MANNINGHAM commuters are about to be dudded again with the announcement Transdev will be scrapping a number of bus services, starting next month.

Scrapped routes include 201, 203, 205, 286, 303, 313 and 315.

Transdev told Manningham Leader in early June it would finish collecting data on passenger numbers, punctuality, frequency and timetables during the third quarter of the year.

Leader has today asked why the review and changes were fast-tracked.

HAS TRANSPORT AUTHORITIES ACTED TOO QUICKLY TO REMOVE SERVICES? HAVE YOUR SAY BELOW.

Public Transport Victoria (PTV) spokeswoman Helen Witton said the changes would provide simpler routes and more frequent services that better connect with trains.

She said there would be improved connections to key stations like Croydon, Ringwood, Mitcham, Blackburn, and Box Hill railway stations.

But public transport users have taken aim at Transdev, Public Transport Victoria, and the State Government on the Yes to Doncaster Rail Facebook page.

media_camera Commuters vented their anger about the timetable changes on the Yes to Doncaster Rail Facebook page.

The storm of angry comments was directed at changes to time tables and reduced routes to the city — including the 908 SmartBus and 305 which will no longer operate to the city during off-peak times and weekends.

The Doncaster Rail Advocacy Steering Committee’s Facebook group members posted over the weekend, saying a number of routes in Manningham would be scrapped as of July 27.

The post revealed some routes would have reduced frequencies and operating hours.

“This was done with absolutely NO consultation with the community, unlike other areas of Melbourne who seem to get special treatment,” the post read.

“Some people will be better off, but generally, PTV has decided to reduce services in Manningham as they believe our public transport is good enough.”

Ben Gollow, 21, of Templestowe who catches the 908, said driving to the city would be quicker for him now.

“It doesn’t make sense, they don’t want cars going to the city but they cut public transport and make my trip longer by an hour,” he said.

“I won’t have a direct bus to get to the city on the weekends.

“I will have to take two buses and add 30-60 minutes to the journey.”

Mr Gollow said the changes would most likely mean he would travel to the city less.

“The 908 picks me up from King St and takes me down to Doncaster Park and Ride and to the city from there,” he said.

“With these changes it won’t go to the city on the weekends.”

He said the cuts would impact commuters during the week.

“It’s going to really impact my brother who is doing a course at RMIT in the city,” he said.

“It’s going to take him even longer to get to uni.

“There will be less buses going from Warrandyte to The Pines Shopping Centre.”

PTV spokeswoman Helen Witton said the changes would remove duplication in the bus network and provide more direct services.

“Where bus routes have changed, alternative services will continue to be available nearby,” she said.

“PTV encourages residents to check their local area map available on the PTV website, or look out for a ‘your new bus network for Manningham’ guide in their letterbox in the coming weeks.”

Ms Witton said as part of simplifying the bus network, bus routes 201, 203, 205, 286, 303, 313 and 315 would be replaced by the new bus network.

She said Transdev undertook a detailed market research study in late 2012 with both users and non-users of bus routes in the Manningham area.

“Transdev’s planning team also consulted with relevant local councils and took into account

current traffic and patronage data before submitting their proposals to PTV for review and

approval,” she said.

“PTV and Transdev also receive regular feedback from customers who consistently tell us

they want more direct, simpler routes and more frequent services that better connect with

trains, and this is what this network and timetable change delivers.”

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF PTV’S RESPONSE? TELL US BELOW.

Commuters who normally take the 908 SmartBus and 305 during off-peak times and weekends, should interchange to other high frequency bus services to the city at Doncaster Park and Ride or Doncaster Shoppingtown, she said.

Transdev stakeholders and marketing general manager Emilie van de Graaff previously told Manningham Leader the scheduling of 52 bus routes was under review by Transdev and Public Transport Victoria, as part of Transdev’s franchise contract.

She said the review was aiming for a “more effective use of existing resources”.

“A lot of bus services are running around empty, which is costing money,” she said.

“They could be used in other areas where more services are needed.”

Ms van de Graaff said Transdev had clear targets to increase patronage by improving services by 2015, as part of their contract with PTV.

Public Transport Users Association president Tony Morton labelled the changes as a “penny pinching exercise”.

“It looks like the losers are outnumbering the winners,” he said

“When you improve frequency and encourage people to use public transport, you do improve cost recovery and attract people using transport by choice, not because they have to.

“We have seen it with SmartBuses and improvements to train operations through off-peak periods.”

COMMUTER BACKLASH ON FACEBOOK

“This is absolutely insane to say the least! Doncaster doesn’t have a train line and they have decided to reduce buses?”

Nina Bandegi

“We use the 908 often in the weekends, so this is really disappointing.”

Nicole Ownes

“The government wants to promote a green image, but then cut the public transport system or make it worse in every possible way,”

“Untimely trains, trams that fail to show up at all, and now buses that are discontinued.

“Why would anyone want to take public transport when it’s s undependable?”

Simon Wang

“The bus network was the one thing that gave the East an edge over the rest of Melbourne’s public transport”.

Lana Wilson

“How is my 16 year old brother meant to get home from school in Balwyn to Templestowe when they have CUT his bus! Absolutely SHOCKING PTV!!!”

Katie Athanasiou

SOME EXAMPLES OF THE CHANGES:

908 SmartBus and 305 will not operate to the city in off-peak/weekends

SCRAPPED routes include 201, 203, 205, 286, 303, 313 and 315

FREQUENCIES have been reduced on a multitude of local routes

SHORTENING of the 207, 284, 285, 271, 305 and others