Article: Bus services to jump and link with trains

[ozbob]

From The Courier (Ballarat)  click here!

Bus services to jump and link with trains

Bus services to jump and link with trains
18/06/2008 10:59:00 PM
FROM next week 14 of the 18 public bus routes in Ballarat will include a stop at the railway station.

Victorian Transport Minister Lynne Kosky arrived in Ballarat yesterday by train to announce a 23 per cent increase in the number of bus services within Ballarat, including an extra 73 Sunday services.

Right now just four bus routes take passengers to the railway station.

Free travel on the buses will be offered over the next four Tuesdays to encourage people to try the expanded services.

Ms Kosky said the extra services to the train station would ease pressure on car parks near the station.

When asked whether buses delivering more people to trains that were often already crowded was wise, Ms Kosky said more carriages, due to come into operation over the next few weeks, would help cope with extra passengers.

"It's a huge expansion of bus services that we've seen," she said.

"We've had a review and we've seen a huge expansion now of almost 25 per cent of those services, many will be on a Sunday and as well, 14 of the services will now link in with the station.

"And that's really been in response to requests by people so that means they can get a park at the station, rather than trying to find a park in order to catch the train.

"It really makes the connection where people can use trains and buses by themselves or use them together.

"One of the key messages we've had from people is that they want better connections between trains and buses so people don't necessarily have to hop in their cars when they are travelling to and from work or travelling to different

destinations."

Among the changes includes the addition of a new bus route through Alfredton.

Holders of V/Line tickets will still be able to use their tickets on Ballarat buses.

[ozbob]

This is a good thing for the folks in Ballarat.  We need more bus rail integration all over!