Extend your arm when your bus approaches. The driver may not stop for people simply standing at the bus stop.
In order to save time and money, pre-purchase your tickets from your local newsagent, milk bar or metcard site. For example, Sunday Saver ticket.
Buying A ticket
On The Buses:
Try not use large notes when buying your Metcard from the bus driver.
The driver does not always have change for large bills and you may be refused travel.
Other note:
If travelling on a concession fare:
If travelling on a concession fare, please remember to have your concession card with you at all times.
Inspectors check concession entitlements and if you do not have your card on you, you may be fined.
Unmarked routes operate Monday to Sunday with service until at least 9pm weekdays.
There are approximately 300 bus routes operating through several bus companies with a varying frequency of service range.
The bus network in Melbourne exists to provide connecting services to major activity areas, universities and the rail network. The SmartBus network operates cross-city bus services.
This makes it easier for passengers as they don't have to change transports in the city of Melbourne for a connecting service.
Bus services in the Melburne area have recieved much grievance concerning their punctuality and accessable service.
However, seeing as though most of the bus routes were created before the introduction of Saturday and Sunday trading, the problems exist mainly due to historical reasons.
| Metlink Minimum bus standards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
30 Mins |
30mins to 1 hour |
30mins to 70mins |
Metlink Bus Minimum Service levels
Minimum standards for local bus routes are:
Monday to Friday: 6am - 9pm
Saturday and most public holidays: 8am - 9pm
Sunday, New Years Day, Good Friday & Xmas: 9am - 9pm
Non-Metlink Bus Minimum Service levels
Routes that have not had "minimum standards" upgrades typically operate:
Monday to Friday: 7am - 7pm
Saturday and most : 8am - 6pm
Sunday, public holidays: no services ( there may be some buses run on sudays and public hoildays)
Not all buses have upgrade to the metlink Minimum bus standards yet and if so it will have one of the following next to it:
Only runs on Monday to Friday, not including public hoildays
Only runs on Monday to Saturday, not including public hoildays
Limited service. Only a few services per day or week.
Last bus departures around/before 7pm.
Last bus departures before 9pm.
Minimum standards and trainlink and tramlink buses:
Saturday Timetable (Most public holidays)
Sunday Timetable: New Years Day, Good Friday & Xmas
Other buses:
Sunday timetable
December-January Hoildays:
Some bus services run on a reduce bus timetable over this time of the year!
Late Night Public Transport infomation
all infomation for late night services for
Firday and Saturday naights
As of March the second, passengers are now able to use their Metcard on NightRider bus services. NightRider is a cheap and safe late night bus service that operates on weekends to take you home when you're out late.
More than 300 stops make up the Night Rider bus network which spans across nine major routes to cover the majority of the Melbourne Metro area. The nine routes include Bayswater/Belgrave, Craigieburn, Croydon, Dandenong, Eltham, Epping, Frankston/Mornington, St Albans/Melton and Werribee.
VLine/Metcards tickets now apply to Nightrider services