Turns Out Melbourne’s Handy Night Buses Have Been Slashed For NYE

Night Bus routes servicing many of Melbourne’s outer suburbs will not be operating on New Year’s Eve, meaning punters hoping to travel home after midnight festivities in the city may have to pay through the nose for a taxi or an Uber – or simply wait for the next morning’s services.

The Age reports the 21 late-night bus services, which pick up passengers from suburban train stations and run to suburbs largely inaccessible by rail, will not operate on the 31st.

Public Transport Victoria says the services will not operate as the Night Bus timetable only comes into affect on Friday and Saturday nights. However, The Age notes that late-night bus routes have previously operated on New Year’s Eves that fell on other days of the week.

The paper reports that commuters hoping to travel back to Doncaster, Templestowe, Carlton, Warrandyte, or Bulleen will be able to access late-night bus services that end at 2am.

Still, residents of suburbs like Altona Meadows, Endeavour Heights, Keysborough, Rosebud, and Mornington will be left without late-night services.

FWIW, here are the Night Bus routes that won’t be operating:

  • 941
  • 942
  • 943
  • 944
  • 945
  • 951
  • 952
  • 953
  • 955
  • 961
  • 963
  • 964
  • 965
  • 966
  • 967
  • 969
  • 970
  • 978
  • 979
  • 981
  • 982

Train and tram services will still run throughout the night, and all public transport will be free on the evening of the 31st after 6pm. That’s still rough for anyone hoping to trek further out, as ride-sharing fares are known to balloon astronomically at the turn of a new year.

Check out the full rundown of public transport options HERE.

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