Goldfields transport upgrade to improve bus frequency and connections to Ballarat line

VLine has confirmed a significant overhaul of transport services across the Goldfields corridor, with Bendigo set to receive increased weekday bus frequencies and two new express train services to Melbourne each day beginning in the next timetable change.

The improvements follow persistent advocacy from Bendigo commuters, who have reported overcrowding on peak Melbourne-bound services and inadequate bus connections between the CBD and the hospital and university precincts. Transport satisfaction surveys conducted by the council showed public transport performance was among the lowest-rated city services.

VLine chief executive Paul Doorn said the express services would reduce travel time between Bendigo and Southern Cross Station from the current 1 hour 55 minutes to 1 hour 42 minutes. "Shaving 13 minutes off the journey makes a real difference to people deciding whether regional living is practical for their commuting life," he said.

The bus network overhaul will introduce new routes linking the hospital campus on Lucan Street to the train station every 20 minutes during weekday peaks, addressing what the council had identified as a critical connectivity gap. Routes serving La Trobe University's Bendigo campus will also receive increased frequency.

The Bendigo Business Council said reliable fast rail was a central factor in employer decisions to locate in the city, with several companies having cited transport as a barrier. The express service additions were welcomed as a significant step toward the council's longer-term advocacy for sub-90-minute Melbourne journeys.

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