More coaches of the night to run to Geelong

MORE late-night coach services will be introduced later this month from Melbourne to Geelong and other major regional centres on Friday and Saturday nights.

The Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Seymour and Traralgon lines will all benefit from extra Night Coach services, which leave from Southern Cross Station.

The new services being introduced from November 24 add to the 2am Night Coach services introduced as part of Labor’s Night Network initiative, which began in January 2016.

Night Network gives Victorians access to all-night public transport on Melbourne’s train, tram and bus services on Friday and Saturday nights, and Night Coaches to major regional destinations.

New late evening coaches from Bendigo, Seymour and Traralgon will arrive in Melbourne at 12.40am, and stop in selected towns along the way.

Passengers will also benefit from more central stopping locations in Bacchus Marsh, Kyneton, Gisborne and Ballan and new stops at Tarneit and Wyndham Vale stations and in the towns of Newborough and Morwell East.

“We’re introducing more late night regional services, more stops and shorter wait times between the last train and the first Night Coach,” Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan said.

“Passengers have told us they wanted extra Night Coach services – we’re giving them more options to get to and from Melbourne late at night and on weekends.”

Passenger information and timetables on the new services will be available on board existing Night Coach services, at staffed V/Line stations and online at ptv.vic.gov.au.