526 Bus

Kelvin Thomson MP letter re 526 bus service upgrade request:

The Member for Wills, Kelvin Thomson MP, has written the following letter to Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan.

Maybe some of us community members would want to write too as it is really not good enough that there is no Sunday or late evening service.

The Hon Jacinta Allan MP

Minister for Public Transport

Minister for Employment

Level 20, 1 Spring Street

MELBOURNE VIC 3000

Dear Minister,

BUS ROUTE 526 – COBURG TO WEST PRESTON – IMPROVEMENTS SOUGHT TO SERVICE LEVELS/ SPREAD OF HOURS

I am writing to you in strong support of the request that you upgrade route 526 to a seven day service that runs later into the evening. At present the last bus leaving Coburg for West Preston during the week is at 7.30pm, which is early in the evening. On Saturday the last bus is 5.30pm. The bus does not run on a Sunday at all.

This bus route services Newlands Estate, which was built for returned serviceman and has a large number of elderly residents. There is also an influx of young families. My constituents tell me the bus is used predominantly by the elderly, mothers with young children, and tourists staying at the Big 4 Melbourne Holiday Park. This bus is the only public transport servicing the Coburg Olympic Swimming Pool and the new Coburg Hill housing development.

It is a very well utilised service and plays a unifying role in the local community, with many drivers knowing the passengers by name and passengers talking to, and looking out for, each other.

All of these groups are very disadvantaged and inconvenienced by the bus not running on a Sunday or at night. The elderly passengers are isolated at home on Sunday when the bus doesn’t run. Tourists staying at the busy Holiday Park have to walk a long way from the Gilbert Road Tramline on Sundays or in the evening after they have been out for the day exploring Melbourne.

Personal safety is also a concern as community members have to walk home from Sydney Road or Gilbert Road at night after the bus service has ceased.

Any action you can take to improve the service of the 526 bus would be greatly appreciated both by me and by local residents.

Yours sincerely,

The Hon KELVIN THOMSON MPMember for Wills