Transport

The train line between Melbourne and Bendigo passes through the Mount Alexander Shire with all services stopping at the Castlemaine Station. The beautiful Castlemaine Station and much of the related engineering works are listed on the Victorian Heritage Register. The Station retains much of its historic charm, but also boasts facilities that are extremely well maintained to provide a very pleasant experience for passengers. To check out the timetable for the Melbourne-Bendigo line, go to www.vline.com.au or www.viclink.com.au, or call V/Line customer service on 136196.

The Victorian Goldfields Railway offers a historic tourist train ride experience between Castlemaine, Muckleford and Maldon on Wednesdays and Sundays. Check it out at www.vgr.com.au or call (03) 5470 6658.

A number of V/Line buses traverse the Shire heading to Maryborough, Bendigo and Ballarat. There are bus stops for these services in Guildford, Newstead, Castlemaine, Harcourt, Maldon and Welshmans Reef. To check out the timetables for these services, go to www.vline.com.au or www.viclink.com.au.

Castlemaine Bus Lines provides weekday services that link Castlemaine to Harcourt, Maldon, Chewton, Bendigo and Campbells Creek. From 1st of November 2008 they will also provide a Saturday service between Maldon and Castlemaine and other destinations around each town, such as the Wesley Hill Market. This Saturday bus service is integrated with V/Line rail, i.e. if you have a valid V/Line rail ticket, you can travel on this service free of charge. If you want to see how to use this bus service to get to any of these destinations, go to www.castlemainebuslines.com.au or call (03) 5472 1455.

Castlemaine Taxis provide comprehensive taxi services on demand throughout the Shire – call 131 008 if you wish to make a booking. From 2nd of November 2008, Castlemaine Taxis will also be providing a Sunday “Bus” service between Maldon and Castlemaine in a “Maxi Taxi” – (timetable). The fare arrangements for this “Bus” service will be the same as the Castlemaine Bus Lines Saturday services to Maldon – see above.

Car pooling can be a great way of saving money, meeting new people and reducing your ecological footprint. There are many internet sites set up to put people who want to start car pooling in touch with each other. Council does not endorse any specific site and you are encouraged to make your own investigations; but, the following two sites will get you started:

http://www.carpoolworld.com/carpool_Victoria_AUS_favorites.html

http://www.thecarpool.com.au/site/index.cfm

From Saturday 1st November 2008, Castlemaine Bus Lines and Castlemaine Taxis will commence two trial weekend public transport service between Maldon and Castlemaine.

The services will make return journeys between Maldon and Castlemaine four times on Saturdays and three times on Sundays, with a route that includes stops at key sites in Castlemaine and Maldon.

If you want to know more about the services, please call Chris Curnow, Transport Connections Project Officer, Mount Alexander Shire Council on (03) 5471 1844 or 0417 130 885.

To download a copy of the timetable please follow the link below:

If you have any feedback on the public transport in the Shire, please call (03) 5471 1700 and ask to be put through to the Transport Connections Project Officer.