A LONG-overdue direct bus service linking Mornington to Hastings is on the way, with funding now locked in through the state budget. The funding for a cross-peninsula bus service would create a new bus route 886 between Hastings and Mornington via Mooroduc and Tyabb.
In announcing the news, Hastings MP Paul Mercurio said the government would make changes to routes 784 and 785, making the journey between Mornington and Frankston more direct. He said these changes would give locals across the peninsula “choices they’ve never had before to leave the car at home and catch the bus to local landmarks”. Currently, residents have to take multiple services and make a long detour through Frankston. The proposed new route would span between Tanti Ave in Mornington and Hendersons Rd in Hastings.
The budget will also provide free public transport free for youths under 18 with savings of up to $755 a year, per child. And from 1 January 2026, public transport will be free for Victorians aged over 60 on weekends.
“This is a budget focused on what matters most – delivering real help with the cost of living and investing in the frontline services families rely on,” Mercurio said. “Here in Hastings, we’re making public transport free for kids – and improving services across our community.”
While the cross-peninsula bus services will be welcomed by many, plans to electrify and duplicate the Frankston train line towards Hastings remain stagnant. There have been proposals and business cases for the extension, including duplication and electrification, with an estimated cost of up to $1.5 billion.
First published in the Mornington News – 27 May 2025
