Public Transport to our airports - what's cheapest?

[henrus]

Extortion is one way of looking at it.

Think it might be the only profitable public rail service in Australia.

You could compare it to a cab; which it’s cheaper, more comfortable, faster & way less scary than ... ?

Good luck getting a cab that far for under $22... Toowong to the Airport is a least $50.

 

[Forg]

Good luck getting a cab that far for under $22... Toowong to the Airport is a least $50.

And as I said; the cab is slower, not as roomy, and if the cab is driven by a cab-driver you’ll lose 3 years off your life due to the buttock-clenching terror & horror at the manner in which the poor cab is being operated.

 

[aspro2]

The cheapest Public transport to the airport may be viable when just carrying a 7kg bag, but I'd feel way too vulnerable doing so in Melbourne when carrying heavy luggage.

"Vulnerable"?! The route is fine. The connection is easy. If you don't want to wait at the bus stop you can stay in the waiting area at the entrance to Broadmeadows Station which is manned. Broadmeadows isn't a wonderful area, but I've seen nothing threatening in the times I've used this connection. The 901 bus has ample space for luggage usually. Sure, if you're taking two massive suitcases, it might be inconsiderate to other passengers, but otherwise I can't see a reason to avoid this route if time is not of the essence.

NOTE that the 901 stops running pretty early in the evening on Sundays, which is frustrating. Also, transfer times can be long in the evening in general (I recently expected a 29min wait, according to the PTV app, except the preceding bus was 5mins late, so I ended up getting to the airport 24mins earlier than expected ).

(Edited to correct bus number)

 

[Renato1]

"Vulnerable"?! The route is fine. The connection is easy. If you don't want to wait at the bus stop you can stay in the waiting area at the entrance to Broadmeadows Station which is manned. Broadmeadows isn't a wonderful area, but I've seen nothing threatening in the times I've used this connection. The 902 bus has ample space for luggage usually. Sure, if you're taking two massive suitcases, it might be inconsiderate to other passengers, but otherwise I can't see a reason to avoid this route if time is not of the essence.

NOTE that the 902 stops running pretty early in the evening on Sundays, which is frustrating. Also, transfer times can be long in the evening in general (I recently expected a 29min wait, according to the PTV app, except the preceding bus was 5mins late, so I ended up getting to the airport 24mins earlier than expected ).

I wasn't referring to your particular route but rather to my experience of the current and past train lines I've used, and I've had several altercations where violence was threatened over the years.
Probably one is less vulnerable travelling at peak times - but then one will likely be standing for much of the way.
Regards,
Renato

 

[AIRwin]

The 902 bus has ample space for luggage usually.

NOTE that the 902 stops running pretty early in the evening on Sundays, which is frustrating.

For those who may not be familiar, the Melbourne Airport route is 901 not 902:
901 Frankston - Melbourne Airport (SMARTBUS Service)

 

[aspro2]

For those who may not be familiar, the Melbourne Airport route is 901 not 902:
901 Frankston - Melbourne Airport (SMARTBUS Service)

Woops! Edited my original to fix it.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I wasn't referring to your particular route but rather to my experience of the current and past train lines I've used, and I've had several altercations where violence was threatened over the years.
Probably one is less vulnerable travelling at peak times - but then one will likely be standing for much of the way.
Regards,
Renato

Broadmeadows can be sketchy. But is manned first train to last and Protective Service Officers present from 18:00 every day. As long as you don't wander away I think you'd probably be safe.

 

[moa999]

Never felt unsafe on Broadmeadows Station. Always people around.

Some interesting characters on the train and 901 bus in that area though.

 

[Aus ATC]

Is it multi modal though, allowing unlimited transfers, or just a single journey (point-to-point)? All Australian major cities (and many minor ones) have multi-modal fares with typically unlimited transfers either for say a two or three hour period (based on touch/tap on times with one's public transport smartcard or smartphone) . This is not always so in some other parts of the world.

Just returned from Toulouse, France. Tram just outside the terminal (spur line to/from the airport). Considered as part of the local transport network so one way trip (including changes as needed) EUR1.37. No airport extortion charge.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Just returned from Toulouse, France. Tram just outside the terminal (spur line to/from the airport). Considered as part of the local transport network so one way trip (including changes as needed) EUR1.37. No airport extortion charge.

Similar in Strasbourg. Europe does it different (and better)

 

[tdimdad]

Similar in Strasbourg. Europe does it different (and better)

Including Helsinki which now has a commuter rail line to the airport. It's ticketed as part of their zone-based system and has easy access to the long-distance rail network.

 

[openseat]

We're not allowed to have nice things like ordinary ticket prices on public transport to the airport in Australia. We are the land of monopoly / duopoly / oligopoly.

 

[Hvr]

We're not allowed to have nice things like ordinary ticket prices on public transport to the airport in Australia.

LHR, SFO, ORD, BNE, DFW, DCA, SEA, BOS, BKK, SIN, are airports I've flown in and out of where normally priced public transport is available and convenient unlike MEL.

 

[moa999]

LHR will have a surcharge on the new Crossrail/Elizabeth line at the airport stations.

BKK used to have a surcharge on the Express line (subsequently disbanded due to lack of fleet) and poor design (it only ran to Makkasan). Expect it will likely come back when the extension to Bang Sue and Don Muang Airport opens.

BNE Airport line certainly has a surcharge, though like SYD and MEL it's possible to avoid with some extra steps.

 

[Himeno]

LHR will have a surcharge on the new Crossrail/Elizabeth line at the airport stations.

Crossrail is replacing an already existing express option (Heathrow Connect). There will still be the normal subway access available via underground.
LHR will have 3 train options. Non stop LHR-Paddington (Heathrow Express), Rapid from LHR through central London (Crossrail/Heathrow Connect) and the normal Piccadilly line.

 

[Forg]

We're not allowed to have nice things like ordinary ticket prices on public transport to the airport in Australia. We are the land of monopoly / duopoly / oligopoly.

We are the land of transport-isn’t-100%-government-subsidised and people-live-too-far-apart ...

I recall Rome only having public transport until something like 10pm but the flights run until at least midnight (if not all night).

 

[jastel]

London tube trains were not 24 hours until recently either...been thrown off when service stopped many times.
They need to be fixed sometimes I guess.

 

[ayebee]

Most airports have a premium on access (Helsinki was a welcome exception) & I expect to pay a premium on public transport, just because they can compared to the total parking ripoff.
For many years our standard way to/from MEL has been train and Skybus. Fairly reasonable and low stress provided plenty of time allowed.

 

[Himeno]

The new (terrible) Canberra public transport network started this week. Route to the Airport is now R3 running from Spence, down Copland Drive, past Florey Shops, into Belconnen, past UC/Calvery Hospital, down Barry Drive into Civic then down Constitution Avenue and Moreshead Drive to the Airport and Brindabella Business Park.
Every 15 mins during weekdays, 30 mins weekends and public holidays.

Services depart Spence from 0540 weekdays, 0600 Saturday, 0700 Sunday/holidays (first weekday service arrives CBR 0640)
Last airport arrival 2130 every day (some services terminate at Civic for rest of day).
First services departing Airport at 0607 weekdays, 0640 saturday, 0740 sunday/holidays. Last departure from airport 2140 weekdays/saturday, 2040 sunday/holidays.

Free travel this month (May 2019) with MyWay card. $5 adult cash fares. normal adult myway fares $3.22 peak (weekday service start to 0900, 1630-1800) $2.55 off peak (0900-1630, after 1800, all day weekends/holidays). myway fares 5% less with bpay or autoload topups.

 

[henrus]

Services depart Spence from 0540 weekdays, 0600 Saturday, 0700 Sunday/holidays (first weekday service arrives CBR 0640)
Last airport arrival 2130 every day (some services terminate at Civic for rest of day).
First services departing Airport at 0607 weekdays, 0640 saturday, 0740 sunday/holidays. Last departure from airport 2140 weekdays/saturday, 2040 sunday/holidays.

The start times are poor given flights start at 6am they should have at least put on some earlier services.

The last arrival is not that bad - given the last flight is 11pm (to Singapore) and domestic around 9:30ish that time suits.

Most disappointing thing is early last departures from airport... given how hard the gov pushed for international flights, they could at least run a bus to meet the 10:20pm arrival of the SQ jet.