Melbourne bus route 901

Melbourne bus route 901 is a bus route operated by Kinetic Melbourne between Frankston station and Melbourne Airport in Melbourne, Australia. It is part of the SmartBus network.

Route 901
Ventura Bus Lines Volgren bodied Mercedes-Benz OC500LE on route 901 in April 2013
Overview
OperatorKinetic Melbourne
VehicleGemilang & Volgren bodied Scanias
Began service2008
Former operator(s)Transdev Melbourne
Ventura Bus Lines
Grenda's Bus Services
Route
StartFrankston station
ViaDandenong station
Westfield Knox
Ringwood station
Blackburn station
Greensborough station
South Morang station
Broadmeadows station
Gladstone Park
EndMelbourne Airport
Length115 kilometres
Service
LevelDaily
Frequency15-30 minutes
Journey time4 hours
Zone(s)Myki Zone 2
TimetablePTV

History

In the late 2000s and early 2010s orbital bus routes began being introduced in Melbourne as an alternative form of public transport to trains which allowed people to get to major areas without needing to go via the city. In 2008 route 901, was introduced as the yellow orbital and operated from Frankston station to Ringwood station, this route absorbed the former 665. It was operated by Grenda's Bus Services[1] It later became part of the SmartBus network.[2]

In September 2010 route 901 was extended to Melbourne Airport, partly replacing Dysons route 571, making it Melbourne's second longest bus route by distance and longest by total journey time.[3][4][5]

It was included in the takeover of Grenda's by Ventura Bus Lines in January 2012.[6][7] In August 2013 operation of the route was taken over by Transdev Melbourne as part of the Melbourne Metro bus franchise.[8] In January 2022 operation of the route passed with the franchise to Kinetic Melbourne.[9][10]

Route

Route 901 operates from Frankston station to Melbourne Airport via the outer eastern and northern suburbs of Melbourne. It travels via Dandenong station, Westfield Knox, Ringwood station, Blackburn station, Eltham station, South Morang station, Epping station, Broadmeadows station and Gladstone Park.[11]

Vehicles

Route 901 was initially operated by a dedicated fleet of Volgren bodied Mercedes-Benz OC500LEs painted in SmartBus silver and orange livery. These have been supersed by Gemilang and Volgren bodied Scanias in standard Public Transport Victoria livery.

References
  1. Route 901 timetable Metlink
  2. SmartBus plan will not work in current form Sydney Morning Herald 13 July 2008
  3. Doncaster DART set to start Australasian Bus & Coach 2 September 2010
  4. SmartBus Route 901 Department of Transport
  5. Introduction of Doncaster Dart and extended 901 Smart Bus services Australian Bus Panorama issue 26/3 November 2010 page 18
  6. Ventura buys Grenda Australian Bus issue 49 January 2012 page 5
  7. Ventura takes over Grenda's bus operations Australian Bus Panorama issue 27/4 January 2012 page 7
  8. Transdev to begin operating the Melbourne Metropolitan Bus Franchise from Sunday 4 August Public Transport Victoria 2 August 2013
  9. New bus franchise to jump start zero-emission pledge Department of Transport
  10. Kinetic wins Victorian Government Contract to run a third of Melbourne's bus network Kinetic Group 5 October 2021
  11. Route 901 timetable Public Transport Victoria
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