1. The current definition of minimum standards
From the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP), minimum standards requires routes to satisfy 3 metrics:
- Their first service before or at 6am on weekdays, 8am on saturdays, and 9am on sundam
- Their last service after or at 9pm each day
- An hourly frequency as a minimum
In this report, I will assume all routes are running at a minimum of an hourly frequeny.
2. Route directions that meet minimum standards in both directions
64 routes currently meet the minimum standards proposed by the DTP. - When providing 5min either side of the cutoff times, this jumps up to 85 routes. - When providing 15min either side of the cutoff times, this jumps up to 142 routes. - When providing 30min either side of the cutoff times, this jumps up to 187 routes.
The problem isn’t that out cutoffs are too strict. The reality is our services could easily meet minimum standards but haven’t been timetabled to.
| Route # |
Route Name |
|
|
|
|
| 151 |
Tarneit Station - Williams Landing Station |
0 |
05:39:00 - 21:34:00 |
07:24:00 - 21:34:00 |
08:34:00 - 21:34:00 |
| Tarneit Station - Williams Landing Station |
1 |
05:13:00 - 21:44:00 |
07:22:00 - 21:44:00 |
08:22:00 - 21:44:00 |
| 153 |
Werribee Station - Williams Landing Station |
0 |
05:09:00 - 23:58:00 |
06:12:00 - 23:42:00 |
06:07:00 - 22:22:00 |
| Werribee Station - Williams Landing Station |
1 |
05:43:00 - 24:26:00 |
06:45:00 - 24:25:00 |
06:45:00 - 23:05:00 |
| 154 |
Tarneit Station - Laverton Station |
0 |
05:08:00 - 23:59:00 |
06:19:00 - 23:57:00 |
06:39:00 - 22:32:00 |
| ... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
| 906 |
Warrandyte - City (King/Lonsdale Sts) |
1 |
05:00:00 - 23:37:00 |
05:41:00 - 23:37:00 |
07:10:00 - 23:11:00 |
| 907 |
Mitcham - City (King/Lonsdale Sts) |
0 |
05:18:00 - 24:05:00 |
02:55:00 - 26:50:00 |
03:50:00 - 23:55:00 |
| Mitcham - City (King/Lonsdale Sts) |
1 |
05:07:00 - 23:40:00 |
02:05:00 - 27:00:00 |
04:00:00 - 23:20:00 |
| 929 |
Pakenham North - Pakenham Station |
0 |
05:05:00 - 21:30:00 |
06:51:00 - 21:30:00 |
08:09:00 - 21:30:00 |
| Pakenham North - Pakenham Station |
1 |
05:09:00 - 21:40:00 |
06:55:00 - 21:41:00 |
08:13:00 - 21:39:00 |
128 rows × 4 columns
Below is the current map of routes that meet Minimum Standards
'# 1. Ensure shapes are loaded (if not already)\nif not hasattr(buses, \'shapes\'):\n buses.shapes = buses._load_csv(\'shapes.txt\')\n# 2. Filter for the specific routes in your list\nroute_list = two_dir_route_num\n\n# 3. Get the shape_ids associated with these routes\n# We merge routes -> trips -> shapes\nselected_trips = combined[combined[\'route_short_name\'].isin(route_list)]\nshape_keys = selected_trips[[\'route_short_name\', \'shape_id\']].drop_duplicates()\n# 4. Create the Map (centered around the first route\'s first point)\nm = folium.Map(location=[-37.8136, 144.9631], zoom_start=10) # Centered on Melbourne\n# 5. Plot each shape\nfor route_num in route_list:\n # Get all shapes for this route number\n route_shapes = shape_keys[shape_keys[\'route_short_name\'] == route_num][\'shape_id\'].unique()\n\n for sid in route_shapes:\n shape_coords = buses.shapes[buses.shapes[\'shape_id\'] == sid].sort_values(\'shape_pt_sequence\')\n points = list(zip(shape_coords[\'shape_pt_lat\'], shape_coords[\'shape_pt_lon\']))\n\n if points:\n folium.PolyLine(\n points, \n color="blue", \n weight=2.5, \n opacity=0.7,\n tooltip=f"Route {route_num}"\n ).add_to(m)\n\nm.save("route_map.html")\ndisplay(m)\n'
Make this Notebook Trusted to load map: File -> Trust Notebook
Below is a map of routes that would meet minimum standards with less strict cutoffs of 30min on each side each day.
Make this Notebook Trusted to load map: File -> Trust Notebook
3. Route directions that meet minimum standards in only one direction
62 routes currently meet minimum standards in one direction, but not in the other direction. - When providing 30min either side of the cutoff times, this falls to 42 routes. - Hence, 20 routes can be provided minimum standards by a few extra weekly services. - When providing 60min either side of the cutoff times, this falls to 20 routes. - Hence, 42 routes can be provided minimum standards by a maximum of 2 extra daily services.
| Route # |
Route Name |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 160 |
Hoppers Crossing Station - Tarneit Station |
0 |
True |
True |
True |
True |
05:19:00 - 21:59:00 |
07:45:00 - 21:45:00 |
08:25:00 - 21:45:00 |
| Hoppers Crossing Station - Tarneit Station |
1 |
True |
False |
True |
False |
05:38:00 - 21:21:00 |
08:01:00 - 21:21:00 |
08:41:00 - 21:21:00 |
| 192 |
Wyndham Vale Station - Werribee Station |
0 |
True |
True |
True |
True |
05:40:00 - 23:57:00 |
07:30:00 - 23:45:00 |
08:10:00 - 21:30:00 |
| Wyndham Vale Station - Werribee Station |
1 |
True |
False |
True |
False |
05:30:00 - 24:16:00 |
08:01:00 - 24:10:00 |
08:19:00 - 21:54:00 |
| 194 |
Harpley - Wyndham Vale Station |
0 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
06:08:00 - 22:04:00 |
07:50:00 - 21:52:00 |
07:50:00 - 21:52:00 |
| ... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
| 926 |
Pakenham Station - Fountain Gate SC |
1 |
True |
True |
True |
True |
05:34:00 - 21:57:00 |
06:58:00 - 21:59:00 |
08:17:00 - 21:58:00 |
| 927 |
Pakenham North - Pakenham Station |
0 |
False |
True |
False |
False |
06:13:00 - 21:55:00 |
07:54:00 - 21:58:00 |
09:10:00 - 21:55:00 |
| Pakenham North - Pakenham Station |
1 |
True |
True |
True |
True |
05:31:00 - 21:16:00 |
06:52:00 - 21:12:00 |
08:11:00 - 21:11:00 |
| 928 |
Berwick Station - Pakenham Station |
0 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
06:02:00 - 22:10:00 |
07:12:00 - 21:59:00 |
07:27:00 - 21:39:00 |
| Berwick Station - Pakenham Station |
1 |
True |
True |
True |
True |
05:09:00 - 21:57:00 |
05:59:00 - 21:19:00 |
06:32:00 - 21:19:00 |
175 rows × 8 columns
4. Route directions that meet minimum standards on weekdays but not on weekends
124 routes currently meet minimum standards on weekdays but not on weekends. - 11 routes meet minimum standards on all days of the week except for saturdays - 3 of these routes can have their last service rescheduled <10min later to fully meet minimum standards. - 6 of these routes can have their services rescheduled <15min earlier to fully meet minimum standards. - 52 routes meet minimum standards on all days of the week except for sundays - When providing 15min either side of the cutoff times, 32 routes receive full minimum standards. - When providing 30min either side of the cutoff times, 43 routes receive full minimum standards. - 61 of these routes do not meet minimum stnadards on saturdays or sundays - When providing 15min eitehr side of the cutoff times, 32 routes receive full minimum standards. - When providing 30min eitehr side of the cutoff times, 43 routes receive full minimum standards.
| MTWTF-S |
11 |
4 |
4 |
| MTWTFS- |
52 |
20 |
11 |
| MTWTF-- |
61 |
29 |
18 |
| Total |
124 |
53 |
33 |
5. Routes that meet minimum standards on saturday and sunday but not on weekdays.
59 routes currently meet minimum standards on weekends but not on weekdays. - All 59 of these services finish at or after 9pm, hence their start time is the only limitation in reaching minimum standards. - 39 of these services start between 6:01-6:15am. Hence, a rescheduling of their first weekday service to 6:00am will meet minimum standards. - The other 20 services all start between 6:16am-7:00am. Hence, one additional service each weekday will meet minimum standards.
To conclude, all 59 of these routes can meet minimum standards with very small timetable changes.
| 32 |
152 |
0 |
Williams Landing Station - Tarneit Station |
06:16:00 |
21:09:00 |
07:20:00 |
21:04:00 |
07:59:00 |
21:04:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 52 |
182 |
0 |
Werribee Station - Tarneit Station |
06:13:00 |
21:09:00 |
07:13:00 |
21:06:00 |
08:10:00 |
21:06:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 62 |
194 |
0 |
Harpley - Wyndham Vale Station |
06:08:00 |
22:04:00 |
07:50:00 |
21:52:00 |
07:50:00 |
21:52:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 78 |
207 |
0 |
Doncaster SC - City (Queen St) |
06:05:00 |
24:05:00 |
03:15:00 |
26:15:00 |
03:15:00 |
22:40:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 96 |
223 |
0 |
Yarraville - Highpoint SC |
06:33:00 |
24:10:00 |
06:40:00 |
24:08:00 |
07:15:00 |
23:40:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 97 |
223 |
1 |
Yarraville - Highpoint SC |
06:04:00 |
24:13:00 |
06:04:00 |
24:13:00 |
06:50:00 |
23:12:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 107 |
235 |
1 |
Fishermans Bend - City (Southern Cross Station) |
06:03:00 |
23:52:00 |
06:20:00 |
23:40:00 |
07:19:00 |
23:39:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 119 |
246 |
1 |
Elsternwick - Clifton Hill |
06:05:00 |
24:35:00 |
06:14:00 |
24:35:00 |
07:13:00 |
23:00:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 130 |
270 |
0 |
Mitcham - Box Hill |
06:20:00 |
23:15:00 |
07:25:00 |
21:19:00 |
07:50:00 |
21:16:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 133 |
271 |
1 |
Ringwood - Box Hill Station |
06:15:00 |
22:30:00 |
06:55:00 |
21:00:00 |
07:55:00 |
21:00:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 164 |
305 |
0 |
The Pines SC - City (King/Lonsdale Sts) |
06:09:00 |
24:08:00 |
06:48:00 |
24:08:00 |
07:48:00 |
21:48:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 186 |
364 |
0 |
Warrandyte - Ringwood Station |
06:23:00 |
23:29:00 |
07:55:00 |
21:00:00 |
07:55:00 |
21:00:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 190 |
381 |
0 |
Diamond Creek Station - Mernda Station |
06:02:00 |
21:35:00 |
06:37:00 |
21:33:00 |
07:17:00 |
21:33:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 229 |
408 |
1 |
St Albans Station - Highpoint SC |
06:16:00 |
21:15:00 |
07:33:00 |
21:15:00 |
08:31:00 |
21:11:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 265 |
425 |
1 |
St Albans Station - Watergardens Station |
06:13:00 |
21:12:00 |
07:13:00 |
21:12:00 |
08:12:00 |
21:12:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 292 |
444 |
1 |
Aintree - Rockbank Station |
06:07:00 |
22:05:00 |
06:45:00 |
22:05:00 |
06:45:00 |
22:05:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 301 |
454 |
1 |
Cobblebank Station - Melton Station |
06:10:00 |
21:26:00 |
06:45:00 |
21:19:00 |
06:45:00 |
21:19:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 348 |
484 |
0 |
Roxburgh Park - Broadmeadows |
06:16:00 |
21:29:00 |
07:26:00 |
21:28:00 |
08:26:00 |
21:28:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 366 |
495 |
0 |
Point Cook South - Williams Landing Station |
06:14:00 |
24:33:00 |
06:35:00 |
24:33:00 |
08:45:00 |
21:33:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 385 |
504 |
0 |
Clifton Hill - Moonee Ponds |
06:04:00 |
21:35:00 |
07:03:00 |
21:35:00 |
07:13:00 |
21:35:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 386 |
504 |
1 |
Clifton Hill - Moonee Ponds |
06:19:00 |
21:37:00 |
07:14:00 |
21:37:00 |
07:36:00 |
21:37:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 390 |
508 |
0 |
Alphington - Moonee Ponds |
06:15:00 |
23:05:00 |
06:40:00 |
23:05:00 |
08:20:00 |
22:10:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 416 |
525 |
0 |
Donnybrook Station - Craigieburn Station |
06:05:00 |
23:40:00 |
07:25:00 |
23:36:00 |
08:07:00 |
21:36:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 422 |
528 |
0 |
Craigieburn Central SC - Craigieburn Station |
06:02:00 |
23:40:00 |
06:50:00 |
23:40:00 |
08:08:00 |
21:37:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 424 |
529 |
0 |
Craigieburn North - Craigieburn Station |
06:01:00 |
23:40:00 |
06:08:00 |
23:40:00 |
07:28:00 |
21:40:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 442 |
537 |
0 |
Craigieburn Central SC - Craigieburn Station |
06:06:00 |
23:40:00 |
06:08:00 |
23:40:00 |
07:28:00 |
21:37:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 452 |
541 |
0 |
Craigieburn North (Mt Ridley Rd) - Broadmeadow... |
06:37:00 |
21:26:00 |
07:07:00 |
21:25:00 |
08:24:00 |
21:25:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 461 |
546 |
1 |
Melbourne University - Heidelberg Station |
06:18:00 |
21:40:00 |
07:37:00 |
21:40:00 |
07:37:00 |
21:40:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 474 |
552 |
0 |
North East Reservoir - Northcote Plaza |
06:30:00 |
21:30:00 |
07:55:00 |
21:00:00 |
09:00:00 |
21:00:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 476 |
553 |
0 |
West Preston - Preston |
06:33:00 |
21:05:00 |
07:35:00 |
21:05:00 |
09:00:00 |
21:00:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 479 |
555 |
0 |
Northland SC - Epping Plaza SC |
06:15:00 |
21:31:00 |
07:11:00 |
21:31:00 |
09:00:00 |
21:00:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 495 |
567 |
0 |
Northcote - Regent |
06:12:00 |
21:23:00 |
07:41:00 |
21:06:00 |
07:50:00 |
21:06:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 508 |
580 |
1 |
Eltham Station - Diamond Creek |
06:11:00 |
21:10:00 |
06:11:00 |
21:10:00 |
08:51:00 |
21:10:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 516 |
600 |
1 |
Southland SC - St Kilda Station |
06:15:00 |
23:06:00 |
06:27:00 |
23:06:00 |
07:35:00 |
22:24:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 519 |
603 |
0 |
Brighton Beach - Burnley Station |
06:25:00 |
24:20:00 |
06:27:00 |
24:15:00 |
07:54:00 |
23:21:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 521 |
604 |
0 |
Elsternwick Station - Anzac Station |
06:23:00 |
23:52:00 |
06:41:00 |
23:30:00 |
07:35:00 |
23:40:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 544 |
626 |
1 |
Chadstone - Middle Brighton |
06:41:00 |
21:16:00 |
06:48:00 |
21:05:00 |
07:48:00 |
21:05:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 545 |
627 |
0 |
Moorabbin Station - Chadstone SC |
06:13:00 |
21:57:00 |
07:26:00 |
21:29:00 |
08:11:00 |
21:00:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 638 |
737 |
0 |
Monash University - Croydon |
06:01:00 |
21:17:00 |
06:30:00 |
21:17:00 |
08:41:00 |
21:01:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 639 |
737 |
1 |
Monash University - Croydon |
05:48:00 |
20:59:00 |
05:55:00 |
21:07:00 |
07:55:00 |
21:08:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 664 |
766 |
0 |
Box Hill Station - Burwood |
06:04:00 |
21:00:00 |
06:58:00 |
21:00:00 |
07:57:00 |
21:00:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 665 |
766 |
1 |
Box Hill Station - Burwood |
06:04:00 |
21:04:00 |
06:56:00 |
21:04:00 |
07:56:00 |
21:04:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 670 |
771 |
0 |
Langwarrin - Frankston |
06:20:00 |
21:25:00 |
07:48:00 |
21:08:00 |
08:50:00 |
21:08:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 688 |
780 |
0 |
Carrum Station - Frankston Station |
06:31:00 |
22:08:00 |
07:39:00 |
22:08:00 |
08:45:00 |
22:09:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 718 |
798 |
0 |
Clyde North - Cranbourne Park SC |
06:01:00 |
23:08:00 |
07:23:00 |
23:09:00 |
08:23:00 |
21:43:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 727 |
800 |
1 |
Chadstone SC - Dandenong |
06:23:00 |
21:56:00 |
07:26:00 |
21:56:00 |
07:41:00 |
21:21:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 738 |
813 |
0 |
Waverley Gardens SC - Dandenong |
06:11:00 |
22:00:00 |
07:15:00 |
21:25:00 |
08:25:00 |
21:25:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 770 |
837 |
0 |
Beaconsfield East - Berwick Station |
06:11:00 |
21:21:00 |
07:37:00 |
21:12:00 |
08:40:00 |
21:02:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 800 |
858 |
0 |
Aspendale Gardens - Edithvale Railway Station |
06:06:00 |
21:13:00 |
07:21:00 |
21:13:00 |
08:28:00 |
21:12:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 806 |
862 |
0 |
Chadstone SC - Dandenong |
06:21:00 |
21:01:00 |
06:42:00 |
21:01:00 |
08:53:00 |
21:06:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 813 |
881 |
1 |
Merinda Park Station - Clyde North |
06:05:00 |
22:06:00 |
06:41:00 |
21:46:00 |
07:26:00 |
21:46:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 818 |
888 |
0 |
Clyde - Berwick Station |
06:30:00 |
21:41:00 |
07:45:00 |
21:43:00 |
07:53:00 |
21:37:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 828 |
893 |
0 |
Cranbourne Park SC - Dandenong Station |
06:04:00 |
21:16:00 |
07:23:00 |
21:13:00 |
08:43:00 |
21:13:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 835 |
897 |
1 |
Lynbrook Station - Clyde North |
06:11:00 |
21:32:00 |
07:27:00 |
21:32:00 |
08:10:00 |
21:32:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 836 |
898 |
0 |
Clyde North - Cranbourne Station |
06:09:00 |
21:50:00 |
07:43:00 |
21:50:00 |
08:29:00 |
21:50:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 856 |
908 |
0 |
The Pines SC - City (King/Lonsdale Sts) |
06:15:00 |
24:35:00 |
03:24:00 |
27:20:00 |
04:18:00 |
24:25:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 862 |
925 |
0 |
Officer South - Pakenham Station |
06:15:00 |
22:10:00 |
07:18:00 |
21:32:00 |
08:47:00 |
21:48:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 864 |
926 |
0 |
Pakenham Station - Fountain Gate SC |
06:39:00 |
22:00:00 |
06:54:00 |
21:27:00 |
08:24:00 |
21:24:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
| 868 |
928 |
0 |
Berwick Station - Pakenham Station |
06:02:00 |
22:10:00 |
07:12:00 |
21:59:00 |
07:27:00 |
21:39:00 |
False |
True |
True |
False |
6. Creating a Reliable Network
Minimum standards are a poor metric of a route’s usefulness, as a route with a 60min frequency is poor.
However, as this system increases trust in Melbourne’s bus network, it’s an important step towards improving our network.
With the suggestions provided in this document, below is what can be achieved with minor timetabling changes and minor extra weekly services: - Adding 1-2 extra daily services in one direction to routes that meet minimum standards in only one direction - Adding 1-2 extra services on weekends or timetable changes to routes that meet minimum standards on only weekdays. - To the routes that meet minimum standards on Saturdays and Sundays but not on weekdays. - Rescheduling 39 route’s first weekday service to 6:00am - Adding 1 extra service on weekdays to 20 routes
Obviously each route must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, as timetabling is done for each route individually. However, the data in this report aims to display the minimal changes that can be made to our existing routes before an in-depth bus reform process.
