All Brimbank bus services will run seven days a week from mid-next year under changes being introduced by Public Transport Victoria (PTV).
While the plan has been welcomed by local commuters, the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) described the changes as limited.
PTV last week announced it will make the 400, 408, 418, 419, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 451, 454, 460 and 476 services faster, more direct and more frequent after a review found several shortcomings in the network.
Currently, routes 421, 422, 423 and 424 do not operate on Sundays or public holidays, while some routes don’t terminate at key destinations.
“The proposed network will extend public transport nearer to more homes in Sunshine West, Sunshine North and St Albans East for the first time and increase the frequency on some bus routes where we know demand is high,” a PTV spokesman said.
Delahey Action Group secretary David Anderson said the changes had been a long time coming.
“We are pleased that four years after the Brimbank/Melton bus service review there will at last be some benefits for Brimbank residents,” he said.
The new network will improve access to major destinations like Sunshine, Watergardens shopping centre and St Albans shopping precinct, and better connections to trains.
While no route changes are proposed for routes 215, 216, 220, 410, 456 and 903, there could be minor timetable adjustments.
PTUA president Tony Morton said the changes were a limited exercise.
‘‘It does appear they’ve managed to scrape in one or two routes with significant frequency improvements, but at the expense of a small number which are worse off.’’
PTV said it had received 146 responses to the plans following community information sessions.
