Presented by Robert Clark MP		www.robertclark.net

Increase to Sunday train and tram services

A new Sunday train and tram timetable for Melbourne, with more than 800 extra services, will begin on Sunday, July 4, to cater for increased public transport patronage on weekends.

Minister for Transport Robin Cooper said that demand for Melbourne’s public transport has been growing in the weekend and off peak times for many years.

A total of 812 new services will run across the city, with an additional 619 Sunday tram services between 11am and 6.30pm and an extra 193 train services from 11am to 7pm.

"On some routes, transport services will be almost doubled. For example, the Epping to Melbourne and Eltham to Melbourne train lines each currently operate 46 Sunday services. On both lines this number will increase to 74 services from July 4," the Minister said.

Most train lines in Melbourne will have services every 20 minutes between 11am and 7pm every Saturday and Sunday except for the Dandenong–Pakenham and Dandenong–Cranbourne services, which will operate every 40 minutes instead of the current 60-minute frequency.

Frequency on tram routes will improve by up to 18 minutes with most services to offer a 12-minute frequency.

The improved Sunday services will run on Good Fridays and Christmas Days, while the Saturday timetable will continue to be used for other public holidays.

Passengers are encouraged to check train times as some other services on Sundays have also been altered. In addition the Upfield line weekday and weekend timetables have some minor alterations reflecting improvements since the $25-million upgrade.

Parliament Station will now open every Sunday from first train to 7pm from July 4 1999.

New timetable booklets are available from local Premium Stations, all city stations and the Met Shop, 103 Elizabeth Street, City.

(News Release, Office of the Minister for Transport, July 1, 1999)