Upcoming improvements to the Yarra Valley bus network

An image of an older couple walking togther, with a PTV bus in the background.

From 26 November 2023, changes to the Yarra Valley bus network for routes 684, 685, 686 and 687 will be introduced.

The changes will see four routes streamlined into two, extra services added to the busiest section of the network, improved frequencies on weekends, better connections between buses and trains and simplified timetables, making it easier for passengers to get to where they need to go. Community feedback has helped shape these changes that are designed to streamline the network, expand customer travel choices, and improve productivity and patronage on the network.

Summary of changes to the Yarra Valley bus network

From 26 November, the following changes will be introduced to the bus network:

  • Route 684 (Eildon via Healesville to Melbourne) will stop at Ringwood Station. Passengers traveling to the CBD can choose to transfer to train services at Lilydale or Ringwood stations.
  • Route 685 (Healesville to Lilydale) coverage will extend to Badgers Creek and Healesville Sanctuary and provide more frequent services, a better span of hours and a more consistent timetable.
  • Route 686 (Healesville – Badger Creek) will be replaced by the extended Route 685 which will provide a consistent service to the Badger Creek area.
  • Route 687 (Healesville to Chum Creek) will be discontinued due to low patronage.
  • Savings from consolidating routes 685 and 686 will be reinvested into Route 685’s improvements.
  • School special services will be improved. Details of upcoming changes to school services will be communicated directly to local schools.

Specific route changes

    • Route 684 will be shortened due to low patronage and will no longer travel to Southern Cross Station in Melbourne.
    • The service will extend to Ringwood Station instead of Chirnside Park Shopping Centre, providing additional transport connections, including trains to the CBD and Box Hill.
    • Route 684 will wait for up to 20 minutes at Ringwood Station for late running trains, ensuring Eildon passengers do not miss their connection.
    • Ringwood Station will give passengers greater access to more trains with a turn up and go service. Ringwood also provides greater access to Eastland Shopping Centre, the eastern suburbs, medical and social services such as Maroondah and Box Hill hospitals.
    • Route 684’s Sunday timetable will match the Saturday timetable making weekend trips to Melbourne CBD for Eildon and Alexandra residents easier.
    • Transferring to the train network at Lilydale or Ringwood stations also improves service reliability and travel time, avoiding delays faced by the existing bus service due to traffic congestion.
    • Lilydale and Ringwood are both premium stations and are designed to make transferring easy with a 50 and 80 metre walk respectively between the bus interchange and station entry. The stations are fully accessible with lift access, have staffed customer service centre, CCTV, indoor waiting areas, sheltered bus stops and Protective Services Officers (PSOs) in the evenings.
    • Out of the two main interchanges Lilydale Station is the recommended transfer point for passengers with mobility issues or with bulky items such as prams or luggage.
    • Hospitals along Victoria Parade can be accessed by taking the train to Parliament Station and transferring to tram routes 11, 12 or 109 on Collins Street for St Vincent’s, Melbourne Eye and Ear hospital and associated medical clinics in the area. Routes 12 and 109 also provide access to the Epworth Hospital. Alternatively, passengers can walk approximately 250 metres from the Parliament station (Lonsdale Street exit) to the hospital precinct, which is an approximately four-minute walk.
    • Route 685 will be expanded to link Healesville, Healesville Sanctuary, Badger Creek, Coldstream and Yarra Glen and become the primary public transport connection to Lilydale Station.
    • Services will increase to a 40-minute frequency on weekdays and Saturdays and a 60-minute frequency on Sundays and more evening services will be added.
    • The number of services on Route 685 will increase to 306 per week (including school trips), up from 240 per week (including school trips).
    • Timetables will be simplified with complicated route variations between Healesville and Lilydale reduced and the route extended to Healesville hospital on weekdays between the school peaks.
    • There will be tourism benefits for Healesville and Healesville Sanctuary with a regular one-seat ride to the sanctuary for visitors, providing an alternative to driving.
    • This route will have a consistent alignment between Healesville and Lilydale, removing complicated route deviations and making the timetable easy to read.
    • A more regular service and better frequency provides for residents of Coldstream and Yarra Glen.
    • A one-seat ride to Lilydale every day of the week removing the need to transfer in Healesville between routes 685 and 686.
    • It will cover for the school deviations in place of discontinued Route 686.
    • Three additional bus stops will be added in Healesville.
    • All trips will be low floor.
    • Route 686 had irregular frequency, confusing deviations and no weekend service.
    • Route 686 will be replaced by the extended Route 685 which will provide a consistent service to the Badger Creek area.
    • Due to low patronage, Route 687 will be discontinued.

Timetables will be available at ptv.vic.gov.au, PTV app or by calling 1800 800 007 from 28 October.