25/05/2026
Melbourne's west has just one SmartBus route - the 903 to Altona via Sunshine. Mt Atkinson Advocacy Forum is proposing 3, centred on a new Mt Atkinson Station. Routes:
1. Eynesbury - Deer Park
2. Watergardens - Werribee
3. Woodgrove SC - Altona
SERIES : MELTON ELECTRIFICATION & MT ATKINSON TRAIN STATION
🚍 PART 3 OF 3 — PUBLIC TRANSPORT OVERHAUL IN MELBOURNE’S WEST 🚆
For too long, western suburbs have been planned around cars first, while public transport plays catch-up years later. That’s why in this final chapter, we are advocating to overhaul the public transport for the wider west, not just by electrifying the Melton line and building new stations. But, also by introduce new and reconfigured BUS ROUTES into frequent, direct and reliable services alongside. Giving people of the west more choices and better accessibility to move around.
‘Better Buses for the West’ Campaign by our friends at Friends of the Earth Melbourne have touched more on this here 👉 https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/better_buses_campaign
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THE VISION
The proposed Mt Atkinson Station must become more than just another train station. It should be planned as a fully integrated transport hub connected with frequent SmartBus-style routes, active transport links and better cross-city public transport connections across Melbourne’s west.
International examples from other OECD countries (like Australia), such as Ørestad in Copenhagen, Nordhavn and Aarhus Ø show why this approach matters. In Denmark, many newer neighbourhoods have been planned around public transport first, with rail stations and frequent bus connections delivered before large-scale residential growth occurs. These neighbourhoods are typically designed around population catchments of approximately 10,000 to 20,000 residents within walking and cycling distance of key transport hubs, helping reduce long-term car dependency while supporting vibrant local centres from the beginning.
Transport Victoria must use the learning from these examples and get ahead with the forward transport planning for communities like Mt Atkinson and other growth areas suburbs.
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A TRANSPORT PLAN FOR THE MT ATKINSON REGION 🚊 🚍 🚲 🚶
To make the network truly effective, bus services should be coordinated with train timetables at the Proposed Mt Atkinson Station.
By matching bus frequencies with train services, passengers would experience shorter wait times, more reliable transfers and a genuinely connected public transport network that competes with car travel for convenience.
The suggested routes shared in this concept demonstrate how a future integrated network could better connect communities across the west:
🟣 SmartBus Route 1 – East West Connector
Deer Park ↔ Eynesbury via Burnside, Caroline Springs, Deanside, Mt Atkinson, Rockbank, Thornhill Park, Strathtulloh and Weir Views.
🟡 SmartBus Route 2 – North South Connector
Watergardens ↔ Werribee via Hillside, Taylors Lakes, Caroline Springs, Deanside, Mt Atkinson, Tarneit, Werribee Plaza and Hoppers Crossing.
🔵 SmartBus Route 3 – Cross Town Connector
Woodgrove ↔ Altona via Melton Town Centre, Cobblebank, Thornhill Park, Rockbank, Mt Atkinson, Truganina, Williams Landing and Altona Meadows.
🟢 Local Bus Route 4 – Local Area Connector
Fraser Rise Aquatic Centre ↔ Melbourne Business Park via Fraser Rise, Deanside and Mt Atkinson.
Proposed service frequencies could include:
• SmartBus Routes 1, 2 and 3 operating every 10 minutes during peak periods and every 20 minutes during off-peak periods
• Local Bus Route 4 operating every 20 minutes during peak periods and every 30 minutes during off-peak periods
• Timed connections with metropolitan train arrivals and departures at Mt Atkinson Station
• Extended evening and weekend operating hours to support shift workers, hospitality staff and growing local activity centres
Together, these routes could:
• Create direct east-west and north-south connections
• Reduce car dependency and local congestion
• Better connect jobs, schools, shopping and services
• Support growing communities from day one
• Improve access to the future Mt Atkinson Station
• Give more people real transport choices
Dedicated active transport links must also form part of the future Mt Atkinson transport network. Safe cycling corridors, walking paths and pedestrian-friendly streets connecting surrounding neighbourhoods to Mt Atkinson Station would give more people the option to walk or ride instead of relying entirely on the car.
The proposal also aligns strongly with the Moving Melton Bus Network Study and Transit Oriented Development (TOD) principles supported by the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) — where communities are planned around integrated transport, walkability and sustainable growth.
Melbourne’s west is no longer on the edge of the city. It is becoming a major metropolitan region, and the transport network must evolve with it.
One network. One station. Countless opportunities.
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⚠️ Disclaimer: These suggested routes are conceptual only and may require future road connections, major infrastructure upgrades and further planning investigations to become feasible. Similar integrated transport planning must also occur across other growth communities and station precincts throughout Melbourne’s west.
Jacinta Allan Gabrielle Williams MP Luba Grigorovitch MP Alice Jordan-Baird MP Sam Rae Moira Deeming MP David Ettershank MP Trung Luu MP - Member For Western Metropolitan Region
Public Transport Users Association (PTUA), Victoria, Australia Daniel Bowen, public transport advocate Melbourne on Transit - blog Sustainable Cities
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