2005-07-24: Knox Transit Link & Wattle Park changes part 2

Six weeks after the introduction of the SmartBus timetable on Route 700 running via Wattle Park, further network changes were made across multiple Ventura routes on 24 July 2005.

Route 732 (Box Hill – Upper Ferntree Gully)

Coinciding with the 2.9km extension of Route 75 tram services east from Blackburn Rd, Burwood East to Hartland Rd, Vermont South, Route 732 received a massive boost in service between Vermont South and Knox City Shopping Centre, marketed as the “Knox Transit Link”.

At the 1999 & 2002 state elections the ALP had promised a longer 8.3km extension of Route 75 to Knox City, but after early planning reveled a cost blow-out to over $100 million, it was decided to compromise a run a coordinated shuttle bus for the majority of the planned extension, timed to meet each tram at a tram-bus interchange at the Vermont South terminus, a massive increase of service, including new early morning and evening trips Monday to Saturday, as well as the addition of Sunday services.

Timetable Links:
Route 732 timetable until 23 July 2015 (HTML)
Route 732 timetable after 24 July 2015 (HTML)

Links courtesy of Internet Archive Wayback Machine

The upgraded frequency and span between Vermont South & Knox City was as follows:

Weekdays Knox City to Vermont South:

First bus 04:42 (previously 0601)
Before 06:00: every 20 mins (previously no service)
06:00 to 08:00: every 8 mins (previously every 20 mins)
08:00 to 17:20: every 10 mns (previously every 20 mins)
17:20 to 19:00: every 20 mins (previously every 20 mins)
After 19:00: every 20 mins (previously no service)
Last bus 00:50 (previously 1842)

Saturdays Knox City to Vermont South:

First bus 04:44 (previously 0705)
Before 07:00: every 20 mins (previously no service)
07:00 to 14:00: every 10 – 12 mins (previously every 30 mins)
14:00 to 18:00: every 12 mns (previously every hour)
After 18:00: every 20 mins (previously no service)
Last bus 00:51 (previously 1805)

Sunday Knox City to Vermont South:

First bus 06:32 (previously no service)
Before 09:00: every 30 mins (previously no service)
09:00 to 17:00: every 12 mins (previously no service)
1700 to 1800: every 20 mns (previously no service)
After 18:00: every 30 mins (previously no service)
Last bus 00:33 (previously no service)

Weekdays Vermont South to Knox City:

First bus 04:52 (previously 07:03)
Before 06:00: every 20 mins (previously no service)
06:00 to 07:00: every 10 mins (previously no service)
07:00 to 08:00: every 10 – 20 mins (previously every 20 mins)
08:00 to 18:00: every 10 mns (previously every 20 mins)
18:00 to 19:30: every 8 mins (previously every 20 mins)
19:30 to 20:00: every 10 mins (previously every 30 mins)
20:00 to 21:00: every 15 mins (previously no service)
After 21:00: every 20 mins (previously no service)
Last bus 01:01 (previously 1951)

Saturdays Vermont South to Knox City:

First bus 04:57 (previously 0813)
Before 08:00: every 20 mins (previously no service)
08:00 to 09:00: every 20 mins (previously every 30 mins)
09:00 to 14:00: every 10 – 12 mins (previously every 30 mins)
14:00 to 19:15: every 12 mns (previously every hour)
19:15 to 20:15: every 12 mins (previously no service)
After 20:15: every 20 mins (previously no service)
Last bus 01:05 (previously 1911)

Sunday Vermont South to Knox City:

First bus 06:45 (previously no service)
Before 09:30: every 30 mins (previously no service)
09:30 to 19:45: every 12 mins (previously no service)
19:45 to 21:20: every 20 mns (previously no service)
After 21:20: every 30 mins (previously no service)
Last bus 00:47 (previously no service)

The existing timetable between Box Hill and Vermont South, and between Knox City and Upper Ferntree Gully was maintained, as per the previous frequencies in the Knox Transit Link section.

Route 735 (Box Hill – South Blackburn)
Route 767 (Box Hill – Southland)

The streamlining of Route 700 via Riversdale Rd and Station St on 14 June 2005 allowed Ventura to make changes to the route alignments of Route 735 & 767 in Wattle Park to provide more direct and legible paths. It also saw the introduction of Saturday services along Elgar Rd north of Wattle Park, along with more frequent weekday services.

Route 735 trips had previously departed Box Hill via Cambridge St, Thurston St, Carrington Rd, Elgar Rd, Riversdale Rd and Station St to Eley Rd.

Route 767 trips meanwhile operated from Box Hill via Station St, Riversdale Rd, Elgar Rd to Burwood Hwy. Trips in the peak direction and alternating offpeak trips deviated via Canterbury Rd, Haig St and Foch St in Box Hill South.

With the introduction of the Route 700 SmartBus the previous month, Riversdale Rd began overserviced with Routes 700, 735 & 767, while the Station St north of Riversdale Rd now saw Routes 700, 732 & 767.

The sensible move was to made to have the more frequent 6-day-a-week Route 767 to travel the full length of Elgar Rd to Box Hill, with Route 735 made to operate more directly to Box Hill, whilst moderating frequency along Station St. Further legibility was gained with all trips on Route 735 operating via Haig St in Box Hill South, although locals now had to walk to Station St on Saturdays (as Route 735 didn’t operate on Saturdays until 2010).

Route 735 trips now departed Box Hill via Station St, Canterbury Rd, Haig St, Foch St and Station St to Eley Rd.

Meanwhile, Route 767 operated more directly via Cambridge St, Thurston St, Carrington Rd, Elgar Rd to Burwood Hwy.

Below is a comparison of frequencies on Elgar Rd between Box Hill and Wattle Park before and after the route shuffle:

Weekdays