Slow start for night network

The State Government’s 24-hour public transport experiment has started slowly, with only 15,000 people using the late night service after its second week.

Only 10,000 people used the train, tram and bus service in its first week.

This compares with an average public transport patronage of 1.46 million per day, according to figures in Public Transport Victoria’s 2015 annual report.

PTV reported that in 2014/15 metropolitan trains carried 227.5 million passengers, trams carried 182.1 million passengers and a further 124 million passengers used metropolitan buses.

Acting Premier James Merlino said: “The Government is delivering all night public transport so people can enjoy the world’s most liveable city for longer and get home safer and sooner, every weekend.”

Snr Sgt Adam Tanner of Melbourne East Police Station said police had not noticed any significant change within the CBD.

He said it was too early to make any conclusions about the program and that it would take time for people to become aware of the service.