‘Cheers’ go out for late night bus

By Bridget Brady
CASEY night clubbers can stay for last drinks after the introduction of the extended NightRider bus service, which began last weekend.
Party-goers from Casey who travel to the city for a night out can head home on the new route, which travels via towns including Endeavour Hills, Fountain Gate, Berwick, Narre Warren, Cranbourne, Lyndhurst and Hampton Park.
Previously the NightRider went only as far as Dandenong.
The Casey loop will depart from the Dandenong terminus in Lonsdale Street every 60 minutes in a clockwise and anti-clockwise direction between 1.30am and 5.30am on Saturday, and 1.30am and 7am on Sunday.
Passengers can also use a free phone on the bus to book a taxi to meet them at their stop.
Cranbourne resident Jason Hills, who spoke to the News in February about the need for the NightRider bus in Casey, said he was thrilled the bus had finally come.
Mr Hills, 35, believed that, if more public transport was available, the number of traffic and drink driving incidents would reduce.
“The NightRider will be a popular choice of transport for the youths within the City of Casey,” he said.
Cranbourne MP Jude Perera also welcomed the new service.
“This boost to services continues to address a real need for bigger and better late-night travel options,” Mr Perera said.
“I encourage Cranbourne residents to get on board and make the most of these fantastic new late-night services.”
The NightRider bus service is a popular and cheap way home every weekend for thousands of young people who live in Melbourne’s outer suburbs.
The service transports night clubbers and pub-goers from the Melbourne CBD during the early hours of Saturday and Sunday morning.
City of Casey councillor and chair of Casey’s Night Time Entertainment Taskforce Lorraine Wreford said the new route was excellent news for young people, but she wanted to see a direct service to Casey without the many stops on the way.
“I congratulate the State Government for addressing the need in our community,” Cr Wreford said.
“And I would sincerely hope that they look at reviewing that and putting a direct service from the city to Casey.” Cr Wreford said the direct service was needed because the trip home for Casey residents from the city could take about two hours.
“But I’m deliriously happy that we’re getting the service.”
Cr Wreford said new entertainment venues were needed in Casey to give people the option of staying local.
“The problem is in Casey that we don’t have enough night-time venues for the number of people we have, which is why we started the taskforce a few years ago to look at this issue.”
For timetables and information about NightRider stops visit metlinkmelbourne .com.au or call 131 638.