Melbourne’s Flinders St Station, a hive of weekend activity. Image: Dylan Fox Kearney
The Victorian opposition leader, Daniel Andrews, has promised his government would introduce 24-hour public transport in Melbourne on weekends if Labor win the 29 November state elections.
The plan, costed at $50 million, will be rolled out as a 12 month trial and will be up and running by New Year’s Eve 2015.
In a statement Mr Andrews said cities such as Berlin, New York and London have, or have plans for, 24-hour public transport services.
“A world-class, 24-hour city like Melbourne needs 24-hour public transport and Victorian Labor will make it happen. Labor will run trains, trams and buses all night, every weekend,” Mr Andrews said.
Jill Hennessy, the shadow minister for public transport, said in a statement to City Journal that Labor has fully costed the policy and, following the trial, they will review demand and structure the system accordingly.
“If passengers vote with their feet, 24-hour weekend public transport will be continued and expanded where necessary,” she said.
The Victorian Premier’s office did not respond to City Journal’s requests for comment but in a media release from Wednesday 22 January 2014 the government expressed concern about the feasibility and costing of the policy.
Treasurer Michael O’Brien said the policy was severely under-funded and would cause serious disruption to maintenance schedules.
“Labor has forgotten that train maintenance occurs during non-operational periods. Their policy would require more trains beyond what the Coalition Government is already delivering,” Mr O’Brien said.
City of Yarra Mayor, Councillor Jackie Fristacky, said in a statement to City Journal that 24-hour public transport would make it easier for people to travel to and from Yarra’s night spots and bring more people into the municipality later – which would be great for local traders.
“Making public transport available 24-hours a day over weekends would provide a number of economic and social benefits for not only the City of Yarra, but wider Melbourne,” she said.
Alper, who runs a newspaper stand on Swanston St near Flinders St Station, said the changes would positively affect his business.
“If public transport was 24-hours definitely more people would stay out on Friday and Saturday nights,” he said.
Zsuzsa Zsikla, who works in a restaurant on weekends, thinks it’s a good idea.
She said it’s expensive to get a taxi once transport has stopped but isn’t too worried about security if Melbourne transport was to run later.
“Yeah it’s definitely safe,” she said.
Vish, a commuter who works in the city, missed the last train to the south-eastern suburbs and was hoping to find a taxi.
