New Burwood bus to better link students with campus

Commuting between Box Hill station and Deakin University’s Burwood Campus is set to become faster and more convenient thanks to a new public transport shuttle bus launched by Public Transport Victoria.

The new 201 Route complements the increasingly busy 767, 768, 732 and 281 bus routes and begins on 22 February, just in time for the university’s first trimester.

The shuttle bus will run directly between Box Hill station’s internal bus exchange and the Burwood campus every 20 minutes between 7am and 10pm, Monday to Friday, on university days and also on the Melbourne Cup, Labour Day, and Queen’s Birthday public holidays.

The new service, which simply requires a Myki card to travel, is part of the Victorian Government’s $100 million investment for bus upgrades contained in the 2015-16 budget.

In welcoming the announcement, Vice-Chancellor Professor Jane den Hollander said the new service would be in high demand.

“Box Hill Station is one of the key access points for staff and students travelling to the Burwood campus on public transport,” Professor den Hollander said. 

“This announcement is great news for the Deakin community, particularly as we look forward to welcoming hundreds of first year students, along with more than 27,000 returning students, to our Burwood campus in the next few weeks.

“This new fast and direct service will not only shuttle our staff and students from Box Hill Station to campus every 20 minutes, it will also provide a handy link to local rail and bus services.”

A key feature of the new shuttle is its low floor, which provides a service that is accessible to all.

“Transport disadvantage – that is, difficulties in accessing and affording transport – is often most keenly felt by people in outer-urban or fringe areas and those with a disability,” Professor den Hollander explained.

“The new shuttle helps to widen access to university study by providing an accessible, convenient and low cost transport option for staff and students in the Box Hill area and surrounds.”