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 five 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. It operates every Friday and Saturday night, as well as on selected public holidays.
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. 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. 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.
Night Network commenced operation on 1 January 2016 on a 12-month trial basis. 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. The trial was later extended until June 2017,Night network services extended Public Transport Victoria 2 August 2016 and made permanent in April 2017.
Night Network services Night Train All of Melbourne's train services operated by Metro Trains Melbourne, except the and lines, operate as part of Night Network, servicing all metropolitan stations except for City Loop and Metro Tunnel stations (besides Town Hall) 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.
Night Tram The following routes operate overnight to half-hour frequencies. The Free Tram Zone remains in operation during Night Network operating times. : North Coburg – Flinders Street station (City) : Melbourne University – Carnegie : Vermont South – Central Pier : Waterfront City (Docklands) – Bundoora RMIT : St Kilda Beach – East Brunswick : Port Melbourne – Box Hill
Night Bus Twenty-one night bus services, operated by CDC Melbourne, Dysons, Kinetic Melbourne, Transit Systems Victoria and Ventura Bus Lines, run to a 24-hour weekend service on Fridays and Saturdays, as part of Night Network. Thirteen routes operate on Fridays and Saturdays. 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.
N°FromToViaNotes150Williams Landing stationTarneit stationTarneit180Werribee stationTarneit stationWerribee190Werribee stationWyndham Vale stationWyndham Vale207City (Queen Street)Doncaster Shopping CentreKew and Doncaster Road250City (Queen Street)La Trobe UniversityWestgarth, Ivanhoe357Thomastown stationWollert WestEpping386Mernda stationBundoora RMITSouth Morang and Mill Park406Keilor EastFootscray stationMaribyrnong410Sunshine stationFootscray stationMaidstone420Sunshine stationWatergardens stationDeer Park630ElwoodMonash UniversityOrmond and Huntingdale670Ringwood stationLilydale stationCroydon and Chirnside Park693ScoresbyOakleigh stationFerntree Gully RoadScoresby – Belgrave does not operate during night network703Middle Brighton stationBlackburn stationBentleigh and Clayton788Frankston stationSorrentoDromana and RosebudPortsea – Sorrento does not operate during night network833Frankston stationCarrum stationCarrum Downs900Oakleigh stationStud Park Shopping CentreWellington RoadCaulfield – Oakleigh does not operate during night network901Ringwood stationDandenong stationWantirna and RowvilleFrankston – Dandenong and Ringwood – Melbourne Airport does not operate during night network905City (King Street)The Pines Shopping CentreCollingwood, Eastern Freeway and Templestowe907King StreetMitcham stationCollingwood, Eastern Freeway and Doncaster Road908Doncaster Park & RideThe Pines Shopping CentreTemplestowe Lower941Sunshine stationWatergardens stationSunshine North, Taylors Lakes and Keilor DownsNight network only service943Watergardens stationMeltonCaroline SpringsNight network only service947Footscray stationNewport stationGeelong RoadNight network only service949Williams Landing stationAltona MeadowsPoint CookOne-way operation, Night network only service951Brunswick stationGlenroy stationBrunswick West and Pascoe ValeNight network only service953Broadmeadows stationCraigieburnMeadow Heights and Roxburgh ParkNight network only service959City (Queen Street)Broadmeadows stationMoonee Ponds, Airport West and Gladstone ParkNight network only service965Lilydale stationLilydale stationWoori Yallock, Healesville and Mount EvelynNight network only service967Glen Waverley stationBayswater stationBurwood HighwayReturns via Bayswater North and Ferntree Gully, Night network only service978Clayton stationDandenong stationMulgraveNight network only service979Clayton stationDandenong stationKeysboroughNight network only service981Dandenong stationCranbourneBerwick and Narre Warren SouthNight network only service982Dandenong stationCranbourneEndeavour Hills and Hampton ParkNight network only serviceSource: Public Transport Victoria
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. In October 2016, Seymour was added to the network.Seymour Coach Added to Night Network Services Public Transport Victoria 16 September 2016
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.
References
External links Night Network – Public Transport Victoria