Broadmeadows+901 airport link. Of course, SkyBus will throw a tanty, but PTV are meant to be serving public transport passengers, not a private bus company. SkyBus could come to the party on this (if they really want to) by falling into line with the standard fare structure under a deal with PTV.

I don't think the Australia Pacific Airports Corporation Limited and SkyBus are willing to kill the Geese that lay their golden eggs!

I guess the travelling public need to lobby the federal government into forcing the Australia Pacific Airports Corporation Limited into doing the right thing.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Unless you alighted stopped at a different place to normal, the stop is still 200 yards south of T4 - on the other side of (divided) "Service Rd.".

https://maps.google.com.au/maps?saddr=Old+Bus+Stop+%40-37.67048863572734,144.84954357147217&daddr=Service+Rd&hl=en&ll=-37.673325,144.849865&spn=0.006131,0.009602&sll=-37.67251,144.84954&sspn=0.005027,0.007532&geocode=Facxwf0diDqiCA%3BFWQgwf0d0DuiCA&mra=dme&mrsp=1&sz=17&dirflg=w&t=m&z=17

The buses route west along Depot Dr. before turning left into Service Rd. and the bus stop. When departing it's left into Grants Rd. and through the roundabout on to Melrose Dr.

the 901 bus stops outside T4, not where you have shown on this map. it does a U turn at the roundabout outside the virgin blue terminal/express car park

 

[tuapekastar]

Unless you alighted stopped at a different place to normal, the stop is still 200 yards south of T4 - on the other side of (divided) "Service Rd.".

https://maps.google.com.au/maps?sad...0DuiCA&mra=dme&mrsp=1&sz=17&dirflg=w&t=m&z=17

The buses route west along Depot Dr. before turning left into Service Rd. and the bus stop. When departing it's left into Grants Rd. and through the roundabout on to Melrose Dr.

I hopped off where the 901 bus stopped, which, if it wasn't directly in front of T4, was no more than about 20 or 30 metres away. Which is also where I found it waiting to collect me the next day. Perhaps they have alternate stop locations in certain situations (or times of day).

 

[JessicaTam]

Unless you alighted stopped at a different place to normal, the stop is still 200 yards south of T4 - on the other side of (divided) "Service Rd.".

https://maps.google.com.au/maps?saddr=Old+Bus+Stop+%40-37.67048863572734,144.84954357147217&daddr=Service+Rd&hl=en&ll=-37.673325,144.849865&spn=0.006131,0.009602&sll=-37.67251,144.84954&sspn=0.005027,0.007532&geocode=Facxwf0diDqiCA%3BFWQgwf0d0DuiCA&mra=dme&mrsp=1&sz=17&dirflg=w&t=m&z=17

The buses route west along Depot Dr. before turning left into Service Rd. and the bus stop. When departing it's left into Grants Rd. and through the roundabout on to Melrose Dr.

The bus stop used to be where you have indicated, however it was moved about a month ago. The old stop had in fact been fenced off for road/ground works when I was last there. It is possible that your driver was unaware of the change and dropped you at the old spot.
MEL have managed to create more space for private vehicles to collect passenger, so why not do the same for the PTV buses back outside the international terminal where they used to be? I admit that the T4 stop is an improvement, but as one of my school teachers once said - 'could do better'!

 

[serfty]

The bus stop used to be where you have indicated, however it was moved about a month ago. The old stop had in fact been fenced off for road/ground works when I was last there. It is possible that your driver was unaware of the change and dropped you at the old spot.
MEL have managed to create more space for private vehicles to collect passenger, so why not do the same for the PTV buses back outside the international terminal where they used to be? I admit that the T4 stop is an improvement, but as one of my school teachers once said - 'could do better'!

Well, there you go!

Maybe this T4 thing was temporary as I caught a #478 bus yesterday at the spot across from the old Toll buildings 200 metres South of T4 as indicated by the google map links (B) I posted.

It did look like there had been some reconstruction - there was some bare earth and some special mats placed over the dirt at the stop.

 

[JessicaTam]

Well, there you go!

Maybe this T4 thing was temporary as I caught a #478 bus yesterday at the spot across from the old Toll buildings 200 metres South of T4 as indicated by the google map links (B) I posted.

It did look like there had been some reconstruction - there was some bare earth and some special mats placed at the stop.

I hope that they weren't just enhancing the old stop.