A new bus network for Plenty Valley

From 24 July a new bus network for Plenty Valley will provide more frequent, coordinated and direct services to more places in Mernda, Doreen and South Morang.

Bus frequency will improve to every 10 or 20 minutes across much of the network during peak hours, helping you turn up and go. Connections to trains will also be easier at South Morang and Greensborough stations.

There are six new buses being introduced: routes 381, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386 and 387 that will replace routes 520, 562, 565, 572 and 573, and help you get to:

• Kinglake and Whittlesea townships
• Northland Shopping Centre
• Laurimar town centre
• Plenty Valley Shopping Centre
• Greensborough Shopping Centre
• University Hill Factory Outlets
• RMIT Bundoora Campus
• La Trobe University Bundoora Campus.

Other key features include:

• a new bus route connecting Doreen and Diamond Creek
• the reinstatement of a bus service between Whittlesea and Greensborough
• additional services to Kinglake
• additional services along Civic Drive improving the link between Mill Park Secondary College (Senior Campus) and South Morang Station
• better connections between the Route 86 tram terminus at Bundoora RMIT and South Morang Station via Plenty Road and Bush Boulevard, then continuing along The Lakes Boulevard to Mernda
• better services for students at Hazel Glen College, Diamond Valley College, St Helena Secondary College and Marymede Catholic College
• improved access to Arilla Retirement Village. 

Route summaries

• Route 381 Diamond Creek to South Morang via Doreen
• Route 382 Whittlesea to Northland
• Route 383 Palisade to University Hill
• Route 384 Kinglake to Whittlesea
• Route 385 Whittlesea / Mernda to Greensborough
• Route 386 Mernda North to Bundoora RMIT
• Route 387 Mernda North to Bundoora RMIT
• Route 570 Thomastown to RMIT Bundoora via Betula Avenue and Plenty Road

Route 381 Diamond Creek to South Morang via Doreen

Route 381 was introduced in May 2016 ahead of the Plenty Valley bus network.

It is a new bus route connecting Diamond Creek, Doreen and South Morang. Catch this service to get to:

• Diamond Creek Station
• Laurimar Town Centre
• South Morang Station
• Westfield Plenty Valley

This route extended coverage into the north-west corner of Doreen along Laurimar Boulevard and Eliot Avenue.

New pedestrian signals along Plenty Road at The Parkway, South Morang, will allow for easy interchange between routes 381, 382, 386 and 387.

At South Morang Station, passengers can transfer to trains and other bus services, including SmartBus Route 901 to Melbourne Airport.

Route 381 and 382 combine to provide a 10 minute weekday peak service between Bridge Inn Road/Plenty Road and South Morang Station.

Morning and afternoon extensions are provided for students attending St Helena Secondary College and Diamond Valley College, while deviations operate to Hazel Glen College.

Route 381 operates seven days a week.Route 381 Timetable found here

Route 382 Whittlesea to Northland

Route 382 Whittlesea to Northland is a new route operating between Whittlesea Township and Northland via South Morang Station.

Catch this service to get to:

• Whittlesea
• South Morang Station
• Mill Park Secondary College (Junior Campus)
• Parade College
• RMIT University, Bundoora
• La Trobe University
• Northland Shopping Centre.

Route 382 replaces Route 562 Whittlesea to Northland.

Route 382 Timetable found here

Route 383 Palisade to University Hill

Route 383 Palisades to University Hill is a new route operating between the Palisades Estate (South Morang) and University Hill via South Morang Station.

Catch this service to get to:

• South Morang Station for train and bus services including Smart Bus 901
• University Hill retail outlets
• Bundoora RMIT for tram Route 86 services.

Route 383 replaces Route 573, north of South Morang Station and Route 572, south of South Morang Station.

Route 383 Timetable found here

Route 384 Kinglake to Whittlesea

Route 384 Kinglake to Whittlesea is a new route operating between Kinglake and Whittlesea Township via Humevale.

It replaces Route 565 but provides Kinglake residents with approximately three times the number of trips they had previously.

Route 383 operates seven days a week whereas Route 565 did not operate on Sundays.

It also replaces Route 562 in the eastern section of Whittlesea and the special trips to Humevale currently served by Route 562. Since the new route will carry out both functions, you might notice some gaps in the timetable in the eastern section of Whittlesea as a result of the select trips to Kinglake.

To get to South Morang Station you can interchange at Church Street, Whittlesea for Route 382 Whittlesea to Northland.

Route 384 Timetable found here

Route 385 Whittlesea / Mernda North to Greensborough

Route 385 Whittlesea/Mernda North to Greensborough is a new bus route operating between Whittlesea Township and Greensborough Plaza via Laurimar Town Centre.

You can interchange at:

• Greensborough Station for trains and other bus services, including SmartBus 901 and 902
• Laurimar Town Centre for connections to South Morang via bus route 381
• Mernda North for connections to South Morang, Bundoora RMIT, La Trobe University and Northland Shopping Centre via bus routes 382, 386 and 387.

Route 385 will operate every 20 minutes during peak between Mernda North and Greensborough and every 40 minutes during off-peak between the same locations. On weekdays, every second trip will be extended to and from Whittlesea.

Services will operate seven days a week. On Saturdays and Sundays, all trips operate between Mernda North and Greensborough. If you’re heading to Whittlesea, you can transfer to Route 382 any day of the week at Mernda North.

Route 385 Timetable found here

Route 386 Mernda West to Bundoora RMIT

Route 386 is a new bus route operating between Mernda West and Bundoora RMIT via South Morang Station.

Catch this service to get to:

• Mernda Village
• South Morang Station
• Westfield – Plenty Valley
• University Hill
• Bundoora RMIT.

It runs further west than the existing Route 572 to provide new coverage in the growing areas of Mernda.

From South Morang, it follows the existing alignment of Route 573 to University Hill, however terminates in Plenty Road, outside of the RMIT Bundoora West Campus.

Route 386 Timetable found here

Route 387 Mernda North to Bundoora RMIT

Route 387 is a new bus route operating between Mernda North and Bundoora RMIT via Hawkstowe Parade.

It provides a connection to South Morang Station and links to the northern stop of tram Route 86.

This route will provide new services in the Hawkstowe area east of Plenty Road where there was previously no public transport.

Route 387 Timetable found here

Route 570 Thomastown to RMIT Bundoora via Betula Ave

Route 570 is an existing service from Thomastown to RMIT Bundoora that will now run through University Hill via Ormond Boulevard, Chancellor Avenue and Janefield Drive.

It will run every 20 minutes on weekdays when previously it ran every 30 minutes. This increased frequency will allow you to have better connections with trains at Thomastown Station.

Route 570 now travels on weekends and public holidays.

Route 570 Timetable found here

The Plenty Valley bus network upgrade has resulted in 50 new local job opportunities as well as 20 new buses built right here in Victoria by Volgren. 

For more information visit the PTV Plenty Valley page on their website

Last updated: 19th July 2016