UPDATE: CLICK HERE FOR THE NEW RRL TIMETABLES
Two new train stations and a revamped bus timetable will be unveiled this Sunday when the Regional Rail Link officially opens across Wyndham.
The long-awaited Tarneit and Wyndham Vale stations will be opened to the public, adding an extra 200 weekly services between Geelong and Melbourne.
Trains between Wyndham Vale station and Southern Cross will run on average every 10 minutes in the morning and afternoon peaks, every 20 minutes during the day and every hour on weekends.
Trains will service Tarneit, on average, every 20 minutes on week- days and every hour on weekends.
About 2300 extra bus trips will be added to Wyndham’s bus network, bringing the number of weekly trips to 7900.
Bus timetables have been overhauled so that buses tie in with train timetables to cut down on waiting times.
A double-decker bus will be used to shuttle passengers between the new stations at Wyndham Vale and Tarneit.
Wyndham mayor Peter Maynard said the Regional Rail Link would give residents access to a streamlined public transport system.
Council transport portfolio holder Glenn Goodfellow said he was disappointed with the loss of a direct train service between Werribee and Geelong and called for a shuttle train service until the extension of the Werribee line to Wyndham Vale occurs.
Truganina resident Joh Bauch said he was unimpressed by the scheduled changes to the 466 bus, which currently travels from Hoppers Crossing train station to the Williams Landing station via Werribee Plaza.
Mr Bauch said that under the changes, the new 151 service would go between the Williams Landing and Tarneit stations and bypass many neighbourhood stops, including Werribee Plaza and Wyndham Village.
“You can have buses every five minutes, but that’s no good if they don’t go where you want them to,” he said.
Public Transport Victoria spokeswoman Helen Witton said Truganina residents could easily get to Werribee Plaza and other shopping centres on a range of routes.
Ms Witton said the changes to the bus network would provide more frequent and direct bus services between train stations and neighbourhood routes.
