Melbourne public transport receives a major boost with 641 additional bus services launching across northern suburbs.
The state government has announced sweeping improvements to eight major bus routes serving Craigieburn, Donnybrook, Kalkallo and Roxburgh Park from Sunday 5 October). Melbourne public transport users in these booming northern areas will benefit from more frequent services, extended operating hours and new route connections designed to better serve working families.
Routes 524 and 543 lead the expansion with significant upgrades. Route 543 gains 183 new weekly trips, featuring earlier morning starts and later evening finishes. The extended route now connects Greenvale and Greenvale North residents directly to Craigieburn Central and Roxburgh Park Station, with peak-hour buses running every 20 minutes to coordinate with train arrivals.
Melbourne public transport upgrades
- Route 543: 183 new weekly trips, extended to Greenvale and Greenvale North
- Route 524: 173 new weekly trips, extended along Cloverton Boulevard to Kalkallo
- Routes 525, 528, 529, 533, 537: 285 additional services with extended evening hours
- Route 511: New Hume Highway connection to Craigieburn Station via Beveridge
- Services now run until midnight on major routes connecting to Craigieburn Station
- Peak frequency improved to every 20 minutes on key routes
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around Melbourne here.
Route 524 benefits from 173 new weekly services and extends along Cloverton Boulevard to reach Kalkallo for the first time. This creates direct connections between passengers and both Donnybrook Station and Kalkallo Town Centre, streamlining journeys across the region.
Extended operating hours represent another significant improvement for Melbourne public transport users. Major routes connecting to Craigieburn Station now run until midnight, supporting shift workers and late-night activities.
Five additional routes receive frequency boosts totalling 285 extra weekly services. Routes 525, 528, 529, 533 and 537 all feature longer daily operating hours, giving residents improved access to major destinations including Craigieburn Central Shopping Centre, Craigieburn Plaza and Highlands Shopping Centre.
Route 511 introduces a new connection along the Hume Highway to Craigieburn Station, linking Beveridge residents to the metropolitan train network for the first time. Plans indicate Route 511 will receive further frequency improvements and expanded Beveridge coverage throughout next year.
Funding for the expanded services comes from the Victorian Budget 2025/26 and the Growth Area Infrastructure Contribution fund, specifically targeting infrastructure needs in Melbourne’s rapidly growing outer suburbs.
For more information, head here.
