Night Network (Melbourne)

Night Network is Melbourne's weekend overnight public transport system, which commenced operation on 1 January 2016 for a 12-month trial, which was later extended by six-months, and made permanent in April 2017. It comprises all of Melbourne's regular electric railway lines, six tram lines, 21 night bus services, and four regional coach services. The night bus services replaced the previous NightRider services, with 10 operating radial from the CBD and the remaining 11 operating from suburban railway stations.

Night Network

Overview
Owner	Public Transport Victoria
Locale	Melbourne
Number of lines	Melbourne suburban railway lines, 6 tram lines, 21 bus routes, 4 regional coaches
Website	ptv.vic.gov.au/getting-around/night-network/
Operation
Began operation	1 January 2016
Operator(s)	Night Train: Metro Night Tram: Yarra Trams Night Bus: Dysons, McKenzie's and Ventura Night Coach: V/Line
System map Night Network Maps

History

In January 2014, in the lead up to the 2014 Victorian State election, the Australian Labor Party promised to commence a trial of all night public transport on weekends, dubbed Homesafe, if elected.[1][2] Following the Australian Labor Party's victory, cost overruns were announced in August 2015, with the plan to cost $83.6 million, not the $50 million estimated during the election, due to increased security costs.[3][4] The network was unveiled on 30 October 2015, along with its new name, Night Network, with the Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan claiming 70% of Melbourne's dwellings would be covered by Night Network.[5][6]

Night Network commenced operation on 1 January 2016 on a 12-month trial basis.[5][7] In its first weekend of operation 9,862 myki touch ons were recorded, representing a three-fold increase in patronage compared to the former NightRider bus system. However, this may understate patronage as it fails to account for fare evaders, those travelling in the free tram zone, and those with periodical tickets who may not have touched on.[8] The trial was later extended until June 2017,[9] and made permanent in April 2017.[10]

Night Network services

Night Train

All of Melbourne's train services operated by Metro Trains Melbourne, except the Flemington Racecourse and Stony Point lines, operate as part of Night Network, servicing all metropolitan stations except for City Loop stations and Southern Cross, which close at midnight and 1am respectively. Trains operate hourly on all lines, with some lines operating as shuttles from major interchange stations.[11]

Night Tram

Routes 19, 67, 75, 86, 96 and 109 operates overnight to half-hour frequencies. The Free Tram Zone remains in operation during Night Network operating times.[5][12]

Night Bus

Twenty-one night bus services, operated by Dysons, McKenzie's Tourist Services and Ventura Bus Lines, run as part of Night Network. Ten routes operate from the CBD, departing every 30 minutes, with the remaining 11 operating from metropolitan railway stations, departing every hour. Night Bus replaced NightRider bus services, which largely follow railway lines, with PTV claiming most passengers will still have access to all night public transport.[5][13][14]

N°	From	To	Via	Notes
941	Little Collins & Queen Streets, City	Watergardens railway station	Footscray, Sunshine North & Taylors Lakes
942	Little Collins & Queen Streets, City	St Albans railway station	Footscray, Sunshine & Deer Park
943	Watergardens railway station	Melton	Caroline Springs
944	Bond and Flinders Streets, City	Point Cook	Newport, Altona & Altona Meadows
945	Bond and Flinders Streets, City	Wyndham Vale railway station	Geelong Road, Tarneit, Hoppers Crossing & Werribee
951	Little Collins & Queen Streets, City	Glenroy railway station	Moonee Ponds, Brunswick West & Pascoe Vale
952	Little Collins & Queen Streets, City	Broadmeadows railway station	Footscray, Maribyrnong, Airport West & Gladstone Park
953	Broadmeadows railway station	Craigieburn	Meadow Heights & Roxburgh Park
955	Swanston and Lonsdale Streets, City	Mernda	Brunswick, Ivanhoe, Bundoora, Mill Park & South Morang
961	Swanston and Lonsdale Streets, City	Doncaster	Collingwood, Eastern Freeway & Templestowe
963	Ringwood railway station	Lilydale railway station	Mooroolbark
964	Croydon railway station	Lilydale railway station	Kilsyth & Mount Evelyn
965	Lilydale railway station	Lilydale railway station	Woori Yallock & Healesville
966	Swanston and Lonsdale Streets, City	Box Hill Central Shopping Centre	Kew & Doncaster Road
967	Glen Waverley railway station	Bayswater railway station	Burwood Highway	returns via Bayswater North & Ferntree Gully
969	Collins and Russell Streets, City	Ringwood railway station	Caulfield, Ferntree Gully Road, Rowville & Wantirna
970	Carrum railway station	Rosebud	Frankston & Mornington
978	Elsternwick railway station	Dandenong railway station	Ormond, Huntingdale & Mulgrave	returns via Princes Highway
979	Elsternwick railway station	Dandenong railway station	Bentleigh, Clarinda & Keysborough
981	Dandenong railway station	Cranbourne railway station	Berwick & Narre Warren South
982	Dandenong railway station	Cranbourne railway station	Endeavour Hills & Hampton Park
Source: Public Transport Victoria[15]

Night Coach

V/Line operate Night Coach services to Ballarat, Bendigo, Traralgon, and Geelong, departing Southern Cross station at approximately 2am. The coaches operate in lieu of regional trains, servicing railway stations along said routes.[16] In October 2016, Seymour was added to the network.[17]

Ticketing

Myki tickets are valid for Night Network services, with standard fares applying, while V/Line tickets are charged at off-peak rates. Authorised Officers patrol Night Network, checking for fare evasion.[14][18]

References

1. Campbell, James (19 January 2014). "Labor pledges 24-hour weekend public transport for Melbourne if it wins November election". Herald Sun. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
2. "Victorian Labor to deliver Homesafe: 24-hour weekend public transport for Melbourne". Australian Labor Party Victorian Branch. 19 January 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
3. Edwards, Jean (6 August 2015). "Multi-million-dollar cost blowout of Victoria's 24-hour weekend public transport trial". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
4. Willingham, Richard; Carey, Adam (6 August 2015). "$30m cost blowout in 24-hour weekend public transport trial to begin in January". The Age. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
5. Carey, Adam (30 October 2015). "All-night weekend public transport kicks off at New Year's with new name". The Age. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
6. Minister for Public Transport (30 October 2015). "New Public Transport Night Network Unveiled". Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
7. "Night Network overview". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
8. Willingham, Richard (8 January 2016). "10,000 use night trains, trams and buses on first weekend of 24 hour services". The Age. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
9. Night network services extended Public Transport Victoria 2 August 2016
10. Tomazin, Farrah (22 April 2017). "All-night public transport to keep Melbourne on the move". The Age. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
11. "Night Train". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
12. "Night Tram". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
13. "Night Bus". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
14. "Night Network - all night public transport on weekends - FAQs". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
15. "Night Bus". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
16. "Night Coach". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
17. Seymour Coach Added to Night Network Services Public Transport Victoria 16 September 2016
18. "Night Network fares and ticketing". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 21 December 2015.

External links

• Night Network – Public Transport Victoria