By LUKE VOOGT
Geelong residents who enjoy a night out in Melbourne will welcome the Victorian Government’s decision this week to continue late-night buses home.
Public Transport Users Association’s Geelong branch spokesman Paul Westcott praised the extension but questioned why the service was a bus and not a train.
Mr Westcott said a train would be more efficient for locations like Corio, North Shore and Lara, as it would travel directly to the station.
“But a bus is much better than nothing.”
Geelong MP Christine Couzens said the six-month extension will see late-night services run until at least June next year.
“The people of Geelong should be able to experience Melbourne’s night life,” she said.
“With this extension, they can continue to enjoy everything Melbourne has to offer, and know they can still get home safely.”
The Night Network service currently provides a coach from Melbourne to Geelong at 2.15am on Saturday and Sunday.
An average of 65 people use the bus each weekend, according to a government spokesperson.
The government expects that number to increase with the AFL finals and warm weather returning in summer, the spokesperson said.
Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said the extension would provide certainty for major events next year, such as the Australian Open and the Melbourne Comedy Festival.
According to the government, an average of 35,000 people uses the Night Networkacross Victoria every weekend.
The government also promoted its “200 extra weekly services to Geelong delivered last year”.
It announced more than 20 extra off-peak services in the Victorian Budget during April.
But Mr Westcott said these increased services, coupled with a lack of preparation, had caused Geelong-Melbourne transport crisis earlier this year.
Increased frequency and inadequate rail lubrication, he said, led to numerous trains being cancelled or replaced with buses from January to March.
“Assuming that they’ve got that under control, it’s very pleasing that they’ve increased services.”
Mr Westcott also said there was much “room for improvement” in the frequency of weeknight trains.
