SmartBus 901 to Melbourne Airport

[ychan]

Sorry it does only go to Airport West, but there is a bus stop next to the terminus of the 59 tram on Matthews Ave

I'm not sure about the Bus or Tram no's but I used to take bus from Airport to Airport West and get off just outside the Airport West Shopping Mall. There's a Tram stop there as well, so I just take the tram to Melbourne CBD, getting off at either Swanston or Elizabeth St. (not sure which!)....

I agree with the comments about this normal service not being publicised, and people just being misled to use the Skybus (what a big rip-off!!!).... and don't get me started on Sydney airport!!! bloody shame on the government.

 

[serfty]

59 Tram / 478/479 bus.

 

[ychan]

I have downloaded the 901 timetable and it covers lotsa places, very convenient indeed. My next trip down, I will give it a try and report back

 

[jetpack]

Took the 901 and the train from the airport this morning. I was in the CBD 80 minutes after the plane landed. Quite convenient from T4 where I landed but would be a fair walk from T1. Interesting that it was allocated the bus bay furthest away from the terminal with minimal signage at the bus stop itself but not surprising given every passenger on it is potentially lost revenue for the airport.

 

[ychan]

Took the 901 and the train from the airport this morning. I was in the CBD 80 minutes after the plane landed. Quite convenient from T4 where I landed but would be a fair walk from T1. Interesting that it was allocated the bus bay furthest away from the terminal with minimal signage at the bus stop itself but not surprising given every passenger on it is potentially lost revenue for the airport.

Great info, whereabouts in the CBD did the 901 pass through? I checked the TT and couldn't find any CBD stops.

 

[jetpack]

Great info, whereabouts in the CBD did the 901 pass through? I checked the TT and couldn't find any CBD stops.

I got off the bus at Broadmeadows train station and transferred to the train.

 

[samh004]

Great info, whereabouts in the CBD did the 901 pass through? I checked the TT and couldn't find any CBD stops.

As mentioned, the route discussed requires a bus and a train to get in/out of the city.

 

[tennisparadies]

oh wow I didn't know that about the 901 Bus! Def going to try that out next time! Also i am much more of a train person than a bus person...

 

[Austman]

Although it is hard to sing the praises of Broadmeadows railway station.

The charming waiting room...

The delightful tunnel access to the platform for city bound trains...

At least coming from the city, there's less of it to deal with!

 

[coles525]

often use the 901 when I have a chance.

 

[keybo]

Certainly beats the skybus fares. Though about 2 years ago on the bus from Broadmeadows, the bus stopped a couple of stops before the airport for around 30 minutes to change drivers, which resulted in me running through the terminal to catch my flight. Gate had actually just closed by then but the gate agent thankfully opened it up again for me (this was JQ no less!)

Doesn't seem to be all that well known, once when I was heading to an airbnb, the host (who has lived in Melbourne all his life) didn't even know it existed. Really could use some love from the state government to push it through as the airport seems to want nothing to do with it. Always seems to only have 1 or 2 other passengers when I catch it, unlike the 400 bus in SYD which is similarly under-publicised but still gets good patronage throughout the day in my experience.

 

[opusman]

Definitely depends on the time of day, last time I took the 901 there were about 20 people going to the airport.

 

[Melburnian1]

Definitely depends on the time of day, last time I took the 901 there were about 20 people going to the airport.

Similar number the last time I was on it. Highly variable, but numbers have definitely risen a lot in the last three years. It can't all be from AFFers!

I have chatted briefly with other passengers, some of whom are connecting to or from V/Line trains to or from the Seymour area or in one person's case from Benalla. Quite logical: a lot quicker for them than going into Southern Cross and back again, and since V/Line tickets include metropolitan Melbourne bus, tram and train travel, it's a 'free' extra for them.

Remember if using the PTV website journey planner to (in the 'other options' at bottom) ONLY select 'metropolitan train' and 'metropolitan bus' (tick boxes) as your types of public transport to be used because if you fail to delete SkyBus, the results will just show the SkyBus, which is not what you want if unwilling to pay the huge extra cost of SkyBus.

 

[moa999]

Although it is hard to sing the praises of Broadmeadows railway station.

The charming waiting room...

Some of the local residents are also quite charming...

For those Sydney siders who use the TripView app, it also covers Melbourne and will show the 901 and 478/479 timetable

CityMapper, my other go to public transport app doesn't

 

[pn1]

I've also done several "day trips" interstate and parked my car in a side street at Gladstone Park and caught the 901 to Melbourne Airport.

 

[hollydavid69]

I did a pb yesterday.
I got the 1.11 PM train from Parliament train station to Broadmeadows train station.
Then boarded the 901 bus at 1.46 PM, walked off the train & straight on the bus, which then proceeded to leave 10 seconds later.
Then on the way to the airport, we only stopped a few times & I walked into T4 @ 2.00 PM.
& add on a 10 minute walk to the QP & that's a hour form the city to the QP on public transport !!
That made my day, all for the grand sum of $4.10

On a side note, in Sydney last week, the plane got in @ 8.30 PM, got a 401 bus (I think) to Mascot train station from the airport, then the train to Central station, with the Opal card, cost a grand total of $2.83 !! Much better.

 

[Austman]

I got the 1.11 PM train from Parliament train station to Broadmeadows train station.
Then boarded the 901 bus at 1.46 PM, walked off the train & straight on the bus, which then proceeded to leave 10 seconds later.
Then on the way to the airport, we only stopped a few times & I walked into T4 @ 2.00 PM.

It's good when the connections work!

I doubt that tram (or taxi) + Skybus could have beaten 50 minutes from Parliament.

I do the trip quite often and 70 minutes is the more the norm from Parliament allowing for train and bus typical waiting times.