Tullamarine Transport

[serfty]

That bus is very infrequent - the last one departs 4:45pm Mon-Fri

http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/route/view/830


Another one is to take a tram to Airport West and walk to the taxi rank at the shopping centre there. A taxi on to MEL is about $15.

 

[munitalP]

Its obvious to us all that the lack of public transport strangles MEL - why isn't it so obvious to the State Government?

A simple train loop meeting up with Broadmedows would fix the problem altogether.

Mr!

:shock:

 

[Flashback]

Its obvious to us all that the lack of public transport strangles MEL - why isn't it so obvious to the State Government?

A simple train loop meeting up with Broadmedows would fix the problem altogether.

Mr!

:shock:

PER isn't much better, although there is a public transport bus that goes out there; the 37. Train would be much better though.

 

[oz_mark]

-1 for the skybus. Only really good if wanting to go to the skybus terminal at Spencer St imo.

My may option if not cabbing is to take a hire car

Dave

If you can claim the expense back sure. But if you are travelling on your own dime, the fact that it can save a few dollars has much going for it.

 

[serfty]

... A simple train loop meeting up with Broadmedows would fix the problem altogether. ...

[-]Not going to happen before the transurban/citylink contract runs out.

I believe there are significant penalty clauses favouring the operator should the State government approve/build a train link between MEL and the city.[/-]

 

[munitalP]

Not going to happen before the transurban/citylink contract runs out.

I believe there are significant penalty clauses favouring the operator should the State government approve/build a train link between MEL and the city.

Typical short sighted state politics

Mr!

:shock:

 

[ianbaker]

Skybus is every 10 minutes, not every 5, and $16, not $15 But other than that, yes, definitely take the Skybus over a cab - especially if Spencer St is your destination.

Go into the Skybus web site to buy ticket online and cut out queuing.

 

[Evan]

Skybus used to also have a route via Doncaster shopping town area but not any more I think it was the skybus andway it was a red bus especially for airport.

Fact is the skybus is both expensive and largly not useful unless you really only want to go to the city.

 

[serfty]

... Fact is the skybus is both expensive and largly not useful unless you really only want to go to the city.

en contraire mon ami ...

My standard method of operation is skybus to/from Southern cross railway station, then train to/from Carrum/Mordialloc then bus to patto . Total cost - $12 and 2 hours (I have a yearly Met card).

Contrast that with the standard $130 taxi fare between my home and MEL.

 

[dajop]

A simple train loop meeting up with Broadmedows would fix the problem altogether.

And how would that provide a superior service to Skybus, apart from those on the Craigeburn line? Anything going via Broadmeadows is going to take at least 25 mins to get to the city. And I doubt that it would run to 10 min frequencies during peak hour. Lot more important things to spend rail $ in Melbourne than an airport rail link.

 

[munitalP]

And how would that provide a superior service to Skybus, apart from those on the Craigeburn line? Anything going via Broadmeadows is going to take at least 25 mins to get to the city. And I doubt that it would run to 10 min frequencies during peak hour. Lot more important things to spend rail $ in Melbourne than an airport rail link.

I never said it would provide a superior service... I said it would fix the problems of public transport...

A train line would simply align MEL with most other airports public transport capability. Face it, MEL is a shocker.

MEL to spencer street is 22km (22.1 for anyone wishing to be precise).

taxi fare MEL/Spencer St after 5am and before 12AM
Fare - 43.00 + Parking fee - 2.00 + Pre booking fee - 3.00 or flagfall

Total - 48.00 or 2.28 per km

Between 5am and 12AM - add ~9.80 (20%)

Limo - Anytime same ride

Fare - 65.00 or 3.09 per km

Skybus

Fare $16.00 or 1.32 per km

Train (assuming no state government funding charge on fare)

Fare $5.80 or 0.28 per km (again assumption on distance being the same as road)

I think regardless of additional time, a lot of lesure travellers would use the train - presently most of them use their cars - just look at long term from Friday to Sunday, nearly always chockers... add another 70.00 to your travel costs!

Mr!

:shock:

 

[Nigelinoz]

Deffo Skybus for me too,very convenient,runs at all hours and reasonable fares.

 

[Nigelinoz]

I don't have up to date information about the patronage of the Sydney airport rail service so it may have changed now but I do seem to remember that when it first opened the response was much less than expected.
I think that the enormous amount of money that would be required to build such a line in Melbourne would take a long time to recoup through fares and could probably be better spent in providing upgraded services to existing lines.

 

[Flashback]

I don't have up to date information about the patronage of the Sydney airport rail service so it may have changed now but I do seem to remember that when it first opened the response was much less than expected.
I think that the enormous amount of money that would be required to build such a line in Melbourne would take a long time to recoup through fares and could probably be better spent in providing upgraded services to existing lines.

It could be the extremely overpriced fees that turned people off, thanks to Mac Bank :evil:

 

[dajop]

Train (assuming no state government funding charge on fare)

This is a big assumption to make based on the experiences in SYD & BNE!! The $14.60 for the (relatively short) trip on a suburban commuter train from SYD to central Sydney, is almost the same price as MEL's skybus (in fact for return fares on anything other than same day, Skybus is cheaper than the airport train in SYD).

 

[notzac]

Train (assuming no state government funding charge on fare)

Fare $5.80 or 0.28 per km (again assumption on distance being the same as road)

I think you can safely assume that a rail link to MEL would end up being significantly more than $5.80. By way of example - in BNE it's $14.50 one way, in SYD it's $14.60 one way. I just can't see that having a train from the airport would be any better than the bus service that's already in place.

 

[straitman]

I think you can safely assume that a rail link to MEL would end up being significantly more than $5.80. By way of example - in BNE it's $14.50 one way, in SYD it's $14.60 one way. I just can't see that having a train from the airport would be any better than the bus service that's already in place.

Other than it would have to be more comfortable. As pointed out by others the really great things about Skybus is the lack of knowing a schedule as it runs all the time and it also has, for no additional cost, hotel transfers.

 

[munitalP]

I wont disagree with straitman on the comfort thing, train seats are normally less than comfortable - but in saying that, I use the train systems in most countries I visit - I think Australia is just behind the 8 ball with the 1) greed factor and 2) incompetent governing bodies with our public transport systems. :shock:

With less spent on road decorations and gardens where gardens are not needed (yeah yeah - I know whats coming), spending some of the 100's of millions of revenue from speed cameras on ifrastructure studies - completed by qualified experienced people - not post grad town planners - a rail link which worked from spencer street station (souther cross puh!) to MEL would be another revenue generator.

Mind you, the backhanders such as were rumoured in the news papers at the time paid to certain society elite ( :shock: ) to ensure no other company would get a hand on the public transport cash cow would have to be at least replicated with inflation added which would possible make the train ride from spencer street greater than the insurance needed for a particular persons new Rolls Royce...

Am I on a soap box again?

oops - sorry


Mr!

 

[JohnK]

I think you can safely assume that a rail link to MEL would end up being significantly more than $5.80. By way of example - in BNE it's $14.50 one way, in SYD it's $14.60 one way.

Purchasing a book of 10 Skytrain tickets in BNE costs $120.

At SYD another option is the 400 Bus which runs from Bondi-Burwood and stops at T3 and T1 every 20 minutes. Take the 400 bus to Rockdale train station and get the train from there to wherever you want go in Sydney for a fraction of the cost from the airport. And if you want to visit the airport for a couple of hours park your car at Bexley North, Rockdale or Mascot and get wait for the 400 bus.

 

[serfty]

That bus is very infrequent - the last one departs 4:45pm Mon-Fri

478 - Moonee Ponds - Melbourne Airport via Essendon, Airport West, Niddrie - Metlink - Your guide to public transport in Melbourne and Victoria ...

...
Train (assuming no state government funding charge on fare)

Fare $5.80 or 0.28 per km (again assumption on distance being the same as road) ...

Hmmm - this is interesting, with an Annual Z12 metcard It may be possible for me to get to MEL for 0 additional cost.

From City, take a Craigieburn line train to Moonee Ponds or Essendon and link up with the Bus there.

The bus is more frequent on weekends ...