SkyBus gone up again [Now $23.90 one way]

[codash1099]

But I bet handling the bags doesn't come for free.

It did for me . Others may tip the odd dollar. Bags go into a luggage compartment, not racks.

 

[Mattg]

Just thought I'd share my recent experience getting to/from Melbourne Airport.

On arrival I took the Skybus. It cost $18 but took about 25 minutes and was reasonably convenient.

I had some time to spare on the way back to the airport, so thought I would take the train out to Broadmeadows and then the 901 bus. On the plus side, it cost under $4 with a myki card. However, on Saturdays the buses only run at 30 minute intervals, and even then the schedules seem unreliable. I just missed a 901 bus that was 5 minutes early, then the next bus was 25 minutes late... meaning I spent about an hour waiting in the cold for the bus at Broadmeadows! Overall it took nearly 2 hours to get to MEL. (Lucky I'd allowed spare time...)

The verdict? I would probably just take the Skybus next time, especially if in a hurry. Although I do believe bus frequencies during the week are better than on the weekend.

 

[opusman]

I just missed a 901 bus that was 5 minutes early

Ridiculous that they will leave early and not wait for connecting trains.

But having missed it I probably would have called an Uber

 

[Mattg]

Ridiculous that they will leave early and not wait for connecting trains.

But having missed it I probably would have called an Uber

If I'd known that the following bus would be that late, I may just have done that (or called a taxi).

 

[Sprucegoose]

I have a mate who will pick up for 60 cash. Best way around the skybus. Aussie driver modern car. Best way to go

 

[Melburnian1]

Mattg, yes, on weekdays the 901 bus runs every quarter of an hour until 9pm at night. It's reasonably reliable: the worst I've had is 15 minutes late, and sometimes I've managed to immediately connect from train to bus, as I have in reverse when going to the city or inner suburbs.

Please report the early bus to Public Transport Victoria (the supervising authority) on 1800 800 007 (not sure if you can make such a call from outside Victoria, but worth a try - lines are open 6am to midnight daily) so that Transdev, the operator, can ask the bus driver why this occurred. Buses should not depart from a stop like Broadmeadows station early. Note that on weekends, by timing which train you get from the city, you can have a more efficient connection at Broadmeadows because the trains are (except for early and very late on Sundays) every 20 minutes but the bus is half hourly. I appreciate however that you may have been at station X at time Y and just wanted to get going.

Unfortunately on occasion the Skybus can take in excess of 45 minutes (compared with the advertising of '20') when there's congestion on the Tullamarine Freeway or CityLink. There are no set times for this: quite unpredictable, but going into the city on some weekdays at say 0750 from the airport can be a shocker.

SkyBus fares are exorbitant and many holiday travellers who have a bit of time up their sleeve could use the Metro train - bus 901 combination as a good alternative (best on weekdays as above) and save almost $30 on a return fare. I've also seen some savvy businessmen and women using the 901 bus, but many wouldn't even know that it is at Bay 7 of the MEL airport, near the north end of the JQ/QF domestic terminal, arrivals level. Thi is just past where the QF (and JQ) crews get their staff shuttle bus to the staff car park.

There's a myki card vending machine at the north end of the international arrivals concourse (and maybe one elsewhere but I've not found it), but I think bus drivers also sell myki smartcards and while they won't give change, you can top up or initiate credit on your myki through the bus driver to allow you to travel. To some people, $30 is nothing, but to others it's worth a little bit of extra effort. I have had to stand on SkyBus once - unpleasant.

At Broadmeadows, make sure you hop on the 901 and not the 902 because the latter goes to Airport West, not Melbourne Airport.

For those who like to plan their own trips, here are the two timetables to use:

http://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/view/3

http://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/view/7531

The journey planner can be quicker, but you do have to deselect SkyBus so that the route 901 (confusingly called a 'SmartBus') pops up.

The 901 bus also goes to stations at Roxburgh Park (Craigieburn line), Epping and South Morang (South Morang line) and further across to Greensborough station (Hurtsbridge line) but beyond these it can be quicker to take the train into the CBD and then go out on whatever line you reside on or are visiting, because the bus travels slower than trains.

 

[Mattg]

I have had to stand on SkyBus once - unpleasant.

Just on that last bit - I had to wait for the next Skybus as the one I wanted to get on was "full", though nobody was standing. I was in a hurry and said I'd be happy to stand if it meant I could get on that bus. Was told that it "wasn't allowed". Perhaps that's a new rule.

 

[opusman]

Just on that last bit - I had to wait for the next Skybus as the one I wanted to get on was "full", though nobody was standing. I was in a hurry and said I'd be happy to stand if it meant I could get on that bus. Was told that it "wasn't allowed". Perhaps that's a new rule.

I've been told that too although have stood once or twice in the past. Actually at 6'3 I would prefer to stand on the newer buses since they have such shocking legroom compared to the old ones.

May try the train/bus myself next time I'm not in a rush just for something different!

 

[Brian]

Adding to the post by Melburnian1, there is an app (Android and iPhone) called TripView. This app gives you Sydney and Melbourne public transport and I find it easier to use than the PTV app. There is a free version and a paid (around $3) version.

 

[Melburnian1]

One thing I omitted to explain if using the Home - Public Transport Victoria journey planner is that in 'Step 1: enter your journey' at the bottom, under the gray 'show journey' tab is a 'more search options' link.

If you want the route 901 bus and Metro train option to appear, you must deselect (i.e. not tick) 'Skybus' as otherwise the journey options shown will only be the expensive Skybus.

Unfortunately this 'more search options' tab is in a very small font - hardly ideal given the huge growth in Australians over 50, many of whom have or are starting to have macular degeneration.

 

[JohnK]

I had some time to spare on the way back to the airport, so thought I would take the train out to Broadmeadows and then the 901 bus. On the plus side, it cost under $4 with a myki card. However, on Saturdays the buses only run at 30 minute intervals, and even then the schedules seem unreliable. I just missed a 901 bus that was 5 minutes early, then the next bus was 25 minutes late... meaning I spent about an hour waiting in the cold for the bus at Broadmeadows! Overall it took nearly 2 hours to get to MEL. (Lucky I'd allowed spare time...)

LOL. Sounds like my experiences with public transport. Miss a bus/train that comes early and the next onesis almost always late.

 

[samh004]

The verdict? I would probably just take the Skybus next time, especially if in a hurry. Although I do believe bus frequencies during the week are better than on the weekend.

Sounds like you had a rare bad experience. I've taken the Broadmeadows route a number of times now and have yet to come away with a bad experience (touch wood).

 

[Hvr]

<snip>
Unfortunately this 'more search options' tab is in a very small font - hardly ideal given the huge growth in Australians over 50, many of whom have or are starting to have macular degeneration.

I don't have macular degeneration (get it checked every year) but I am myopic and have huge issues reading the fly speck print in grey colour on many websites. You can only enlarge it so much.


Also when travelling from MEL AP don't forget the bus to Sunbury and then catch the train from there, sometimes the timing may be more suitable if you've just missed the bus to Broadmeadows.

 

[Bundy Bear]

$36.00 return; I got a shock when reading there was no discount for return tickets, what a rort, although the current cold weather I am not that keen on taking the 901 bus option.

 

[Melburnian1]

Bundy Bear, yes, as noted many pages back the previous Skybus discount for a return as opposed to a single ticket disappeared with little publicity.

I can reassure you that normally the route 901 SmartBus buses arrive regularly between first bus and 9.00pm at night on weekdays when the very good gap of 15 minutes between buses is in play. As I said before, more than once by walking the 20 metres from the train to the bus stop at Broadmeadows station, I've stepped onto a bus. It's been rare that I've had to wait more than 10 minutes.

Come appropriately rugged up and with even the single journey savings of $14.24 (adult) or more if you get concession fare on Melbourne's public transport, you'll be able to look lovingly at the extra $10 in your wallet and the two extra $2 gold coins in your fob pocket. It's worth it and sometimes if you manage a quick connection it's little slower than the Skybus. Just remember to touch off the myki at the end of the bus trip to ensure that you don't get charged a daily fare, although strictly you shouldn't even if you forget.

By the way, travel in the second last carriage when going to Broadmeadows station from Flinders Street, Southern Cross or anywhere in between as that minimises the walk at Broadmeadows. Pascoe Vale Road is right outside.

Coming from the airport, there is a downhill then an uphill ramp to negotiate at Broadmeadows to the platform where trains depart for Flinders Street, but most people can manage it. There are no lifts at the station, but there are at the city stations. There's work going on in a side street so temporarily the 901 bus from Melbourne Airport is stopping opposite the station but there are pedestrian lights and an overbridge - the latter is slower to negotiate so stay at ground level. This was supposed to finish in July 2015 and the buses then revert to their normal route stopping right outside the station but the street beautification works seem to have run over time.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

After learning about it here on AFF, I feel like I've got the 901/Broadmeadows route down to a fine art.

I live near North Melbourne station, meaning it takes the same amount of time (about 1 hour) whether I choose Skybus or 901/Broadmeadows. I know which I prefer.

I've only had two issues in the past:
1. Arriving after (I think) 11pm, there were no more 901 busses.
2. Coming in from the airport on the 901 and missing the Broadmeadows bus stop. Dragged my luggage down the highway for a few kilometres to the next station. Not my finest hour.

Thanks for all the tips Melburnian1. Everyone should get on this. I would love to see the $4 option become the norm and make Skybus a little less complacent.

 

[serfty]

Used the Train (Frankston) / Train (Craigieburn) / 901 combo on Saturday.

It took 1½ hours to reach Broady from Carrum with about 10 minutes connection to the 901. It was actually a better connection than normal as Frankston Trains were not going through the loop.

Bus was already there - I boarded and waited. The driver was looking at his watch regularly, then three minutes before scheduled departure he took off. If I'd have missed by being two minutes early I would have been <rather annoyed>.

 

[Melburnian1]

.Everyone should get on this. I would love to see the $4 option become the norm and make Skybus a little less complacent.

I don't think there's any chance of that, because many travellers on airlines are time poor and leave getting to or getting from until the last minute. However, yes, gradually quite a few more people are using the Metro train and route 901 SmartBus option, but my guess is that 98 per cent of air travellers or more would still not know about it. Skybus don't want it advertised, so there's no large signs anywhere. Heaps of passengers just automatically buy a Skybus ticket - even at the booths though online is available. If only they went to the blue myki machines (one in the international arrivals), bought a myki and loaded it, they'd save money and be able to travel on a tram in the Melbourne CBD to get to their hotel for free, rather than wait around forever for Skybus' limited hours of operation shockingly organised 'hotel transfers.'

 

[opusman]

and be able to travel on a tram in the Melbourne CBD to get to their hotel for free

Not to be pedantic, but they can do that anyway since trams are free in the CBD now

 

[Melburnian1]

Bus was already there - I boarded and waited. The driver was looking at his watch regularly, then three minutes before scheduled departure he took off. If I'd have missed by being two minutes early I would have been <rather annoyed>.

serfty, three minutes is not much but depending on the times of trains or how the latter are running, pulling away from an interchange stop early can ensure that other passenger(s) miss the designated bus connection.

If you could kindly report the matter to 1800 800 007 and request a letter (best) or email back saying what has been done to try to minimise the chances of this recurring that would help us all. It's a bigger issue when you travelled on weekends because the buses don't run as often. I'm sure none of us want to miss a bus that departs early by two or three minutes and have to stand around on a Saturday or Sunday for another 33 minutes or so waiting for the next one. The bus drivers ought not be doing this - and need to have it reinforced.