Eastern Busway, Melbourne

Last updated

Eastern Busway
Victoria bus logo.svg
Eastern Busway, Melbourne
Overview
Operator Kinetic Melbourne (projected)
StatusUnder construction
Began service2028 (projected)
Route
Route typeBus rapid transit
Locale Melbourne, Victoria
Australia
StartAustralian state route 29.svg Hoddle Street
ViaAUS Alphanumeric Route M3.svg Eastern Freeway
End Doncaster Park & Ride
Length11 kilometres (6.8 mi)
Stations2
Zone(s) Myki zone 1 and 2
Route map

Contents

BSicon MFADEg.svg
BSicon RP4.svg
To City
BSicon RP4n.svg
BSicon RB.svg
BSicon RP4q.svg
BSicon light.svg
BSicon KSTRa.svg
BSicon MSTRq.svg
BSicon hRP4q.svg
BSicon RB.svg
BSicon RP4q.svg
BSicon light.svg
BSicon KSTRa.svg
BSicon WBRUCKE1.svg
BSicon MSTR.svg
BSicon RBo.svg
BSicon WASSERq.svg
BSicon WBRUCKE1.svg
BSicon STRg.svg
BSicon RB.svg
BSicon STRf.svg
BSicon MFADEgq.svg
BSicon WASSERq.svg
BSicon hKRZWae.svg
BSicon MSTR.svg
BSicon RBo.svg
BSicon WASSERq.svg
BSicon hKRZWae.svg
BSicon MFADEfq.svg
BSicon WASSERq.svg
BSicon ABZgl.svg
BSicon STRgq.svg
BSicon SKRZ-Boq.svg
BSicon ABZg+r.svg
BSicon STR2.svg
BSicon STRc3.svg
BSicon RP4q.svg
BSicon light.svg
BSicon KSTRe.svg
BSicon MSTRq.svg
BSicon hRP4q.svg
BSicon RB.svg
BSicon STRc1.svg
BSicon SKRZ-G4h.svg
BSicon STR+4.svg
BSicon MASKe@f.svg
BSicon light.svg
BSicon RP4q.svg
BSicon RB.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon RB.svg
BSicon SKRZ-G4u.svg
BSicon RB.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon RB.svg
BSicon SKRZ-G4u.svg
BSicon RBl.svg
BSicon RB+l.svg
BSicon RB.svg
BSicon SKRZ-Bu.svg
BSicon MFADEfq.svg
BSicon RBq.svg
BSicon RB.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon RP4q.svg
BSicon RB.svg
BSicon INT.svg
Bulleen Park & Ride
BSicon RB.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon RB.svg
BSicon WBRUCKE2.svg
BSicon RB.svg
BSicon SKRZ-G4u.svg
Australian state route 36.svg Doncaster Road
BSicon RB.svg
BSicon KINTe.svg
Doncaster Park & Ride
BSicon RB.svg
BSicon MFADEf.svg
BSicon RB.svg
 {{{previous_line}}}  {{{next_line}}} 

The Eastern Busway is a bus rapid transit line under construction in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. It will operate alongside the Eastern Freeway, from Hoddle Street in Abbotsford to Doncaster Road in Doncaster. As a part of the North East Link project and Eastern Freeway upgrade, the entire busway is expected to commence construction in 2024 and be completed by 2028. [1]

History

The concept of a busway between the Melbourne CBD and Doncaster was first proposed by Transdev, a French transport company that operated buses in Melbourne from 2013 to 2022, running from Donvale Hospital then along Doncaster Road, through the median of the Eastern Freeway, Hoddle Street, Victoria Parade and Lonsdale Street to a new underground bus terminus at Southern Cross Station. It also included stations at Chandler Highway, Burke Road and Bulleen Road. [2] Originally known as the Doncaster Busway, the project was estimated to cost over 500 million Australian dollars. However, the proposal was rejected by the Victorian State Government. [3] There has also been a proposal to use trackless trams for the busway. [4] [5]

In November 2017, the Andrews government announced the government's proposal of the busway as a part of the North East Link project. [6] It will run from Doncaster via dedicated bus lanes on the Eastern Freeway to Hoddle Street, with a new bus station at the Bulleen Road intersection. [7] It had been planned for the busway to run along the median in the Eastern Freeway, but has since changed to be built adjacent north of the freeway to better integrate with the intermediate station at Bulleen. [8] The Manningham Council had expressed their support for the facility due to its public space inclusion and public transport benefits. [9]

The first part of the busway, Bulleen Park & Ride, has opened in April 2023. Construction of the main busway will commence in 2024. [10]

Stations

Doncaster Park & Ride

The park-and-ride was opened in January 2003 by the Bracks government partnered with the former National Bus Company. [11] It was closed in January 2025 and will be rebuilt in 2028 as part of the construction of the project to enable entry to the busway. [10] [12]

Bulleen Park & Ride

The station cost $69 million AUD, [13] and opened on 30 April 2023 four years ahead of schedule along with timetable and route changes. [14] It is fast-tracked due to expected impacts to Doncaster Park & Ride, which will be closed during its rebuild for the construction of the busway, and completing the facility early will remove the need for building a temporary park and ride station at the Doncaster interchange. [15]

See also

References

  1. "Melbourne's First Dedicated, High-Speed Busway". Premier of Victoria. 25 November 2017. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  2. Carey, Adam (7 June 2017). "Doncaster to CBD: Special busway may run down middle of Hoddle Street". The Age. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  3. Carey, Adam (29 September 2017). "Red light for Transdev's rapid busway between Doncaster and CBD". The Age. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  4. "Push for trackless trams on the Eastern Freeway". No.  Herald Sun. 29 October 2019. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  5. Barton, Rod. "Trackless trams for Doncaster Rail". Archived from the original on 7 June 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  6. Andrews, Daniel. "Fast Tracking Victoria's First Green Roof Park And Ride". www.premier.vic.gov.au. Premier of Victoria. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  7. "Eastern Express Busway". Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  8. Jacks, Clay Lucas, Timna (26 April 2018). "Toll road to kill off future Doncaster rail: public transport group". The Age . Retrieved 20 April 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. Day, Andrew. "Bulleen Park and Ride facility welcomed | Manningham City Council". www.manningham.vic.gov.au. City of Manningham. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  10. 1 2 "Eastern Express Busway". Victoria’s Big Build. 13 February 2023. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  11. Inquiry into sustainable urban design for new communities in outer suburban areas (PDF). Melbourne: Victorian Government - Parliament - Outer Suburban/Interface Services and Development Committee. September 2004. p. 168. ISBN   9780975182529 . Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  12. "Doncaster Park and Ride closure | Manningham Council". www.manningham.vic.gov.au. 20 December 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  13. Godde, Callum (6 June 2022). "Vic to buy more homes near road project". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  14. "Changes to bus routes 200, 305, 309 and 905". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  15. Build, Victoria’s Big (15 June 2021). "Bulleen Park and Ride fast-tracked". Victoria’s Big Build. Retrieved 20 April 2023.