It’s great to see the state government offering free public transport on weekends over the summer. Except at least eight bus routes in Merri-bek don’t have Sunday services.

Indeed, across the state there are many buses that don’t run on Sunday. (Thanks to the Fix Dandy Buses campaign, whose graphic we copied.) Merri-bek has at least eight of these. And it affects access to public transport in all of Merri-bek’s suburbs.

Climate Action Merri-bek campaigns for better public transport, including buses. We need more frequent, more reliable bus services running longer hours. But the bare minimum is to have bus services that run every day. So what can be done?

Below we consider the eight routes listed in the graphic. (Please tell us about any we have missed). Some have active campaigns, which you can follow and support. If there is currently no campaign, you can consider starting one. (We can help.) And please consider writing to the Minister and local MPs to say that you want buses to run on Sundays. Their contact details are at the end.

Bus route 490

This is the only bus route serving Gowanbrae. It runs to the shopping centre at Airport West.

Bus route 503

This east-west route runs along Albion Street, from CERES in Brunswick East through to Essendon Station. Follow the campaign at https://www.facebook.com/sunday503bus.

Bus route 506

This east-west route runs from Westgarth to Moonee Ponds, along Glenlyon Road and Dawson Street. It is Melbourne’s busiest bus route that doesn’t have a Sunday Service.

The campaign page is here: https://www.facebook.com/7day506bus. This campaign has received significant publicity. We wrote about it here. Brunswick Voice and Australasian Bus & Coach also covered it. The campaign also used a parliamentary petition, sponsored by Anasina Gray-Barbario, which got 1,151 signatures. The campaign promoted the petition by letterboxing extensively (with free photocopying done by MPs – thanks!). They also used posters and social media, and promoted the petition in communities along the route (including apartment buildings).

The response from the Minister was quite favourable.

The Department of Transport and Planning regularly reviews the bus network to identify where improvements can be made. When reviewing existing bus routes or planning new ones, DTP considers several factors, including the number of users, suitability of the road network for bus operations, development of a direct and easily understood network, and connectivity with other public transport services.

Regarding Route 506, I acknowledge the strong community interest in having Sunday services and extended operating hours across the week. The route provides an important east-west service in the local bus network, and public feedback helps inform future planning and investment decisions. I have asked the Department of Transport and Planning to consider this request as part of future network planning.

The campaign organisers are hoping that Sunday (and Saturday evening) services will be delivered in the May 2026 state budget. Fingers crossed.

Bus route 512

This east-west route runs through Coburg and Pascoe Vale South, along Harding Street, Munro Street and Reynard Street. We do not yet know of a campaign for this route.

Bus route 526

This route runs from Coburg Station, along Murray Road and Elizabeth Street. It services the Newlands and Coburg Hill estates. The campaign team have a Facebook page and are also on Instagram. They are currently letterboxing, urging residents to write to the Minister for Public Transport. They will be launching a parliamentary petition in the January 2026. Anthony Cianflone has offered to sponsor it.

Bus route 531

This north-south route runs along Sydney Road from the terminus of tram route 19 though Fawkner and to Upfield Station. There has long been interest in making this a much more frequent service. It would substitute for an extension of the tram, as the gas main in the Sydney Road reserve would make a tram extension difficult. We have written a blogpost about this route and another blogpost that looks at public transport issues in Fawkner.

Bus route 536

This east-west route runs from Glenroy Station to Gowrie Station. It was promised a Sunday service in the May 2025 state budget. CAM was happy to help with the advocacy campaign. Follow the Facebook page for updates here. But residents are still waiting for Sunday services to begin! We will follow this up with the local member.

Bus route 542

This bus routes runs from Pascoe Vale Station, though Oak Park and Glenroy, to Broadmeadows and then to Roxburgh Park. The northern part of the route has a Sunday service. But in the Merri-bek suburbs there are no Sunday buses.

What can we do?

Clearly we shouldn’t have to ask for better bus services one route at a time. We are inspired by the campaign for better buses in Melbourne’s west, which after a few years of campaigning have seen some significant wins. Next we need a broader campaign for better buses across the north. See also John Stone’s presentation at a recent CAM meeting where this was discussed.

What can residents do? We suggest writing to the Minister and shadow Minister at:

• The Hon. Gabrielle Williams, Minister for Public and Active Transport, receptionminwilliams@transport.vic.gov.au
• The Hon. Matthew Guy, Shadow Minister for Public Transport, matthew.guy@parliament.vic.gov.au

And write to the local MPs.

• Ms Kathleen Matthews-Ward, MP for Broadmeadows, kathleen.matthews-ward@parliament.vic.gov.au
• Mr Anthony Cianflone, MP for Pascoe Vale, anthony.cianflone@parliament.vic.gov.au
• Dr Tim Read, MP for Brunswick, Tim.Read@parliament.vic.gov.au
• Ms Sheena Watt, MLC for Northern Metro Region, sheena.watt@parliament.vic.gov.au
• Anasina Gray-Barbario, MLC for Northern Metro Region, anasina.gray-barberio@parliament.vic.gov.au