Tullamarine Transport

[dajop]

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

Moonee Ponds RS is a bit of a walk from the bus interchange, so Essendon would work better as route passes directly by the station.

 

[auriga]

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

Definitely do this if you can.

I had to watch a waiting skybus leave while waiting in line to buy a ticket last Friday evening. It was really painful!!!

I was also quite surprised that the skybus I ended up catching was totally full, and quite a number of people could not get on!

 

[JerseyVics]

if money's no object: www.ecolimo.com.au

 

[markis10]

On Saturday I causgt a bus to MEL from Essendon R/S.



I grabbed a timetable and will next post information on the routes that use this stop.

Its a route that has been going for a long time, used to use it when I was still an ATC in training:


Tullamarine Bus Lines Route 478 - Moonee Ponds to Melbourne Airport

There is also this one but a lot less frequency

http://www.tullamarinebus.com.au/route479.html

Dont rely on the Viclink journey planner, it favors Skybus, for instance if you ask it for details to get from Mel to Essendon, it puts you on Skybus with a train back out!

 

[serfty]

Hmmm - this is interesting, with an Annual Z1&2 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 ...

OK, On Saturday I caught this bus to MEL from Essendon R/S.

The MEL bus stop is signposted but not very clearly. It is on the bus loop 1 road out from the terminals, about 30 metres south of the central (International) pedestrian crossing. There are actually 3 routes that pass through MEL airport like this.

Here's what it looks like from the crossing: (Click for enlargement)



and closeup:

 

[serfty]

There are three Metlink associated bus routes that serve MEL. Here are links to route descriptions and onward links to timetables for each:

• 478 - Moonee Ponds - Melbourne Airport via Essendon, Airport West, Niddrie
• 479 - Sunbury - Moonee Ponds via Melbourne Airport, Airport West
• 500 - Broadmeadows - Victoria University via Gladstone Park, Tullamarine, Sunbury

These services can all be used with a Zone 2 or Zone 1&2 Metcard.

 

[DJ737]

Hi there

The route 901 smartbus from Frankston to Ringwood will be extended to Melbourne Airport via Blackburn, Greensborough, Epping and Roxburgh Park.

It should take about 5 hrs each way and operate every 15 mins.

If you are heading to or from the CBD, get the train at Roxburgh Park.

This is great for me as i live in Roxburgh Park, so i won't have to put up with grizzeling taxi drivers only getting a $30 fare from the airport.

Cheers
DJ737

 

[straitman]

Hi there

The route 901 smartbus from Frankston to Ringwood will be extended to Melbourne Airport via Blackburn, Greensborough, Epping and Roxburgh Park.

It should take about 5 hrs each way and operate every 15 mins.

If you are heading to or from the CBD, get the train at Roxburgh Park.

This is great for me as i live in Roxburgh Park, so i won't have to put up with grizzeling taxi drivers only getting a $30 fare from the airport.

Cheers
DJ737

 

[Ms Lucy]

For me, it would take a pretty direct and fabulous airport train service to beat Skybus. Coming from country Victoria, I Vline it in to Southern Cross (a very much nicer place than it's previous incarnation as Spencer street station), then a brisk stroll with wheely suitcase down to the Skybus bays. I generally buy my ticket on-line the day before. I don't remember ever waiting more than about 10/15 mins at either end (and that's only when I've just missed a departing coach). If I'm travelling solo, I'd actually feel more comfortable taking the Skybus between airport and city after dark than I would a train, or a taxi for that matter.

 

[straitman]

For me, it would take a pretty direct and fabulous airport train service to beat Skybus. Coming from country Victoria, I Vline it in to Southern Cross (a very much nicer place than it's previous incarnation as Spencer street station), then a brisk stroll with wheely suitcase down to the Skybus bays. I generally buy my ticket on-line the day before. I don't remember ever waiting more than about 10/15 mins at either end (and that's only when I've just missed a departing coach). If I'm travelling solo, I'd actually feel more comfortable taking the Skybus between airport and city after dark than I would a train, or a taxi for that matter.

... and Skybus will be even better when they get buses with suspension :!:

 

[serfty]

With the advent of the 901 bus extension to MEL airport, the bus stop has been moved 500 metres to the South; from the convenient central inner ring location to a location well past T4.

It's location is definitely luggage unfriendly and is no longer protected from the elements.

I guess the owner of MEL airport are trying to avoid upsetting revenue stream with cheap and easy public transport.

Here's some reference Google Maps:

• Satellite Style
• Map Style

 

[SFSC]

Thanks, serfty for the info on the new bus stop location.

I guess the owner of MEL airport are trying to avoid upsetting revenue stream with cheap and easy public transport.

Even more reason for us to attempt to use the 901, depending on the weather and how lame we are on the day. In Sydney, we use the 400 from Rockdale rather than catch the train to Domestic or International for much the same reason.

 

[Mal]

With the advent of the 901 bus extension to MEL airport, the bus stop has been moved 500 metres to the South; from the convenient central inner ring location to a location well past T4.

Isn't T4 currently used by Tiger??? A cheap bus for a cheap airline!

 

[serfty]

Isn't T4 currently used by Tiger??? A cheap bus for a cheap airline!

Well, nothing much changes for Tiger fliers - a 200 meters North walk is now about the same distance to the south.

The main thing that does alter for TT PAX is the Northerly walk was generally under covered ways; the Southerly walk is not.