Nightrider Bus Service
Encyclopedia
The NightRider is a bus service in Melbourne
, Australia
. It operates on weekends and for special events from the Melbourne city centre
to the suburbs, running on 13 routes, with over three hundred stops between 1.30am (12.00am on the Doncaster route) and 4.30am on Saturdays and 5.30am on Sundays.
Since March 2007 the Metcard
integrated fare system has applied to the NightRider service.
Route numbers were officially publicised by Metlink
for the first time (previously some operators did display them on buses) and are all in the 900 series, with the numbers corresponding to the predominant route number allocations at the outer termini. For example, many buses in the Dandenong area are in the 800s, hence the number 980 and 981 was allocated to them.
tickets have become accepted on the service. Previously, a $6 fare applied, which entitled passengers to a 2 hour ticket, and allowed passengers to transfer with other NightRider routes, mainly in the city, Deer Park and Knox City.
Buses are labelled with a large NightRider logo, and text saying "NightRider - The after midnight bus service".
Buses in Melbourne
Buses in Melbourne, Australia, are a major form of public transport in Melbourne, with an extensive bus network. The network of 323 bus routes is operated by a number of privately owned bus companies....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It operates on weekends and for special events from the Melbourne city centre
Melbourne city centre
Melbourne City Centre is an area of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. It is not to be confused with the larger local government area of the City of Melbourne...
to the suburbs, running on 13 routes, with over three hundred stops between 1.30am (12.00am on the Doncaster route) and 4.30am on Saturdays and 5.30am on Sundays.
Since March 2007 the Metcard
Metcard
"OneLink" redirects here. For the computer/cable company, see OneLink Communications.Metcard is the brand name of an integrated ticketing system used to access public transport in Melbourne, Australia. It is a universal ticket which allows users to ride on the city's Metlink network, consisting of...
integrated fare system has applied to the NightRider service.
NightRider routes
Buses run half hourly from 1.30am (12.00am on Doncaster route 961) to 4.30am on Saturdays and 5.30am on Sundays on the following routes:- 942 City – St Albans (occasionally Sunbury) via Footscray, Sunshine, Deer Park (Saturday and Sunday mornings). Operated by Dyson's Bus ServicesDyson's Bus ServicesDyson's Bus Services is a privately owned bus and coach operator in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. As a Melbourne bus company, it operates a number of bus routes under contract from the Victorian State Government. Beyond operating route services, it also owns the Cobb and Co coach company...
. - 943 Deer ParkDeer Park, VictoriaDeer Park is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 17 km west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Brimbank...
– MeltonMelton, VictoriaMelton is an outer-suburban city of Melbourne Victoria, Australia located 35 km east from Melbourne's central business district. It is the administrative centre for the Shire of Melton Local Government Area. At the 2006 Census, the Shire of Melton had a population of 35,490...
via Rockbank (Saturday and Sunday mornings). Operated by Dyson's Bus ServicesDyson's Bus ServicesDyson's Bus Services is a privately owned bus and coach operator in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. As a Melbourne bus company, it operates a number of bus routes under contract from the Victorian State Government. Beyond operating route services, it also owns the Cobb and Co coach company...
. - 944 City – WerribeeWerribee, VictoriaWerribee is a city in Melbourne, Australia, 32 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Wyndham. At the 2006 Census, Werribee had a population of 36,641. Statistically, Werribee is considered part of Greater Melbourne.Werribee is...
via Spotswood, Newport, Hoppers Crossing (Saturday and Sunday mornings). Operated by Dyson's Bus ServicesDyson's Bus ServicesDyson's Bus Services is a privately owned bus and coach operator in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. As a Melbourne bus company, it operates a number of bus routes under contract from the Victorian State Government. Beyond operating route services, it also owns the Cobb and Co coach company...
. - 954 City – CraigieburnCraigieburn, VictoriaCraigieburn is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 26 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Hume. At the 2006 Census, Craigieburn had a population of 20,784....
via Moonee Ponds, Essendon, Broadmeadows (Saturday and Sunday mornings). Operated by Dyson's Bus ServicesDyson's Bus ServicesDyson's Bus Services is a privately owned bus and coach operator in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. As a Melbourne bus company, it operates a number of bus routes under contract from the Victorian State Government. Beyond operating route services, it also owns the Cobb and Co coach company...
. - 956 City – EppingEpping, VictoriaEpping is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 22 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whittlesea...
via Brunswick, Coburg, Preston (Saturday and Sunday mornings). Operated by Dyson's Bus ServicesDyson's Bus ServicesDyson's Bus Services is a privately owned bus and coach operator in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. As a Melbourne bus company, it operates a number of bus routes under contract from the Victorian State Government. Beyond operating route services, it also owns the Cobb and Co coach company...
. - 958 City – ElthamEltham, VictoriaEltham is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 20 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Nillumbik. At the 2006 Census, Eltham had a population of 17,581....
via Fitzroy, Northcote, Heidelberg (Saturday and Sunday mornings). Operated by Dyson's Bus ServicesDyson's Bus ServicesDyson's Bus Services is a privately owned bus and coach operator in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. As a Melbourne bus company, it operates a number of bus routes under contract from the Victorian State Government. Beyond operating route services, it also owns the Cobb and Co coach company...
. - 961 City – DoncasterDoncaster, VictoriaDoncaster is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 15 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Manningham. At the 2006 Census, Doncaster had a population of 17,879....
via Bulleen, Templestowe (Saturday and Sunday mornings). Operated by Dyson's Bus ServicesDyson's Bus ServicesDyson's Bus Services is a privately owned bus and coach operator in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. As a Melbourne bus company, it operates a number of bus routes under contract from the Victorian State Government. Beyond operating route services, it also owns the Cobb and Co coach company...
. service commences at 12.00am and runs to 4.30am on Saturdays and 6.30am on Sundays - 965 LilydaleLilydale, VictoriaLilydale is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 35 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district situated in the Olinda Creek valley. At the 2006 Census, Lilydale had a population of 13,887...
– HealesvilleHealesville, VictoriaHealesville is a town in Victoria, Australia, 52 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Yarra Ranges...
via Lilydale, Yarra Glen, Woori Yallock (Saturday and Sunday mornings). Operated by McKenzie's Tourist ServicesMcKenzie's Tourist ServicesMcKenzie's Tourist Services is a bus and coach operator in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. As a Melbourne bus company, it operates a number of bus routes under contract from the Victorian State Government...
. - 966 City – CroydonCroydon, VictoriaCroydon is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 27 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maroondah. At the 2006 Census, Croydon had a population of 22,029.-Public transport:...
via Balwyn, Box Hill, Lilydale (Saturday and Sunday mornings). Operated by Ventura Bus LinesVentura Bus LinesVentura is a privately owned bus and coach operator in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Today the largest private Melbourne bus company, and operates a number of bus routes under contract from the Victorian State Government. The company purchased National Bus Company for A$45 million, and the Mount...
. - 968 City – BelgraveBelgrave, VictoriaBelgrave is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 35 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Yarra Ranges. At the 2006 Census, Belgrave had a population of 4094...
via South Yarra, Glen Waverley, Knox City (Saturday and Sunday mornings). Operated by Ventura Bus LinesVentura Bus LinesVentura is a privately owned bus and coach operator in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Today the largest private Melbourne bus company, and operates a number of bus routes under contract from the Victorian State Government. The company purchased National Bus Company for A$45 million, and the Mount...
. - 970 City – MorningtonMornington, VictoriaMornington is a sea side town on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia, located 57 km south-east of Melbourne's central business district. It is in the Local Government Area of the Shire of Mornington Peninsula....
via St Kilda, Mentone, Frankston (Saturday and Sunday mornings). Operated by Peninsula Bus LinesPeninsula Bus LinesPeninsula Bus Lines is a bus and coach operator in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. As a Melbourne bus company, it operates a number of bus routes under contract from the State Government of Victoria. Peninsula Bus Lines is a subsidiary of Grenda's Bus Services....
. - 980 City – DandenongDandenong, VictoriaDandenong is a suburb and major urban centre in metropolitan Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 30 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Situated on Dandenong Creek and mostly flat land at the foothills of Mount Dandenong, it is the main administrative centre for the City of...
via Prahran, Monash Uni, Springvale (Saturday and Sunday mornings). Operated by Grenda's Bus ServicesGrendaGrenda is a third generation Australian family business maintaining its position as one of the major players in the Australian bus and coach industry. Grenda Corporation is a bus manufacturing and mass transit company, delivering over twenty-five per cent of Melbourne’s public bus system. In...
. - 981 DandenongDandenong, VictoriaDandenong is a suburb and major urban centre in metropolitan Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 30 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Situated on Dandenong Creek and mostly flat land at the foothills of Mount Dandenong, it is the main administrative centre for the City of...
– CranbourneCranbourne, VictoriaCranbourne is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 43 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Casey. At the 2006 Census, Cranbourne had a population of 14,750....
via Narre Warren, Berwick, Hampton Park (Saturday and Sunday mornings). Operated by Grenda's Bus ServicesGrendaGrenda is a third generation Australian family business maintaining its position as one of the major players in the Australian bus and coach industry. Grenda Corporation is a bus manufacturing and mass transit company, delivering over twenty-five per cent of Melbourne’s public bus system. In...
.
2008 NightRider changes
In November 2008, the NightRider network was overhauled. The logo and branding were replaced, and operators of several routes changed. New routes were created to Doncaster, Healesville and Cranbourne. Services were doubled, now operating every 30 minutes instead of once an hour. Due to trains now running until 1am, the first bus was revised to depart at 1.30am instead of 12.30am on most services. However, the Doncaster route 961, which doesn't have a train service, departs at 12.30am.Route numbers were officially publicised by Metlink
Metlink
Metlink, formerly The Met, is the marketing body and umbrella brand for public train, tram and bus transport operators in Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.-Responsibilities:Metlink is responsible for the promotion of travel by public transport...
for the first time (previously some operators did display them on buses) and are all in the 900 series, with the numbers corresponding to the predominant route number allocations at the outer termini. For example, many buses in the Dandenong area are in the 800s, hence the number 980 and 981 was allocated to them.
Ticketing Information
From March 2007 standard MetcardMetcard
"OneLink" redirects here. For the computer/cable company, see OneLink Communications.Metcard is the brand name of an integrated ticketing system used to access public transport in Melbourne, Australia. It is a universal ticket which allows users to ride on the city's Metlink network, consisting of...
tickets have become accepted on the service. Previously, a $6 fare applied, which entitled passengers to a 2 hour ticket, and allowed passengers to transfer with other NightRider routes, mainly in the city, Deer Park and Knox City.
Buses are labelled with a large NightRider logo, and text saying "NightRider - The after midnight bus service".