Parliamentary Secretary marks one year on the road for Monash bus service
Mr Edward ODonohue MLC, Ms Inga Peulich MLC, Mr Paul Barton and Professor Edwina Cornish
Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Mr Edward O'Donohue MLC, has today visited Monash University to mark the first year of operation of the popular Route 601 express bus service between Huntingdale Station and Monash University.
Operating initially as a one-year trial, the State Government announced $5.5 million in funding in May to continue the service permanently. Route 601 is the most frequent and direct public transport option to Monash University’s Clayton campus and has quickly become popular, carrying up to 22,000 passengers per week last semester.
Speaking at the University's bus loop, Mr O'Donohue was joined by Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Edwina Cornish, as well as students and senior representatives from the University and the Monash City Council.
Monash University Director of Environmental Sustainability, Mr Paul Barton said bus patronage had more than doubled on the Huntingdale to Monash corridor since the service was introduced.
“The recent investment by the State Government to continue this vital bus service permanently will ensure thousands of students, staff and new visitors to Monash continue to benefit from the faster commute to campus,” Mr Barton said.
“There are now four buses operating continuously over this 2.5 kilometre stretch between the station and the university, so I encourage commuters to the campus to leave their cars at home and board the Route 601 bus when semester two begins next week.
Mr Barton said the service, along with the recent feasibility study investigating the establishment of the Rowville rail line, which would include a train station at the Clayton campus, are important steps to making public transport access to the campus easier for staff, students and the wider community.
Recent passenger surveys suggested the service was not only utilised by students and staff, with the route proving a popular option for local residents who connect with trains to commute to the City.
During the university semester, Route 601 operates every 4 minutes from 7am to 7pm on weekdays only, and every 12 minutes between 7pm and 9.30pm.
The Route 601 express bus operates on a pre-pay system and passengers require a valid Zone 1 or a Zone 2 ticket before boarding. Metcard or myki tickets can be purchased on campus or at Huntingdale Railway Station.