Transport home from Melbourne Airport

[justonething]

I have taken taxis home from Melbourne airport plenty of times and over the years it has increased to about 100 bux. Uber is a bit cheaper but it is still about 60 to 70 bux. I have also used skybus to the city and from Southern Cross taken the train to Darling Station on the Glen Waverley line and then gotten picked up. It is 19 + 3.90. The trip takes 2 hours roughly and with 2 people, it is 46 bux. All of a sudden, it isn't so cheap compared to Uber given that it is a 40 mins vs a 2 hour trip home.

Our plane landed at 8am yesterday morning from Wellington. I think we were outside the terminal by 8.30 am. We decided to give the Smartbus 901 a try. It is part of the metlink service. The terminal is tugged away in a remote corner underneath the terminal 4 parking building. It was a 10min walk from terminal 1. When we got there there were 2 buses waiting. We got on the bus and we were in Broadmeadows to meet the 8:52 am train. We arrived at Flinders Street at 9.26 am and got on the 9.33 am Glen Waverley line. By 10 we were home. I reckon we were slightly faster than the last time we caught the skybus to Southern Cross. The total cost for the trip := $3.90.

While the skybus stop was just outside the airport terminal. It was a long walk from the spencer street terminal to the Southern Cross platform. One of the annoying thing about Southern Cross is that there is no direct train to Glen Waverley in the morning so you end up stuffing around changing trains at Richmond, walking from one platform to the next with your bags in toll.

I know this rant probably doesn't make much sense to those who live outside of Victoria. But I would definitely use the Smartbus again and if I'm in a hurry, I'll use a cab.

[chris0375]

Smart bus is way over priced. Especially if there is more than a couple of people. It really should be on the myki system with normal priced fares.

I am guessing there's a lot of vested interest and behind the scenes lobbying to ensure their little money making monopoly isn't disrupted.

I usually get family or friends to drive me and then return the favour. Unfortunately in the world's most liveable city this is by far the cheapest and quickest and most reliable way.

At least the airport themselves have seen the light and want a train. Ideally it should be physically and electrically completely independent of the rest of the rail system to minimise delays etc.

[justonething]

Smart bus is way over priced. Especially if there is more than a couple of people. It really should be on the myki system with normal priced fares.

I am guessing there's a lot of vested interest and behind the scenes lobbying to ensure their little money making monopoly isn't disrupted.

I usually get family or friends to drive me and then return the favour. Unfortunately in the world's most liveable city this is by far the cheapest and quickest and most reliable way.

At least the airport themselves have seen the light and want a train. Ideally it should be physically and electrically completely independent of the rest of the rail system to minimise delays etc.

Do you mean skybus? because Smartbus, the one I used is part of the myki system. We don't even ask our kids to pick us up because a round trip for them takes 1.5 hours plus 20 bux in toll. Thats is often the problem depending on which part of the city you live in.

[chris0375]

Yeah sorry I meant sky bus

[shanesmith80]

+ one for the local buses. Last time I flew in I found the bus station and got the bus to Airport West then the tram to the city. It took a while but I was in no hurry and the bonus was the tram stops right out front of Vic market so I could grab a Burek or 2 for lunch.

[q9]

When I went home recently it was small change back from $20 to go from airport to southern cross... thought it was going to be a long journey...

There should be a free connecting service if they're not going to run a rail line of some sort to the airport.

[Chesand]

We are very lucky as we live just 10 minutes from the airport. Get a text when plane has landed and by the time I get there, daughter is at the 1 minute pick-up. Known to us as the DPUP (Designated pick up point).

A friend was refused a short trip so he called the taxi supervisor and the cabbie was sent back to the holding area.