Kensington residents concerned over sudden removal of bus stops

Kensington residents have been left frustrated after the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) removed five bus stops along Kensington Rd without prior consultation, an action which came into effect on February 23. 

Rosemary Hill, a long-time Kensington resident, expressed her concerns about the disruption caused to her and others in the neighbourhood by the removal of the Route 402 bus stops.

"I was just really upset and angry," Rosemary said. 

Rosemary spoke with North West City News about how the changes, with “no warning”, left her rushing to catch the bus in poor weather. 

“It was pouring rain, and I had to go all the way up to the top of the hill and nearly missed the bus," she said. 

“I kept looking back, but they come from out of sight, and it’s impossible. It was just very stressful.”

Rosemary, who relies on public transport to get to appointments and visit family, also highlighted other practical challenges posed by the changes.

“Catching the bus is the most convenient way to get to the market, and for people who want to go to the hospital or want to go to Carlton. It just doesn’t make any sense,” she said. 

The DTP has assured the public that the changes will not impact bus frequency or timetables, however Rosemary says conversations with other residents suggested the removals have led to longer waits and increased crowding. 

“A girl I spoke to one day said she’d been waiting 20 minutes for a bus. This is happening ever since they changed the bus stop,” Rosemary told North West City News. 

The DTP explained that the bus stop removals were part of a broader effort to streamline public transport and support the opening of the new Kensington Community Aquatic and Recreation Centre in mid-2025. 

The remaining bus stop at Altona St and Kensington Rd will continue to provide access to the centre.

The DTP website states that the removal of some bus stops was intended to prevent “slower journey times on Route 402 and unnecessary stops for all road users on Kensington Rd.”

However, many locals feel the decision overlooks the needs of everyday commuters, with Rosemary pointing out that even bus drivers disagree with the reasoning provided.

“The bus drivers say traffic along Kensington Rd doesn’t make a difference to their journey times. The issue is mainly in Macauley Rd with all those level crossing and building construction works,” she said.

It seems like all they cared about is this new sports centre that's about to open. They don’t care about the residents who actually live in Kensington, who actually use those bus services to go other places.

State MP Ellen Sandell has encouraged residents to “speak up” about the issue, with Kensington Banks already being an "underserved" part of the Melbourne public transport system.

"Removing these stops with no consultation and no warning is hugely unfair and will especially affect older people, people with young kids, and people with disabilities who may not be able to easily walk to the next stop, even if it’s only a few hundred metres away," Ms Sandell told North West City News.

"It’s not right that the Government can close bus stops like this with no consultation, it’s important they hear your voice, and that the community asks for these stops to be re-instated.” •