Travelling to and from work and education in Parkville and Abbotsford is now quicker and easier with a new limited-stop bus service connecting Victoria Park Station to the University of Melbourne.
The new route 202 bus service, which started on 20 September 2021, runs every 10 minutes from Yarra Bend to the university and Parkville's medical and research precinct, enabling people to board from Victoria Park Station.
The high-frequency shuttle bus also picks up passengers from stops connecting with the 11, 86 and 96 tram routes, providing a more efficient and comfortable way for students and workers to reach the precinct.
It eliminates the need for people commuting from Melbourne's northern and north-eastern suburbs to travel into the CBD to get to the university or Parkville-bound services.
Emma Sinn, a 23-year-old student of commercial cookery at Victoria Institute of Technology, loves the convenience and frequency of the new service.
"I catch the 202 right near my apartment in Parkville to go to my practical training each week, at a café in Abbotsford," she said.
Previously Emma had to catch a tram as well as the 207 bus, a much slower and less direct route.
"Now I never have to wait long and it's a quick trip on the 202 with hardly any stops."
Wayne Liao, 28, agrees. He is also training to be a chef and travels from Parkville to Johnston Street for work experience at a cafe.
Wayne used to catch a combination of train, tram and bus to get to work. He decided to try route 202 after an online search recommended the new route as a faster option, halving his travel time.
"I'll definitely keep using the 202 from now on," said Wayne. "It's so much quicker and easier and the times align better for me."
Route 202 services operate from 7am to 7pm weekdays, departing from Yarra Bend Park and travelling via Studley Park Road, Johnston Street, Elgin Street, Lygon Street, Grattan Street and Swanston Street, terminating outside Melbourne University.
Timetables are available at ptv.vic.gov.au or on the PTV app.
Route 202 is part of Victoria's Bus Plan to transform the bus network to better meet user needs.
