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Metropolitan bus services will also be increased with $22.5 million to increase services along the Eastern Freeway to Doncaster, funding provides for eight buses, resulting in 20 extra peak services every weekday – providing capacity for an additional 1000 people a week.

The frequency of the popular Nightrider service, which has increased capacity by 30 per cent since March 2007, will be boosted, offering services every 30 minutes, instead of hourly, reducing overcrowding and wait times for passengers. New metropolitan bus contracts and a bus tracking and monitoring system totalling $64.3 million are also funded.

“Bus services are becoming increasingly popular with passengers wanting to travel from suburb to suburb or link to major transport hubs,” Ms Kosky said.

Ms Kosky said that on top of this public transport Budget allocation, the Brumby Labor Government had also committed to:

o $12 million over two years to fund the roll-out of the Early Bird ticket across the metropolitan train network;
o $24.8 million to lease five trams for three years;
o investing $22.6 million for maintenance and operation of V/Locity cars; and
o $37.8 million for an on-road tram and bus priority program announced as part of the Keeping Melbourne Moving congestion package.

Ms Kosky said the Brumby Labor Government was committed to rebuilding and expanding Victoria’s public transport network, after the disastrous years of the Kennett Liberal-National Government.

“On top of adding 1000 weekly services to the timetable since 1999, our Government has also renegotiated the Kennett Government’s flawed contracts to run Melbourne’s trains and trams,” Ms Kosky said.

“The rail network has been expanded to Craigieburn and Sydenham, the tram network has been extended to Docklands, Box Hill and Vermont South, and every bus route in Melbourne is being reviewed with passengers already benefiting from increased frequency and longer operating hours across more than 60 routes.

Also at this:
http://www.budget.vic.gov.au/CA25...j/BP3Ch3_DOI/$File/BP3Ch3_DOI.pdf

there's some very interesting numbers at pages 12 (also numbered 130) onwards.

Highlights:

Services provided

* Bus quite a large increase: 83.6 (06/07), 92.2 (07/08 target but actually only 88.6), 96 (08/09). A footnote for the change from 92.2 to 'only' 88.6 (still massively up from a year ago) indicates that "the timing of the introduction of new bus services was affected by extensive consultation being undertaken with stakeholder groups". This would presumably involve the Bus Reviews currently being undertaken.

Journeys undertaken

* Metro bus journeys:
2006/07 actual: 85.0 million
2007/08 target: 86.5 million
2007/08 actual: 89.3 million
2008/09 target: 93.7 million

Project timings

The same document lists percentages for expected completion of various projects:
SmartBus Red Orbital - Box Hill to Altona:
Services commence target date: qtr 3 2008/09 (i.e. Jan-Mar 09)

SmartBus Green Orbital stage 2 - Nunawading to Airport West:
various construction projects for qtr 2 and qtr 4