Dear All

Just as we were talking about a shuttle from Narre Warren, notices are up at the Frankston Station and onboard buses advising that Portsea are set to commence a daily express coach service from the Mornington Peninsula to the CBD from Monday 29/9. The notice is tilted "Peninsula Park+Ride" at the top, so I gather they expect most passengers will drive to the pick-up locations.

It commences at Rosebud West, departing Truemans Road & Point Nepean Road at 06:30. It stops at Boneo Road at 06:35, Dromana Information Centre at 06:45 and Moorooduc Hwy & Mornington Tyabb Road at 07:00.

It then runs express to Melbourne, with drop off points along Exhibition Street and Collins Street to Southern Cross Station.

The return trip departs Southern Cross Station (Bay 68) at 17:30, and runs the reverse of the morning service.

The fare is $25 return per daily, or $15 one way, with "Bookings Essential".

The notice mentions the various features of the coach, which indicate it will be of 5-star quality, such as onboard TV and restroom. A pic of #374 is included, so its probable this will be used on it.

There doesn't seem to be any mention of the service on the Grenda's website. I've uploaded a photo of the notice however.

Will be interesting to see if there is in fact a large enough market for such a service, and if passengers are willing to pay $125 a week for the privilege.

Kind Regards


Craig

Will be interesting to see if there is in fact a large enough market for such a service, and if passengers are willing to pay $125 a week for the privilege.

Interesting is the understatement of the year. I don't see it getting off the ground at all, because those can afford and are willing to pay $125 per week would no doubt already have a TV and toilet in their 100 - 200k European 4 wheel mansion.

The high fare actually makes it more likely to get off the ground.

There is most likely a small amount of cashed up Morn Pen commuters that exist who would be willing to use such a service, be it for saving money, providing an opportunity to work whilst in transit, or to serve their environmental conscious (or rather socially position themselves if you're cynical).

The fare keeps the derros at bay, leaving Joe Millionaire to use his notebook in peace.

The high fare actually makes it more likely to get off the ground.

There is most likely a small amount of cashed up Morn Pen commuters that exist who would be willing to use such a service, be it for saving money, providing an opportunity to work whilst in transit, or to serve their environmental conscious (or rather socially position themselves if you're cynical).

The fare keeps the derros at bay, leaving Joe Millionaire to use his notebook in peace.

Joe Millionaire is more likely to own a BMW and more likely to drive their BMW to the city and then catch a bus service.
Joe Millionaire is likely to have a car parking spot (which likely to part of their salary package).

Personally I can’t seeing this working because most people will see it not been good value for money and they will continue to drive to city or drive to Frankston railway station.



It will be great if their fares were based on Victoria fare system.
For example:
Rosebud West to Melbourne single: $ 8.80
Rosebud West to Melbourne daily: $17.60
Rosebud West to Melbourne weekly: $ 58.30
Note these are same fares from Marshall to Melbourne railway fares and it is a train service, which most people enjoy a train service over a bus service.

Joe Millionaire is more likely to own a BMW and more likely to drive their BMW to the city and then catch a bus service.

Can they work in their BMW on their half day trek?

Of course not.

Personally I can’t seeing this working because most people will see it not been good value for money and they will continue to drive to city or drive to Frankston railway station.

How so?

You get a proper seat (forward facing, backrest),  clean environment, no standees, respectable clientele, and decent climate control, for less than the cost of a car journey.

It will be great if their fares were based on Victoria fare system.

It's a private bus service - a premium service, attracting a premium fare.

On a cycling trip through Rosebud last year, I picked up a copy of the local rag, which claimed (if you can believe local rag claims) that most locals didn't want the Portsea bus-route becoming a part of Metlink because of the likelihood of chavs and pondlife coming down from Frankston (well it didn't put it in those words, but you knew what they meant).  I can see their point - however, it does go a tad overboard to introduce a new service with $125 per week fares.  I trust it will be bypassing Frankstoned - lol..

Connex take note:

BE AFRAID.... BE VERY AFRAID...

This would be more ideal to those who either have limited access to PT, where it would be simpler for them to make their way the coach, rather than slug it out on a bus and a train, a journey that could easily take an hour 45.

The others would be people who commute to the city daily and hate the limited parking in and around Frankston. Personally this would be something I would take up, I'd rather pay extra by booking knowing that I will get a seat on the return journey and read my MX in a nice warm/cool coach and travel nicely all the way home.

A benefit of this is that if you book you always get a seat, no standing in the isle trying to maintain balance. No stopping at every station, the level of security on the coach would be good and the service takes you from in the city to almost your front door, depending on where you live of course.

If this proves to be a success, then it should be considered to be operated to other parts of Melbourne. I'm sure a coach from Drouin or Pakenham would suit many people out there?

Metro.

It is not really that much of a surprise how much cash-up individuals will pay for a bit of comfort, space, peace and quiet.  While their BMW might be more comfortable and personal in its climate control and music, there is still the advantage in someone else taking on the stress of driving while you get an extra hour or so's work done.  What is more, you might be able to get some useful networking done with fellow cash-up individuals.

I'll be interested to see how long this lasts.

Similar operations were tried from the North West of Sydney to the CBD, and from the Central Coast to Sydney CBD. Neither lasted very long, despite having significantly lower fares.

The socialist in me would hate to see this become widespread and reinforce the social stigma that public transport is only for those who can't afford anything else.

Metro Tranny, you are an utter twat.

I'll be interested to see how long this lasts.

Similar operations were tried from the North West of Sydney to the CBD, and from the Central Coast to Sydney CBD. Neither lasted very long, despite having significantly lower fares.

The socialist in me would hate to see this become widespread and reinforce the social stigma that public transport is only for those who can't afford anything else.

If it means getting to and from the city in similar or better time and making it easier for people as well as taking cars off the roads and fewer passengers off the train, even if it's only a few then it has to be better for the people it serves.

Metro.

drwaddles wrote:-

"The socialist in me would hate to see this become widespread and reinforce the social stigma that public transport is only for those who can't afford anything else."

Why does ALL public transport have to be low cost and low quality?

There should be a variety of options of different price and quality within the industry to cater for the broadest possible range of passenger incomes and requirements just as there is in retailing and hospitality.

The traditional "socialist" approach of expecting "one size to fit all" when really only catering to "the lowest common denominator" has long been proven wrong.

As Riccardo wrote recently "stop talking about LOSERS, start talking about  WINNERS" (or words to that effect)

However, if this service is only being advertised on Frankston station and on the existing busses, I can't really see how the message will get through to the people who might use it.

Also, I presume that it can be used for occasional trips to town at $25 and that you don't have to sign up for a regular commute at $125 pw

Well, the preferential way would be low cost high quality.

route14 wrote:-

"Well, the preferential way would be low cost high quality."

There is a simple rule about supply and demand.

Overcrowding (already a problem) would simply become intolerable and negate any improvements in the quality of the journey.

You get what you pay for in life.

I don't claim to fully understand what is happening to the world economy at the moment (does anybody?) but suspect that the days of governments being able to pour money into bottomless pits may be coming to an end.

To get back OT, is there any indication of the total time for this journey from West Rosebud to SCS compared to the existing service, changing to rail at Frankston?  As far as I can read the poster, there is no arrival time given at SCS or at West Rosebud on the return.

However, if this service is only being advertised on Frankston station and on the existing busses, I can't really see how the message will get through to the people who might use it.

It has been published in the local newspapers down here. And we have platform stops now on the 788 on Point Nepean Road.

Portsea Passenger are trying something new and should at least be given credit for that much.  

The fare is indicative of the market they are aiming to reach since for travel to the City it is also possible to use the now-frequent 788 bus to Frankston and the train from there at very reasonable fares.  There are also far more journey opportunities this way.

With a journey time to the City of perhaps 2 hours from Rosebud there would be little time saved over other options.  But cost-wise if the fare is set a $25 return and a medium-range car (such as might be driven by a resident of the catchment area) requires at least $15 worth of fuel to make the same trip plus a parking fee in the City (plus tolls on some routes) then $125 a week for a relatively stress-free trip to and from work upon which one might read the paper or use the laptop can be seen as a potentially attractive option.

If it means that 2-vehicle families only then require one vehicle there is also a very positive potential for environmental benefits.

I don't see this (which is a fully-commercial venture) competing in any way at all with the State-funded 788 bus and suburban trains.  I wish them success in their venture.

The fare is indicative of the market they are aiming to reach since for travel to the City it is also possible to use the now-frequent 788 bus to Frankston and the train from there at very reasonable fares.  There are also far more journey opportunities this way

What is your definition of "frequent"?

http://tt.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/tt/TTB/20080924-223307/vic/04788_ttb.pdf

788 runs one bus every 45 minutes on weekdays, or every 75 minutes on weekends. I would not consider that to be "frequent"

Takes around 1 hour from Rosebud to Frankston for most trips. I used it once in January 2007, a lot of time is spent selling cash tickets to every passenger as the only Metcards accepted are seniors tickets.

Supposedly it was going to be changed to run express along the Mornington Peninsula Freeway with another route running via Mornington but that has not eventuated yet.

The fare is indicative of the market they are aiming to reach since for travel to the City it is also possible to use the now-frequent 788 bus to Frankston and the train from there at very reasonable fares.  There are also far more journey opportunities this way

What is your definition of "frequent"?

http://tt.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/tt/TTB/20080924-223307/vic/04788_ttb.pdf

788 runs one bus every 45 minutes on weekdays, or every 75 minutes on weekends. I would not consider that to be "frequent"

Takes around 1 hour from Rosebud to Frankston for most trips. I used it once in January 2007, a lot of time is spent selling cash tickets to every passenger as the only Metcards accepted are seniors tickets.

Supposedly it was going to be changed to run express along the Mornington Peninsula Freeway with another route running via Mornington but that has not eventuated yet.

The 788 bus should ofter at lease one express bus from Rosebud to Franskton service.( via Mornington Peninsula Fwy)

For example

6.40 am rosebud

note via Mornington Peninsula Fwy
7.20 to 7.25am Franskton
7.32 train from Franskton to city
Arrive Flinders Street at 8:34

The Frankston / Mornington Bus Service Review presentation did suggest that the 788 be diverted to run express from Monash Frankston via the freeway to Dromana and be replaced along the coast by an all-stops 781 extended from Mount Martha to Safety Beach and Dromana.  Nothing seems to have come of this so far.

The headway on the 788 could be better and that same review took submissions advocating a 30-minute headway daily (with a likely reduction to hourly on winter Sundays when demand would be much reduced).  Again nothing has yet eventuated but we do have a much better service on the 788 than a few years ago.  More frequent buses run for many more hours of the day and thanks to fares policies are now cheaper also.