Trains provide faster travel from middle and outer suburbs to the city. Buses serve suburbs distant from rail lines, act as feeders to railway stations and allow cross-suburban and local travel not available via train or tram. All train and tram routes operate 7 days per week. Sunday services start later. Service frequencies on most routes range from 15 or 20 minutes during weekdays to 20 to 40 minutes on evenings and weekends.
Services become less frequent on the outer extremities of some lines.
Despite Melbourne s large rail network, most people live away from stations and must use buses for at least some of their public transport. However, buses are the weak link in Melbourne s public transport system. Routes are generally indirect. Interchange facilities are rudimentary, and there is limited co-ordination of bus and train timetables. The restricted running time and poor frequency of most bus routes in Melbourne make timetable information very important for travellers wishing to avoid waits of 36 hours or more.