This is a list of bus routes that are part of the

bus network A bus network is a network topology in which nodes are directly connected to a common half-duplex link called a bus. A host on a bus network is called a ''station''. In a bus network, every station will receive all network traffic, and t ...

, in

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

, Australia.

Kinetic Melbourne Kinetic Melbourne is a bus operator in Melbourne, Australia, operating a fleet of 531 buses on 43 bus routes, as well as seven SmartBus routes. It commenced operations on 31 January 2022, taking over all routes previously operated by Transdev Me ...

operate approximately 30% of the bus network, signing contracts in 2021 as part of the Melbourne Metropolitan Bus Franchise. The remaining 70% of the network is operated under 23 contracts with other bus operators, all of these contracts were entered into in mid-2018 and will expire in 2025 or 2028.

Route numbering scheme

The route number of buses in Melbourne can tell a little about the route's operator, area served and even its history. Route numbering was a reflection of the designated zonal area used during the 1980s. Areas were referred to as "Neighbourhood Zones". However, as part of the "Grow or Go" policies, route numbers across the bus network were affected. There are no two-digit route numbers – these are used exclusively by

trams A tram (called a streetcar or trolley in North America) is a rail vehicle that travels on tramway tracks on public urban streets; some include segments on segregated right-of-way. The tramlines or networks operated as public transport ar ...

. *150–199, 400–899: These routes are run by private companies. Most are found in the middle and outer suburbs, where they provide feeders to railway Stations and provide local travel. *200–399: These routes were former government-run routes (

Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board The Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB) was a government-owned authority that was responsible for the tram network in Melbourne, Australia between 1919 and 1983, when it was merged into the Metropolitan Transit Authority. It had bee ...

and then MetBus). They are found mostly in inner suburbs such as Footscray/ Sunshine,

Elsternwick Elsternwick is an inner suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 9 km south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Glen Eira local government area. Elsternwick recorded a population of 10,887 at the 2 ...

- Brighton, Clifton Hill and

Port Melbourne Port Melbourne is an inner-city List of Melbourne suburbs, suburb in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia, south-west of Melbourne's Melbourne central business district, Central Business District, located within the Cities of ...

. Routes in the

Doncaster Doncaster (, ) is a city in South Yorkshire, England. Named after the River Don, it is the administrative centre of the larger City of Doncaster. It is the second largest settlement in South Yorkshire after Sheffield. Doncaster is situated in ...

Templestowe Templestowe is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 16 km north-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Manningham local government area. Templestowe recorded a population of 16,966 at the . The s ...

area also have these numbers due to a Tramways board takeover after the area's private operator collapsed. In the 1990s all MetBus routes were put out to private franchise. Until August 2013, these services were operated by

Melbourne Bus Link Melbourne Bus Link was an Australian bus and coach operator in Melbourne. It was a Melbourne bus company that operated nine bus routes under contract to the Public Transport Victoria. Melbourne Bus Link ceased operations on 3 August 2013. His ...

and National Bus Company. All of these services were taken over by

Transdev Melbourne Transdev Melbourne was a bus operator in Melbourne, Australia, that operated the Melbourne Bus Franchise with a fleet of 534 buses on 49 bus routes from August 2013 until January 2022. It operated approximately 30% of Melbourne's bus network. I ...

, which were since taken over by

*900 series: Historically these route numbers were used by

Victorian Railways The Victorian Railways (VR), trading from 1974 as VicRail, was the state-owned operator of most rail transport in the Australian state of Victoria from 1859 to 1983. The first railways in Victoria were private companies, but when these companie ...

, who ran buses co-ordinated with trains on some routes. Routes with these numbers have either been abolished or incorporated into other routes. The 900 series is now used for the high frequency SmartBus services, which are mostly cross-town and orbital routes.

By route number

100-199

200–299

300–399

400–499

500–599

600–699

700–799

800–899

900–999

Airports

Former Routes

By bus company

References

External links

Public Transport Victoria (PTV)
(official public transport website) {{AusPTBus Bus routes, Melbourne