Coaches - regional services in Victoria

Trial for bike transport with V/Line coach services

12 March 2010  Bicycle Victoria and the Department of Transport are pleased to announce a trial bike transport service that will carry coach and train passengers’ bikes to and from a select number of rail trails during the last six weeks of summer.

Run by Bicycle Victoria, the Trail Transporter is a trial initiative. Passengers will be able to load their bikes onto a special bike trailer that will operate in conjunction with selected V/Line train and coach services. Bicycle Victoria is managing this trial for the Victorian Government. The service is free.

• The Trail Transporter trial will run from Friday 19 March until Monday 26 April 2010.
• The Trail Transporter is available to all passengers wanting to travel with their bike, and this service is free. (As part of the usual train and coach fare.)
• Passengers must ensure that they get their bikes loaded onto the Trail Transporter so it can leave 15 minutes before the V/Line service is due to depart.
• See below for details about how to book your bike on the Melbourne–Leongatha/Menniyan Trail Transporter.
• For information and bookings for the Melbourne–Ballarat Trail Transporter, which will run in conjunction with V/Line's corresponding train services, click here.

The Melbourne–Leongatha/Meeniyan Trail Transporter

The Melbourne–Leongatha/Meeniyan Trail Transporter will run through to the end of autumn, to provide riders with opportunities to ride the Great Southern Rail Trail and through the Prom Country, which is perfect for weekend excursions, and to test the feasibility and efficiency of a bike-specific transport service.

The Melbourne–Leongatha/Menniyan Trail Transporter will enable riders to travel to Leongatha or Meeniyan on a Friday evening, ride the Great Southern Rail Trail over the weekend, and then return to Melbourne on the Sunday evening. The Trail Transporter will run at different times on public holidays.

The Melbourne–Leongatha/Meeniyan Trail Transporter is operated by Taylor’s Coachlines, and will run in conjunction with corresponding coach services operated by V/Line. V/Line advises passengers to book their place on these services so they can arrive at their destination with their bikes.

• Riders can collect or load their bikes onto the Trail Transporter at Leongatha or Meeniyan. (Travelling directly to Meeniyan is a good way to avoid the gap in the rail trial.) Remember to inform the Trail Transporter driver of your plans when you load your bike on the Friday.
• The Trail Transporter will run alongside the V/Line services that depart from Southern Cross Station at 1.10pm on Friday afternoons and from Meeniyan at 5.46pm on Sunday evenings, passing through Leongatha Station 15 minutes later, at around 6.01pm. Bikes must beloaded on the Trail Transporter so it can leave 15 minutes before these V/Line services depart.
• V/Line passengers travelling to Leongatha or Meeniyan can load their bikes onto the Trail Transporter in the coach loading area at Southern Cross Station between 12.15pm and 1pm. (Look for a car with a bike-specific trailer.)
• V/Line passengers returning to Melbourne on the Sunday can load their bikes onto the Trail Transporter at Meeniyan between 4.45pm and 5.30pm. The Trail Transporter will arrive in Leongatha Station about 15 minutes later. Please be ready to load your bike at 5.45pm.
• The Trail Transporter will meet the coach at its destination so riders can collect their bikes from trailer.
• On Easter weekend the Trail Transporter will operate alongside coach services that leave Southern Cross at 8.50am on Good Friday, and Meeniyan at 5.46pm on Easter Monday, loading bikes between 4.45pm and 5.30pm, and at 5.45pm in Leongatha Station.
• On ANZAC Day, the Trail Transporter will run with the V/Line service that departs from Meeniyan at 5.46pm on Monday 26 April. (Riders can load their bikes between 4.45pm and 5.30pm, and at 5.45pm in Leongatha Station.)

Dates

The Melbourne–Leongatha/Meeniyan Trail Transporter trial will run on the following weekends:

1. Friday19 – Sunday 21 March
2. Friday 26 – Sunday 28 March
3. Friday 2 – Monday 5 April (Easter weekend)
4. Friday 9 – Sunday 11 April
5. Friday 16 – Sunday 18 April
6. Friday 23 – Monday 26 April (ANZAC Day)

Times

Melbourne to Leongatha/Meeniyan: departing from Bay 72 at Southern Cross Station (at the Coaches and Airport Shuttles Terminal, at the Spencer and Bourke St entrance)

• at 1.10pm on Fridays (except on public holidays), loading bikes between 12.15pm and 1pm
• at 8.50am on Good Friday, loading bikes between 7.50am and 8.35am

Menniyan/Leongatha to Melbourne: departing from Meeniyan and then passing through Leongatha Station 15 minutes later (riders loading their bikes at Leongatha Station, please be ready when the coach arrives)

• at 5.46pm on Sundays (except on public holidays), loading bikes at Meeniyan between 4.45pm and 5.30pm, and at 6pm in Leongatha Station
• at 5.46pm on Easter Monday, loading bikes between 4.45pm and 5.30pm, and at 5.45pm in Leongatha Station
• at 5.46pm on ANZAC Day, loading bikes between 4.45pm and 5.30pm, and at 5.45pm in Leongatha Station

Bookings

To book your bike on the Melbourne–Leongatha/Meeniyan Trail Transporter, click on this link. (You can collect or load you bike onto the Trail Transporter at Leongatha or Meeniyan, but remember to inform the Trail Transporter driver of your plans when you load your bike on the Friday.)

To book a passenger fare on the corresponding V/Line coach service, click here.

No bikes on V/Line coach services

4 March 2010 Currently people cannot carry standard bicycles on any V/Line coach service. This rule affects casual users and large groups of bike riders alike.

Bicycle Victoria is about to begin a bike transport trial on the Melbourne–Leongatha coach service. The six-week trial will involve a bike-specific trailer running alongside selected V/Line coach services.

In the longer term Bicycle Victoria is keen to see bikes being carried on V/line coach services. We look forward to working with all stakeholders to reach this long term goal.

Private shuttles

We are investigating whether a system of private trail shuttle buses can be developed to support trail use by riders.

Riders who regularly take their bike on public transport coach services or ride recreationally in regional Victoria could consider a folding bike. Folding bikes are effective transport over short distances. Riders report that models such as the Birdie are also satisfactory for touring on bitumen roads. The small wheels on folding bikes make them less satisfactory for unsealed rail trails however.

Meeting with Minister Kosky

March 2009 At a meeting with Minister Kosky we raised the issue of bikes on V/Line coaches.

We raised the following issues:

• V/Line coaches form a significant part of the public transport system in Victoria in regional areas. Riders travelling to Mildura for example can go part of the way by train but have to complete the journey by coach. Track work on the Albury line will mean that coaches replace trains for a significant period.
• Riders would like to get to rail trails and other recreational riding destinations around Victoria by public transport. This allows the rider to take a one way trip. Some of the trail heads such as Wangaratta and Bairnsdale are served by rail. Other trail heads such as Bright and Orbost are only served by coaches.
• Riders would like to be able to catch public transport part way along a trail or recreational route. It is possible for example to catch the train to Warrnambool and ride the Ocean Road back to the Geelong station. However if for any reason the rider wishes to cut short that trip and catch a bus from Apollo Bay for example, they have to catch a coach.
  
  We said that the recent change to the rule that removed the driver’s discretion to take a bicycle was a significant disadvantage to bike riders as it cut them out of the coach section of the public transport system. The Minister agreed to consider our comments and investigate the situation to see if it could be improved.
  
  Despite the Minister’s assurances, we are not optimistic that this situation can be remedied quickly or easily. We will continue to raise the situation with the Minister and see if we can develop alternatives for riders wanting to ride trails and country roads in regional Victoria.

Coach line agrees to bikes on temporary Seymour – Wangaratta & Wodonga route

20 November 2008 Riders on the Murray to Mountains and High Country Rail Trails will still be able to take their bikes from Melbourne when buses replace trains for the 18-month track rebuild.

V/Line trains to Wangaratta and Wodonga have been replaced by buses for the conversion to standard gauge tracks. 

Wangaratta Coachlines has agreed to take bikes on their buses when possible, according to owner Don Joyce.

Mr Joyce said that if the traveller was taking the train to Seymour, his company would most likely be able to take the bike on to Albury or Wangaratta. Possible exceptions were Easter and long weekends

He asked that anyone wanting to travel with their bike contact Wangaratta Coachlines directly. Their phone number is (03) 5722 1843. 

Mr Joyce's statement is welcome news as V/line had recently indicated that bikes would not be allowed on V/line coaches.

This policy threatens the growth of the increasingly popular rail trail tourism.

 

The 2009 rules

November 2008 In April 2009 V/Line coaches will issue their new rules. In the lead up to the publication of these rules we will make representation to the Minister for Public Transport to allow bikes to be carried on V/Line Coaches. We will impress on the Minister the damage that their current policy could do to rail trail tourism and the inconvenience it causes riders who want to combine a rail journey and a coach trip such as from Melbourne to Mildura or to Orbost. 

No bikes

May 2008 V/Line have said to us that they have made the 'no bicycles' rule explicit. Previously some drivers exercised discretion and allowed riders to put their bikes on the coach. 

No change

15 February 2008 The Ministers statement today did not include any changes to the rules for taking bikes on coaches.

 

31 January 2008 General update on bikes and public transport and a summary of our meeting with the Minister  Link to page

 

What we are asking for

V/Line coach service's 2009 rules

 

"V/Line coaches do not carry bicycles, surfboards, surf skis, sailboards, canoes and similar items (exception: see Folding Bicycles, below.)

There is an exception for coach services along coastal routes where surfboards and boogie boards may be carried, subject to available space on the day of travel.

Passengers are reminded that this applies to both the forward and return legs of the journey."

Folding Bicycles

Folding bicycles can be carried free on V/Line trains and coaches.

Folding bicycles must not exceed the dimensions of 82cm long x 69cm high x 39cm wide. They must have wheel rims no more than 20 inches (51 cm) in diameter and be folded up and stored inside a bag or cover before boarding.

A folding bicycle has small wheels and frame latches allowing the frame to be collapsed. Regular bicycles of any size, with or without wheels, are not considered folding bicycles and are subject to the conditions above regarding carriage of bicycles on V/Line.

Note: Folding bicycles cannot be stored in overhead luggage racks.

V/Line webpage

Our webpage on folding bikes

 

2007 Rules

 

Generally, V/Line coaches do not carry bicycles, surfboards, surf skis, sailboards, canoes and similar items.

There is an exception for coach services along coastal routes where surfboards and boogie boards may be carried subject to available space on the day of travel.

Passengers are to be aware that this applies to both the forward and return legs of the journey.

Call 136 196 for further information.

 

Our view

 

We will be working to change these rules as, in our opinion, they don't work for bike riders.

They don't give riders enough certainty to plan a holiday with their bike. Some bike riding locations such as Orbost at the end of the East Gipplsand Rail Trail are only served by coaches. We think a booking system and other measures will help both the operators and bike riding passengers.