Melbourne public transport - Significant service changes/events

Also: Melbourne public transport FAQ | Melbourne city to airport by PT

This page lists significant service changes to Melbourne's public transport since 1993. Any additions or corrections welcome: contact me.

1993:

Tram route 77 deleted. Route is covered by routes 70 and 78/79 and night route 99
Tender of nine country rail lines, to be replaced with private buses or privately operated trains
Automatic ticket machines to be introduced, replacing some railway station staff and tram conductors. Many tram routes already made driver-only on weekends and evenings
Customer Service Employees being introduced to help passengers on trams and trains
Many government bus routes taken over by National Bus Company
Some Public Transport Corporation depots and workshops to be closed and/or privatised
Tram routes 3, 57 and 82, formerly operated as buses on Sundays, reverted to driver-only tram operation 1993
July: East Burwood 75 tram extension opened
All but 50 W-class trams to be phased out of regular service. W-class trams to be run only on tourist routes (8, 12, 16), including the City Circle. The "phased out" trams will be kept in storage for special events.
All Frankston/Dandenong trains stop at South Yarra
Fifty suburban stations to be converted to "Premium" status, with increased security, staffed from first until last train. Remaining stations to have improved lighting, security cameras and intercoms
Security on The Met taken over by Victoria Police
Aug: City Circle train service deleted

1994:

Apr: Free City Circle tram route opened (Flinders St, Spencer St, LaTrobe St-Victoria Pde, Spring St)
No subsidy of special services to AFL Park Clayton for football; private buses now run, not accepting Met tickets
Z3 class trams being converted to remove seated conductors, in preparation for ticket machines, 1994-95
Driver only trains introduced 1994-95, warning alarms fitted to doors

1995:

Dandenong to Cranbourne rail line opened
Most through-routed tram services split into two routes. Route 10 became routes 11/12. Route 15 became routes 16/22.
Tram 79 frequency reduced to 30 minutes all day Sunday
Bundoora tram 86 extended to RMIT Bundoora
Tram 72 operated as bus beyond Glen Iris during South-Eastern freeway work, 1995-6.
Dec: the Government announced improved services on Frankston, Dandenong, Ringwood, Sandringham rail lines, and an integrated transport strategy (whatever that means), to begin in February 1996.
Limited after midnight services introduced for New Years Eve

1996:

Feb: More Ringwood/Belgrave/Lilydale/Alamein, Frankston, Dandenong/Cranbourne/Pakenham trains (weekday off-peak changed from every 20 to every 15 minutes, Sunday until 7pm from every 40 to every 30 minutes). Alamein Mon-Sat evening trains upgraded from 60 to 30 mins. Sandringham trains no longer through loop. No sign of the "integrated transport strategy".
Late 1996-1997: Ticket machines introduced on tram route 75, Glen Waverley and Alamein train lines, and Driver and Ventura bus routes.

1997:

Feb: City Loop to open on Sunday until 7pm (but Flagstaff closed on weekends, Parliament closed on Sundays.) Glen Waverley line Sunday daytime frequency improved from 40 to 30 minutes.
Feb: Museum station renamed Melbourne Central
Mar: Friday and Saturday NightLink trams trialled (route 99, City to Richmond, then via Chapel Street to St Kilda Beach, then via light rail track to City, Collins Street, then to Brunswick Street, Fitzroy)
May: Upfield line closed between North Melbourne and Flemington Bridge due to CityLink road works
Mid-1997: Announcement of Princes Bridge (Flinders Street platforms 14 to 16) to close
Government announced all tram and train services to be corporatised then privatised. Trains split into "Hillside" (Clifton Hill and Burnley group) and "Bayside" (Northern and Caulfield group) services. Trams are Yarra Trams (CBD east-west routes) and Swanston Trams (all others).

1998:

Late-1998: Automated ticketing operating on all routes except National Bus Company

1999:

January: Fares up
May 28: Route 70 stopped serving Batman Ave
June 7: Route 70 commenced serving Exhibition Street and Flinders Street
July: Higher frequencies on Sunday afternoons on all tram and train routes (to equal Saturday frequencies). City Loop (Parliament and Melbourne Central) open Sundays until 7pm. Cranbourne trains extended to midnight Monday to Thursday. Ringwood to Belgrave and Lilydale on Saturday upgraded from 40 to 20 minutes 10am to 7pm.
August: Train and tram companies privatised. Bayside Trains and Swanston Trams and V/Line Passenger owned by National Express. Yarra Trams owned by Metrolink. Hillside Trains owned by CGEA Transport.
Christmas: Free services on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve (all night tram/train services)

2000:

Hillside trains renamed Connex Melbourne
Connex starts introducing refurbished trains
W class trams withdrawn from service because of brake safety fears
March: Tram 86 extended to Docklands
April: Ringwood to Belgrave and Lilydale on Saturday upgraded to 20 mins 7am to 7pm.
July: fares up by 10% with introduction of GST
November: Bayside lines Sunday night frequencies improved to equal Saturday night frequencies. City Loop (Parliament and Melbourne Central) opened until last train.
December: Some Swanston tram route weekday daytime frequencies improve from every 15 to every 12 minutes

2001:

March: Small number of roving conductors begin selling Premium Daily tickets on trams (more expensive than from machines)
June: Toorak Rd dynamic fairway begins operation.
August: First Citadis tram arrives in preparation for service
October: Bayside Trains to be renamed M>Train. Swanston Trams to be renamed M>Tram.

2002:

January: Fares up approx 2% on average
January: Study concludes Airport rail link not viable for at least 10 years
January: Train extension St Albans to Sydenham (aka Watergardens) opened
May: First X'Trapolis train launched
July: St Vincents Plaza tram interchange opened
July: PTUA and CLCV release "Transport Rights" brochure, prompting establishment of PT Ombudsman. Government press release.
August: Smartbus Springvale Rd (888/889) and Blackburn Rd (703) upgraded, with longer operating hours, more frequent services, and some electronic bus stop signs and traffic priority
September: Trams start selling daily tickets
October: Spencer Street station upgrade commenced. During construction there was sporadic interruption to train services, including some trains not stopping at the station, and some not running via the loop on evenings/weekends
October 13: Steam train collides with truck near Benalla. Two crew and one passenger riding in the cab killed. ABC report.
December 19: First Siemens Combino 3-section trams begin service
December: National Express abandons M>Train and M>Tram operations, placing them in government hands (until April 2004)

2003:

January: fares up approx 3.1% on average
January: Doncaster Park+Ride facility opened
January: City Circle tram extended into Docklands. Frequency dropped to 12 minutes
May: Tram extension Mont Albert to Box Hill (route 109) opened
June: Metlink established to market Melbourne's public transport
September: Upfield line peak hour services upgraded to 6-car trains
November: Cranbourne Trainlink bus service launched, meeting every train
November 5: Melbourne Central Station direct Swanston Street escalator connection closes for redevelopment. How it looked before it closed.
November 15: V/Line Sprinter train collides with a ute left on the track between Ballan and Gordon, causing 60 injuries. Age report.
December: Epping to Mill Park Trainlink bus service launched, meeting every train
December: New Year's Eve services leave thousands behind in city after finishing approx 1:30am. Publicity by PTUA prompts all night trains for future NYEs

2004:

January: Metcard fares up 9.8% on average. Short Trip and Rail+2 tickets abolished. City Saver and 5xDaily pack introduced. Metcards made available online.
March 4: First Siemens Combino 5-section tram begin service
April: Re-privatisation, with new train and tram contracts taking effect. New contracts include all-night trains on NYE, station host staff at 31 stations during morning peak (plus some in afternoons), security staff on 80% of train kms after 9pm. Connex running all suburban trains; Yarra Trams running all suburban trams. V/Line continues in public ownership.
July: Public Transport Ombudsman starts
July: W-Class trams commence on route 78/79
September: Ventura Bus buys National Bus Company from National Express.
November 25: Metropolitan Transport Plan released
December: Comprehensive New Year's Eve all-night train/tram services, free for use, sponsored by ING

2005:

January: Ticket increase. Weekly, 5xDaily, 10x2 hour fares now matching. Concessions expanded to all Health Care cards. Tertiary Concession cards dropped to $8 per year.
January: Tram extension Docklands New Quay (route 48) opened
April: Yarra Trams control centre opened
April: Sunday Saver tickets made available from staffed outlets
June: Smartbus Warrigal Rd (700) services upgraded (Route 766 established for part of old 700 route)
July: Tram extension East Burwood to Vermont South (route 75) opened, along with co-ordinated bus link (route 732) to Knox City
December: Spencer Street Station renamed as Southern Cross Station

2006:

January: V/Line open-ended returns discontinued. Viclink announcement.
January: Fares increase
March: Commonwealth Games extra services: trains every 20 mins 7pm-12:30am; trams every 10-15 mins 7pm-12:30am; 10 city bus routes extended hours; 51 suburban routes extended hours to meet trains. Nightriders every 60 mins Sun-Thu; every 30 mins Fri/Sat. Skybus every 10 mins. Metlink information.
April 17: Sunday Saver ticket introduced - $2.50 all day, all zones (only sold by station staff and Metcard retail outlets, not ticket machines).
April 22: V/Line tickets valid in Metcard zone of origin/destination, and on country town buses. Viclink announcement.
April 28: V/Line V/Locity train collides with truck on level crossing, killing two passengers. Report: ABC.
May: Government "Meeting Our Transport Challenges" plan launched. Government announcement.
September: V/Line commences new timetables on Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and Seymour lines, as a result of the Fast Rail upgrades. New Traralgon timetable to commence on October 15.
September 15: Yarra Trams commences after-midnight services on Friday and Saturday nights until approx 1am; all routes except 82.
September-October: Some bus routes commence additional services, running 6am to 9pm weekdays, 8am to 9pm Saturdays, 9am to 9pm Sundays (hourly in most cases)
October: Connex commences after-midnight services on Friday and Saturday nights until approx 1am; all lines except Alamein, Williamstown, Stony Point
Late 2006: Spencer Street (Southern Cross) station upgrade completed

2007:

January price rise deferred until March (to happen with other revisions) and then until June (as a result of pressure on government over poor train performance)
March 2: Nightrider buses begin accepting and selling Metcards
March 4: Fares and ticketing revised: Zone 3 abolished. Some V/Line stations pegged to zone 2 fares. Other V/Line fares cut by 20%. Reservations compulsory on all V/Line long-distance services. National Bus section tickets removed. Fares as above, but zone 3 included in zone 2.
March 4: New V/Line timetables began. PM Long-distance trains leaving Melbourne moved to after 6pm (so they are off-peak).
March: Melbourne suburban bus route reviews commence with public workshops, initially for the Moonee Valley/Hobson's Bay area
June 3: Fares price rise
June 5: A truck collides with a V/Line train near Kerang, killing 10 train passengers. Reports: BBC Age Herald-Sun ABC
September 30: Craigieburn electrification opened. New timetable begins.

Expected changes:

Late 2007: Myki smartcard system begins trials to take over Metcard
Late 2009: 10 additional suburban trains to start service