Service Updates

  1. Ventura and Grenda Merger
  2. Temporary diversion for bus Route 734
  3. Temporary diversion for bus routes 250, 251 and 302
  4. Temporary diversion for bus Route 246
  5. St Kilda Festival Transport Strategy
  6. More places to buy myki as Metcard withdrawal continues
  7. 1 January 2012 Fares Adjustment
  8. Changes to myki card and administration fee pricing
  9. First stage of Metcard withdrawal.
  10. Temporary Stop closures for bus Route 903
  11. Permanent bus stop closure for routes 235 and 237
  12. Permanent change for bus routes 340 and 350
  13. We are currently recruiting bus drivers.
  14. Safe Bus Travel for Students
  15. Organising Tours or Camps? Contact Ventura Coaches For Great Deals On Environmentally Friendly Transport. Call Colin on 9575 4820

Ventura and Grenda Merger

Two of Australia's largest family based bus operators, Ventura and Grenda, will come together with Ventura being the successful purchaser of Grenda Transit.

Please click on the following link for the full announcement detail.

Temporary diversion for bus Route 734

Effective Sunday 26 February between 6am and 6pm

Due to road closures for the Ashburton Festival, bus Route 734 will not be extending services to Glen Iris Station. All buses will terminate at Holmesglen Station.

Route 734 to Glen Waverley: buses will travel via Warrigal Road, turn right into High Street Road and back onto the normal route.

Route 734 to Holmesglen Station: buses will travel via the normal route to High Street Road, turn left into Warrigal Road, left into Power Avenue, right into Winbirra Parade, right into Batesford Road, right into Warrigal Road and terminate at Holmesglen Station.

All bus stops on High Street Road, between Warrigal Road and Glen Iris Station, will not be serviced during this time.

Temporary diversion for bus routes 250, 251 and 302

Effective Saturday 11 February between 7am and 5pm Due to crane works, Queen Street will be closed to southbound traffic between Lonsdale and Bourke streets.

Routes 250, 251 and 302 to the city: buses will travel via the normal route to Lonsdale Street, turn left into William Street, turn left into Bourke Street, turn right into Queen Street and back onto the normal route.

Routes 250, 251 and 302 from the city: buses will not be diverted. However, some services may be delayed due to expected traffic congestion caused by the works.

Temporary diversion for bus Route 246

Effective Sunday 12 February 2012

Due to the St Kilda Festival, bus Route 246 will not be extending services to Elsternwick Station.

Route 246 buses will operate a normal Sunday timetabled service between the Clifton Hill interchange and Barkly Street and Alma Road.

A temporary shuttle service will run between Barkly Street and Alma Road to Elsternwick Station and return. This service will operate between 12 noon and 8pm.

St Kilda Festival Transport Strategy

The following bus routes will be affected by the St Kilda Festival which takes place on Sunday 12 February - 600, 922, 923, 606, 623 and 246. For details see the attached pdf.

More places to buy myki as Metcard withdrawal continues

The transition to myki continues with plans for 800 places to buy and top up a myki card, the gradual phasing out of Metcard tickets from sale and machines from stations, and the planned introduction of customer service staff to help people switch across.

See attached pdf for details.

1 January 2012 Fares Adjustment

The Victorian Government has determined that public transport fares will be increased on 1 January 2012. This represents an average increase across myki and Metcard fares of 8.6%25. This figure is comprised of a 3.6%25 CPI adjustment plus an additional 5%25 increase to support further network service improvements and public transport infrastructure investment.

The Zone 1 and 2 fares for both Metcard and myki ticketing systems and fares for town bus services that take effect from 1 January 2012 have been determined and are shown in the attached pdf.

Changes to myki card and administration fee pricing

Ministerial announcement 22 December

myki card fees will be reduced from 1 January 2012

A full fare myki costs $6, down from $10 and a concession myki (general concession, senior and child) costs $3, down from $7.

The $9.80 administration fee will be abolished from 1 January 2012

- Passengers who no longer require a myki and want a refund of the unused value get the refund for free

- Passengers whose myki is lost or stolen get a replacement for free

- Passengers with a non-operational myki (damaged or defective) get a replacement for free

See attached Q&A

First stage of Metcard withdrawal.

Ministerial announcement December 2011

From 1 January the Yearly Metcard can no longer be purchased Metcard sales through the Metlink website and Metcard call centre will no longer be available from 1 January 2012

See attached Q&A

Temporary Stop closures for bus Route 903

Effective Thursday 5 January until Friday, 30 March 2012

Due to stormwater drainage upgrade works along Buckley Street in Essendon West, four Route 903 bus stops will temporarily close during different stages of the works. The bus stops along Buckley Street near Hoffmans Road and Ogilvie Street Essendon, in both directions will be shut down for the duration of the works program.

Route 903 to Altona: the closest available bus stops are located on Buckley Street, near the corners of Price and Bourke streets.

Route 903 to Mordialloc: The closest available bus stops are located on Buckley Street, near the corners of Garnet and Price streets.

Permanent bus stop closure for routes 235 and 237

Effective Friday, 23 December 2011

To improve the efficiency of the service, buses on routes 235 and 237 to Fishermans Bend will no longer enter the Boeing carpark.

All services will now terminate at the last bus stop on Wharf Road.

Permanent change for bus routes 340 and 350

Effective Monday, 16 January 2012

Route 350 services will permanently change to run as Route 340.

Buses will pick up and drop off passengers at every stop along the route.

We are currently recruiting bus drivers.

Ventura/National Bus are currently recruiting drivers for 2011, for details please visit our "Careers" page by using the link at the top of this page or call 9488 2126.

For other details please visit our "Careers" page by using the link at the top of this page.

For further information about being a bus driver at Ventura please read the Recruitment.pdf file below.

Safe Bus Travel for Students

Ventura/National is committed to the safety of all our passengers. To learn about how to travel safely on our buses, please see the attached brochure.

Organising Tours or Camps? Contact Ventura Coaches For Great Deals On Environmentally Friendly Transport. Call Colin on 9575 4820