Call for free bus travel, too

A COALITION of eastern Melbourne councils, including Greater Dandenong, is calling on the State Government to extend its free train travel offer to buses.
The Eastern Transport Coalition (ETC) comprises seven councils, all facing severe public transport deficiencies.
ETC chairman and Knox City councillor Mick Van De Vreede this week urged the State Government to extend its Early Bird free train travel to buses in regions where public transport users could not easily access their train station.
The program provides free travel for train users ending their journey before 7am.
“In many parts of the outer east we don’t have trains and have to use buses instead,” Cr Van De Vreede said.
“Free train trips will not be an incentive to residents in our area unless they can travel free on connecting buses as well. The fact is that if commuters have to pay for the connecting bus they will be encouraged to drive to the train station.
“I call on the State Government to extend the Early Bird ticket to all modes of transport. I also hope that this is a short term measure until we have an overall increase in services, sufficient to meet the future needs of our growing city.”