30 Nov 15 A new bus interchange at MEL AP

[Hvr]

Airport buses - Public Transport Victoria

From 30 November 2015, a new bus interchange at Melbourne Airport will open, providing customers with a new undercover bus interchange located at domestic Terminal Four (T4).


The existing bus interchange located at Terminal 1 (T1) will no longer be in operation.


The new T4 bus interchange provides direct access to Tiger Airways, Jetstar and Regional Express services, with all other airlines departing from T1, T2 and T3.


T4 bus interchange is located approximately 10 minutes’ walk from T1, so customers are reminded to plan ahead and consider additional travel time to access T1, T2 and T3.


Bus Routes that will service the new T4 bus interchange:

• Route 478: Airport West to Melbourne Airport
• Route 479: Airport West to Sunbury via Melbourne Airport and return
• Route 482: Airport West To Melbourne Airport (via South Centre Road)
• Route 901: Melbourne Airport to Frankston (SMARTBUS Service)

Just when regular public transport to/from MEL AP was getting some traction it is again relegated to the boonies.

Would there be any reason Skybus would have influence to chase away competition?

 

[moa999]

Seriously they need a stop at T4 and T1 at a minimum... Definitely think SkyBus has their hands in this
(Back to the way it used to be where the stop was a good block from the shed with almost no waiting area)

 

[docjames]

Wow, that's pathetic. A stop at each end (T4 and T1) would be more user-friendly....

 

[samh004]

Not looking forward to this, but it's still going to be cheaper than the Skybus, so I'll take the walk!

 

[JessicaTam]

I received the email today. Grrr.

I thought the long walks from the end of the airport precinct were over. Except of course, it is currently at the other end of the airport precinct for T4 users. Two stops would be the best solution as others have mentioned.

 

[opusman]

Perhaps they think the people most likely to be catching public buses are also those most likely to be flying from T4?

 

[docjames]

I also go the email last night.

nearly hit "reply" to point out a two stop strategy, but discarded after figuring "what's the point".

 

[serfty]

I wouldn't worry too much - at least the service is still offered.¹

This is better then when it was about 500 metres southwest of T1.

Nothing will be as good as the glory days when it was outside the international terminal.

¹ Disclaimer: No real issue for me as I find I fly VA domestically more often than QF these days.

 

[RooFlyer]

Airport buses - Public Transport Victoria

Just when regular public transport to/from MEL AP was getting some traction it is again relegated to the boonies.

Would there be any reason Skybus would have influence to chase away competition?

I would think its 100% related to how much the respective transport service is prepared to pay Melbourne Airport for access to its precious kerbs/terminals.

Skybus undoubtedly pays a handsome fee to the Airport to be able to service it; I doubt the public bus service would be allowed to pay for access, so it gets banished.

 

[whatmeworry]

I would think its 100% related to how much the respective transport service is prepared to pay Melbourne Airport for access to its precious kerbs/terminals.

Skybus undoubtedly pays a handsome fee to the Airport to be able to service it; I doubt the public bus service would be allowed to pay for access, so it gets banished.

Yay for unfettered capitalism!

 

[Himeno]

I would think its 100% related to how much the respective transport service is prepared to pay Melbourne Airport for access to its precious kerbs/terminals.

Skybus undoubtedly pays a handsome fee to the Airport to be able to service it; I doubt the public bus service would be allowed to pay for access, so it gets banished.

Then don't stop at the terminals.
Stop at the Parkroyal hotel.

 

[RooFlyer]

I would think its 100% related to how much the respective transport service is prepared to pay Melbourne Airport for access to its precious kerbs/terminals.

Skybus undoubtedly pays a handsome fee to the Airport to be able to service it; I doubt the public bus service would be allowed to pay for access, so it gets banished.

Then don't stop at the terminals.
Stop at the Parkroyal hotel.

Don't understand; report in OP says public busses stop at T4; Skybus stops outside T1 and T3. Since Skybus put up their fares last time, I'm not a patron of either.

 

[Himeno]

Don't understand; report in OP says public busses stop at T4; Skybus stops outside T1 and T3. Since Skybus put up their fares last time, I'm not a patron of either.

*headdesk*
You are suggesting that Melbourne Airport wants ground transport services to pay for access to stops at the terminals and that Skybus would be more willing to pay such a fee then a government contracted public transport bus company, hence the public buses being sent to the cheap end of the terminal area.

If that were the case, then perhaps the public buses shouldn't stop outside a terminal. They could stop outside the hotel - across the road from T2.

 

[RooFlyer]

Yes, but that would be convenient for the bus passengers. If they want convenience, then the bus operator and ultimately, the bus passenger pays.

*foreheadslap I guess*

Besides I dare say that for their princely access fee, the Airport has a clause in the Skybus contract that no one else gets within cooee of the main terminals.

As an example of airport operators avarice, when Brisbane Airport was up for sale ( I was on the bank advisor team for one of the potential buyers), our client asked how they could prevent the Airport Train from stopping at the airport. Why? Because it would devalue the taxi access fees they got.

Everything at an airport comes at an appropriate price.

 

[Austman]

The new car park building near T4 now includes a "Transport Hub".

As far as I can see, there are dedicated entry and exit paths from the Tullamarine Freeway that go nowhere near T1, T2 or the hotels.

Mercer Drive exit is used to get to the "Transport Hub".

And APAC Drive is used to get to the Tullamarine freeway from the "Transport Hub".

So I doubt that the public transport buses to/from Melbourne will go anywhere near T1, T2 or the hotels.

 

[PLANT]

That's probably why the original public transport stop was across the road from where T4 was..... 1 pole and small sign.... No shelter..... Felt like Tassie standing out there waiting for bus

 

[PLANT]

The driver seemed shocked to see a passenger too ha ha ha

 

[serfty]

That's probably why the original public transport stop was across the road from where T4 was..... 1 pole and small sign.... No shelter..... Felt like Tassie standing out there waiting for bus

No ... the "original" ... at least the stop in around 2009 was outside the "International" terminal - slap bang at the middle of the main building.

 

[whughes3]

Interestingly, there is so far absolutely nothing about this impending change on the airport website (a few vague references posted a long time ago, but nothing recent).

 

[moa999]

Assume the "transit centre" is under cover ?