Melbourne Airport stalling and preventing bus stops at the main terminals

[serfty]

Then again, may be the old 901 bus stop has been moved ... I did note earlier and 'enhancement' to just the one bus bay.

 

[seanpodge]

A careful examination of the article does reveal that the stop may be moving back reasonably soon.

They show that while the airport recently yielded to the Department of Transport and agreed to let public buses into the main forecourt from early next year, it is yet to agree to provide a second bus parking bay.
The department considers a second bus stop essential for drivers to meet the timetable, but the airport says the buses do not carry enough passengers.

So common sense may prevail. Although given that this is the same mob who thought it was such a great idea to move the stop out to Whoop Whoop in the first place, I'll believe it when I see it.

Also, making the buses run late by not providing adequate bays isn't going to help lift passenger numbers, MEL!

 

[dajop]

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.

Interstate and foreign visitors are irrelevant, AFAIK there isn't even anywhere to buy a Myki card at MEL (at least according to the Myki website), so really no hope for them anyway.

 

[serfty]

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

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).

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'!

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

Ok ... on Sunday I took the 901 from Broadmeadows as I had a little time and it was only 5 minutes longer that getting the 478 from Essendon.

Coming into the Airport precinct, I pressed the "stop" buttong.

The bus proceeded North along past T4 before looping at the small roundabout and heading back to the 'old' stop - only then was I able to disembark. I asked the driver and yes, the T4 stop was temporary, but they now still had to proceed along that route past T4 without stopping.

Here's a Google map of the route: (https://maps.google.com.au/maps/ms?...l=-37.674038,144.851829&spn=0.006131,0.009602)



So it seems all PT buses are now back to the old stop. Lets hope they move back as reported by seanpodge.

 

[JessicaTam]

It is ludicrous that they would return to the old stop. I had thought that the change was permanent. As has been said before, this is not a way to encourage public transport patronage. But perhaps that is the point.

 

[fersea]

Can anyone tell me of another place where so many people gather that has less public transport options. Public transport to airports in this country is a disgrace with the exception of OOL.

 

[pn1]

I've used the 901 to and from the airport on several occasions. The 901 passes my street at Ringwood so if I have time and am looking for a leisurely ride I can take it virtually from door to door! I agree that the bus stop at the airport is inconveniently located but we live in hope that common sense will prevail and that there will be a public bus stop closer to the main terminal - one day! Now that Myki is the ticket system for Melbourne's public transport, it is possible to purchase a Myki visitor's pack from the Skybus kiosk. But note that Myki is not valid on Skybus! The 901 runs from early morning until late night six days a week and slightly reduced hours on Sundays. The most convenient interchange is to and from the train at Broadmeadows. I hear what people have said in earlier postings about visiting Broadmeadows but one way of looking at it is that every Australian should aim to visit the area at least one in her/his life! I've used Broadmeadows station many times and haven't experienced any trouble But one does see some unsavoury types; they're usually drug dealers/customers doing business among themselves or the local lads hanging about to impress the girls. Back to the 901, it does provide a frequent (every 15 minutes during the week) and affordable service. It compliments Skybus that, by anyone's measure, does provide a quicker service to the central business district - but at a premium price.

 

[serfty]

...

The bus proceeded North along past T4 before looping at the small roundabout and heading back to the 'old' stop - only then was I able to disembark. I asked the driver and yes, the T4 stop was temporary, but they now still had to proceed along that route past T4 without stopping.

Here's a Google map of the route: (https://maps.google.com.au/maps/ms?...l=-37.674038,144.851829&spn=0.006131,0.009602)
....

Recently on the 901, as the bus went north past T4 and just before doing the roundabout thing back, the driver yelled out - "anyone for the airport can get of now - quickly" - I needed no further invitation and powered off ...

 

[JessicaTam]

Recently on the 901, as the bus went north past T4 and just before doing the roundabout thing back, the driver yelled out - "anyone for the airport can get of now - quickly" - I needed no further invitation and powered off ...

If only they made that official.

 

[anat0l]

Recently on the 901, as the bus went north past T4 and just before doing the roundabout thing back, the driver yelled out - "anyone for the airport can get of now - quickly" - I needed no further invitation and powered off ...

If that driver was caught making that kind of stop (not sure by who, but caught anyway), they would probably be disciplined and possibly dismissed - the bus company would also be fined.

 

[serfty]

If that driver was caught making that kind of stop (not sure by who, but caught anyway), they would probably be disciplined and possibly dismissed - the bus company would also be fined.

Correct, but who was I to argue ... :-| ... others jumped at the chance as well ...

 

[anat0l]

Correct, but who was I to argue ... :-| ... others jumped at the chance as well ...

Meh, not asking you to argue nor care. After all, if the driver was caught, you're not on the hook for anything. Just saying.

We have a similar provision for bus drivers here in Brisbane (not quite the same situation - there are no Translink bus services to either of the airports here). Not quite related (off topic), but kind of reminds me of the provisions that drivers must follow as a result of Daniel Morcombe. And also the hidden provision that taxi drivers can stop any where, any time they please (including in no stopping zones, clearways, yellow lines, restricted zones etc. etc.)


To go back to the topic at hand, I wonder who approves bus stops near terminals in e.g. Sydney, Adelaide and Perth airports? They too are on federal owned land; I assume federal owned land does not fall under the planning laws of the relevant state where they belong, but at the same time I doubt that the owner of the airport has unilateral legal powers to decide whatever they would like to do with the land and the premises. Which really reduces down to the fact that the federal government is being lazy (as usual - irrespective of whoever is in power, mind you); that and perhaps the state / local governments don't really give a big damn at all, so it's not as if they are really trying to get an option in there.

Why does it seem that public transport adequacy at airports in Australia seems like an insurmountable challenge when it is easily and effectively provisioned in even third world countries? That assertion made, however, most of the major terminals in Australia have at least one public transport option to them or one fairly priced option ("fairly priced" = much less than a taxi); notwithstanding the price of these options (some people say these cost too much), perhaps the view is that "there is an option so stop complaining and shut up whingers".

 

[coles525]

Re: Really Skybus?

Easy fix...

1) Walk to tiger, catch the 901 airport/frankston bus.

2) Get off at Broadweadows station

3) Train it into the city / final location.

Cheap cost of 2hr met fare.

 

[hummel]

Re: Really Skybus?

What annoys me is that it costs about $30 for a return Skybus ticket - and how far are we actually travelling? I mean, it's less than half of that for a return train trip from Geelong to Melbourne, or about the same as an el cheapo TT/JQ fare to SYD. Or a nice meal down at Southbank.

In comparison, the bus from the airport to downtown HEL (a place notorious for being 'HELlishly' expensive) is only about €4.

Or maybe I'm just being too stingy?

Tend to agree. I have good intentions of catching train/skybus when I travel but 99% of the time I just end up driving and parking, especially if its under 5 days.

I have a train station 5min walk from home, 1hr journey to Southern Cross then skybus. Where as I can be at the airport in 1hr from my front door. Thanks to serfty (I think it was) I now pre-book my long term parking for 25% discount.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: Really Skybus?

Within a couple of weeks the bus stop for the 901 bus to and from Broady rail station will be moving to be at the far end of the QANTAS terminal. Not perfect, but far less walking than at present from Virgin, Int or QANTAS terminals.

It's actually a good service on weekdays: buses every 15 minutes until about 2100 hours, then every half hour. The latter's the case on weekends. Connections at Broady are quite good to Metro trains except on low frequency train periods such as Sunday mornings, when I would advise catching Skybus instead.

With Skybus taking almost an hour during some mornings to reach Sthn Cross station (I kid you note in the morning peak), the 901 then Metro train can be almost as quick. You can now buy a myki from the bus driver (full fare ones only I think): A$6 plus the amount you pop on the smartcard). it's in Zone 2: the city's in Zone 1, so you need about A$10 in fares on the card to get to the city. That'll leave you a bit over.

 

[serfty]

Re: Really Skybus?

Within a couple of weeks the bus stop for the 901 bus to and from Broady rail station will be moving to be at the far end of the QANTAS terminal. Not perfect, but far less walking than at present from Virgin, Int or QANTAS terminals. ...

It was only a year our two ago that the stop was between the international terminal and the Hilton ... I don't suppose they would use the space now available with the demise of the pax pick up area.

I more interested if that intend to relocate the 478/479 bus stop as well ... if you can time it, those services can be generally more efficient than the 901 ...

 

[JessicaTam]

Easy fix...

1) Walk to tiger, catch the 901 airport/frankston bus.

...

A bit further than that; about the same distance past Tiger as Tiger is from the main terminal. And no lighting or shelter.

Within a couple of weeks the bus stop for the 901 bus to and from Broady rail station will be moving to be at the far end of the QANTAS terminal. Not perfect, but far less walking than at present from Virgin, Int or QANTAS terminals.

...

I was dropping off friends this morning and part of the arrivals pick up lane was blocked off with cones. I wonder if that is where the work may occur.

At least there will be a security presence there, as at the moment the bus stop is very isolated.

It was only a year our two ago that the stop was between the international terminal and the Hilton ... I don't suppose they would use the space now available with the demise of the pax pick up area.

I more interested if that intend to relocate the 478/479 bus stop as well ... if you can time it, those services can be generally more efficient than the 901 ...

TBH I think the 478/479/500 would be easier to move as the buses only stop to pick up and drop off. The 901 uses the stop as a layover zone, and there can be two buses sitting there for 10-15 minutes at a time.

 

[Melburnian1]

All the myki fare buses will be at the same stop near T1 from 17 June 2013.

 

[JessicaTam]

All the myki fare buses will be at the same stop near T1 from 17 June 2013.

Source (please)?

 

[Melburnian1]

The source was www.ptv.vic.gov.au, specifically:

Catching the bus to Melbourne Airport is now more convenient: effective Monday, 17 June 2013 - Public Transport Victoria