Public Transport to our airports - what's cheapest?

[dajop]

From my rough look, there is no (direct) vline train Melbourne to Albury, there are the vline coaches ie buses, to get around.
I think from Southern X, you get a train up to a certain town, and then have to change to a vline coach to Albury.
Except if you are happy with the $$$ XPT.

Whilst track work is underway, coaches replace trains. Normally I think there are 3 Vline trains a day to Albury.

 

[serfty]

I wonder what they'll charge Seniors who already get half price fares?

It may be poorly written; seniors myki holder get 'concession' fares when they pay. Currently a two hour zone 2 concession fare is $1.80; in June it could be 90¢. Specifically, as written would stay at $1.80:

The 50% discount will apply to full fare as well as concession passengers.

https://transport.vic.gov.au/news-and-resources/news/free-public-transport-across-victoria

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Ah, so there are vline trains from Southern Cross to Albury, when I looked a few months ago, it was all via Seymour then coach.

 

[openseat]

I think the Vic government missed a great opportunity with the airport line. If they had worked to bring the North East Lines (Albury (Wagga) and Shep) through the airport as well as the Bendigo line.

 

[dajop]

I think the Vic government missed a great opportunity with the airport line. If they had worked to bring the North East Lines (Albury (Wagga) and Shep) through the airport as well as the Bendigo line.

At what cost though?

To bring the Bendigo line to the airport alone, probably looking at 20km of new track, a major viaduct and plenty of land acquisition. In Victoria, talking billions of dollars, that could be better spent elsewhere. Could probably start - and here's a novel concept - lining up the buses between Sunbury and the airport with Bendigo line trains, and promoting that. For Albury/Shepp/Seymour lines, the 901 bus probably has sufficient frequency to get to Broadmeadows for the onwards trains.

Probably the main benefit would not be bringing the trains to the Airport per se, but having them not sharing paths with all-stop suburban trains that slows them down.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Ah, so there are vline trains from Southern Cross to Albury, when I looked a few months ago, it was all via Seymour then coach.

There has been trains with V/Line to Albury for decades

 

[kookaburra75]

I'm down in Melbourne travelling solo on a footy weekend, and heading over to the kids place at Glenroy. A good time to try out the 901 bus, especially as it's free at the moment.

 

[serfty]

There has been trains with V/Line to Albury for decades

Try 1872 for this and related service.

Albury line - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Flyfrequently]

I'm down in Melbourne travelling solo on a footy weekend, and heading over to the kids place at Glenroy. A good time to try out the 901 bus, especially as it's free at the moment.

How was it @kookaburra75 - take awhile?

 

[serfty]

How was it @kookaburra75 - take awhile?

I used it Thursday to and Friday return; travelling from/to Seaford Station (Train-Train-Bus and vv).

Outbound took 125 minutes - depart and arrive waits at Southern Cross and Broady were 3 and 6 minutes respectively (it does not get much better then that).

Return was 140 minutes, waits were 10 and 14 minutes.

Note this is on weekdays were the 901 is every ¼ hour or so during the day. On weekends it can run at ½ hour intervals during daylight. Craigieburn line frequencies are 20 minutes and Frankston 10.

To be fair, I have had situations where travel took over three hours.

 

[Flyfrequently]

That's not bad @serfty , with roadworks on Peninsula Link and Nepean Highway, took us an hour 50 minutes to get to Malvern medical appointment on Wednesday from a bit further down from Seaford!

 

[kookaburra75]

How was it @kookaburra75 - take awhile?

It was only 40 minutes to get to their door. Only a few minutes wait at the airport for the 901 bus at around 3pm. 20 minutes to Broadmeadows station, 10 minutes wait for the train, one station down the line, and then a five minute walk to their place. I'd certainly do it again in the middle of the day. And of course, it's easy free

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I used it Thursday to and Friday return; travelling from/to Seaford Station (Train-Train-Bus and vv).

Outbound took 125 minutes - depart and arrive waits at Southern Cross and Broady were 3 and 6 minutes respectively (it does not get much better then that).

Return was 140 minutes, waits were 10 and 14 minutes.

Note this is on weekdays were the 901 is every ¼ hour or so during the day. On weekends it can run at ½ hour intervals during daylight. Craigieburn line frequencies are 20 minutes and Frankston 10.

To be fair, I have had situations where travel took over three hours.

Imagine, T4 to Frankston, the long way around, on 901, 4 hrs for cheaps/free for now.
Or less time if we use uncle Red, ($$$) on the Peninsula Express, 1.5 hrs I think mine took a few months ago.

 

[serfty]

Imagine, T4 to Frankston, the long way around, on 901, 4 hrs for cheaps/free for now.
Or less time if we use uncle Red, ($$$) on the Peninsula Express, 1.5 hrs I think mine took a few months ago.

Sure ... my cost was time, offsetting $0.

 

[serfty]

Imagine, T4 to Frankston, the long way around, on 901, 4 hrs for cheaps/free for now.
Or less time if we use uncle Red, ($$$) on the Peninsula Express, 1.5 hrs I think mine took a few months ago.

There is a 901 bus stop atnBelvedete, a 15 minute walk from my home. From there it is 3½ hours to the airport.

Time is not the issue. There are over 140 stops depending on the direction. As Melbourne's longest bus route (~115km) that's a lot of neck pain from constant stopping and starting.