MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
PUBLIC TRANSPORT FAQ
Quick Notes | Passenger Information | Route Structure | Service Levels | Fares And Procedures | Directions To Places Of
Interest | Administration
Also: Melbourne
Airport by public transport
- This
information is UNOFFICIAL and MAY NOT BE CURRENT. Much of it was
compiled in the late 1990s. You are strongly advised to seek more
up-to-date information from Metlink/Viclink.
- All prices in Australian dollars - currency
conversion
- All times Australian Eastern Standard Time (GMT/UTC +10
hours, summer time GMT/UTC +11 hours)
- Prefix for all Melbourne phone numbers listed is +61-3-
- Melbourne is capital city of the state of Victoria.
Population of Melbourne and suburbs is about 3 million.
- If you can correct anything here, or fill in any of the
gaps, please email me (see address below). In particular
anything with a ?
- The format of this document is based on a proposal for
public transport FAQs from the TRANSIT-L list (now misc.transport.urban-transit) in the mid-1990s
- Phone:
- The Met Information Centre 131 638 (131 MET)
- Free call from anywhere in Australia (except from
Mobiles) 1800-817900
- TTY (Telephone Typewriter, for the deaf) 96102888
- Hours 7am-9pm, 7 days a week
- Automatic Ticketing (MetCard) information Free
call (except from Mobiles) 1800-652313
- Myki Smartcard ticketing information and faults 13-MYKI (13-6954)
- Walk-in:
- The Met Shop, Melbourne Town Hall, Swanston St,
Melbourne
- Hours 9am-5pm, weekdays; 9am-1pm Saturdays
- Web:
- "The Met Travel Guide", free from Met Shop and
staffed railway stations. Shows fare prices, fare zones,
train network, tram network and general information.
- "Public Transport Map of Melbourne" Cost $2.20.
Available from Met Shops, staffed railway stations.
Pocket sized folding map of Melbourne, with all tram,
train and bus routes, fare zones, route descriptions,
outer suburban services, general information, index of
suburbs. (Note availability of this map is sporadoc)
- Detailed maps of the inner suburbs are displayed on most
trams. Train network diagrams are displayed on trains.
- Local area maps have been installed at many stations
- See Chris Brownbill's unofficial
Melbourne rail map
Timetables:
- Availability:
- All services: Met Shop (see above), by phone from
the Met Information Centre (see above)
- All rail services: Major city railway stations
- Local rail, tram, bus services: Local staffed
railway stations
- On the web:
- Format:
- Trams, buses: folding booklets
- Trains: whole lines in folding booklets, wallet
sized for individual stations
- Nightrider Buses: wallet sized booklets
- En route information:
- Train stations: departure times and full
timetables displayed. Real time automated voice
information is available at most stations (look
for the panel with the green button on it). Most
stations also have automated voice announcements.
Major stations have screens or other automated
displays showing next train(s).
- Tram routes: most stops have departure times
and/or frequency summary. A few stops have
automated displays showing times of next tram(s).
- Bus routes: Stops at major interchanges (eg
shopping centres) have departure times. A few
routes have departure times displayed at all
stops.
- All timetable and route information available by
phone from Met Transport Information (see above)
- Full copies of timetables sometimes available
buses and trams - ask the driver if they are not
on display
Transit advocacy group:
Other contacts:
- V/Line: country
and interstate trains and buses:
- information and booking 136 196 or from overseas +61-3-8608 5011
- V/Line Road Coach
- Regional transit systems: VicLink on 131 638
- Taxis (ranks at many stations) (major groups only
listed):
- Emergency services Freecall 000 from any phone
Other information on the Web
Modes: Rail, Tram/light-rail, Bus
List of rail routes
(suburban only). All routes start in the city centre.
- Metro Trains:
- Clifton Hill loop (underground stations platform
1): Epping, Eltham/Hurstbridge
- Caulfield loop (underground stations platform 2):
Dandenong/Pakenham/Cranbourne, Frankston,
Sandringham
- Northern loop (underground stations platform 3):
Williamstown, Werribee, Sydenham, Craigieburn (Broadmeadows),
Upfield
- Burnley loop (underground stations platform 4):
Lilydale, Belgrave, Alamein, Glen Waverley
- Flemington Racecourse/Showgrounds (Special events
only)
- V/Line country rail services in the suburban area
(Metcard tickets apply):
- Melton to Sunshine
- Sunbury to Sydenham
- Craigieburn to Broadmeadows
- Stony Point to Frankston
Summary of tram routes
- 40 main routes mostly around zone 1 (city and
inner-suburbs).
Summary of bus routes
About 160 routes running all over Melbourne metropolitan area.
They are operated by various private bus contractors. All regular
bus services have route numbers. Metcard tickets apply on these
buses (see Fares and Procedures) - except some routes running outside the metropolitan area.
Special Services:
- City
Circle (free service). Runs every 12 minutes between
10am and 6pm every day (9pm Thursday to Saturday nights
during summer time). Does not run on Christmas Day or
Good Friday. Trams run both clockwise and anti-clockwise
along Flinders Street, Spring Street, La Trobe Street and via Docklands
- Nightrider
bus service
- On Friday and Saturday nights, half-hourly between about 1:30am and 5am, buses run between the city
and suburban destinations
- Buses stop at 12-18 locations on each route for pickup, and
passengers can alight at any normal bus or tram
stop along the route
- As of March 2007, normal Metcard tickets and
concessions DO apply to this service
- All buses are equipped with mobile phones, to
enable passengers to phone ahead for people to
meet them ($1), or for a taxi home (free call).
- See official
Nightrider home page
- Special events: Various extra or altered services run as
advertised
- Express peak services on some rail routes
- Skybus and
various other Airport shuttle services (Met tickets not
valid)
- Historic Transit:
Rail:
- Monday-Saturday: 5am to midnight (until about 1am on
Friday and Saturday nights)
- Sunday: 8am to 11pm. Some (former "M>Train"
lines run until midnight)
- Note last trains leave the city centre at the above
times. Last trains leave suburban termini up to an hour
before.
|
Weekday Frequencies |
Saturday frequencies |
Sunday frequencies |
| |
Peak |
Day |
Evening |
Day |
Evening |
Morning |
Afternoon |
Evening |
Typical frequencies
|
5-20 |
15-20 |
30 |
20 |
30 |
30-40 |
20 |
30-40 |
- Holidays: Most holidays run Saturday service, with Good
Friday and Christmas Day running Sunday service
- "TrainLink" buses meet every train at Epping
and Cranbourne
- See Metlink web site for more details
- Trains run via the City Loop:
- All lines except the Sandringham line run via the
Loop every day
- Sandringham trains only run via the loop on weekends
- Weekday morning trains coming into the city run
through the loop first then to Flinders St, then
back to suburban destinations (except Epping/Hurstbridge)
- Weekday afternoon and evening trains into the
city run direct to Flinders St, then around the
loop and to suburban destinations
- Alamein, Blackburn, Werribee and Williamstown trains do not run via the loop during peak periods
- To/From Flinders Street, allow 9 minutes extra
time for trains running via the loop.
- At some times of day it is possible to change
to/from loop trains at Richmond or North
Melbourne.
- Flagstaff station is only open on weekdays
Tram:
- Monday-Saturday: 5am to midnight (until about 1am on
Friday and Saturday nights)
- Sunday: 8am to 11:30pm.
- Holidays: Most holidays run Sunday service.
- Route 30 runs weekday daytime only.
- "Tramlink" buses meet (almost) every service at
Vermont South, going to/from Knox City
Frequencies (in minutes) and other information:
|
Weekday Frequencies |
Saturday frequencies |
Sunday frequencies |
| |
Peak |
Day |
Evening |
Day |
Evening |
Morning |
Afternoon |
Evening |
Typical frequencies
|
6-10 |
12-15 |
20 |
10-15 |
20 |
30 |
10-15 |
30 |
- *Frequency varies over different parts of route. On route
109, at these times only every second tram travels the
entire route.
- +Route 82 service until 8pm only Sunday to Thursday.
Until 10pm Friday and Saturday
- & City Circle runs until 9pm Thursday to Sunday in
summer only. Other seasons, until 6pm. City Circle does
not run on Christmas Day or Good Friday.
- Some other route numbers apply for additional trips along
portions of routes, in particular for trips from the city
to suburban depots after the morning peak.
Bus:
|
Weekday Frequencies |
Saturday frequencies |
Sunday frequencies |
| |
Peak |
Day |
Evening |
Day |
Evening |
Morning |
Afternoon |
Evening |
Typical routes
|
6-10 |
12-15 |
20 |
10-15 |
20 |
30 |
10-15 |
30 |
| Smartbus routes | 10-15 | 15 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
- The fare system is time and zone based. The Melbourne
city and suburbs are divided into three zones, and
passengers pay for the zones they want to travel in, and
the time they want. A fare bought on any vehicle is valid
for any other vehicle within the zone/s and time paid
for. The zones are overlapping circles - the further from
the city centre you are, the higher the zone number.
- The
overlapping areas (zone borders) are in two zones, and a
ticket for either zone applies. Zone 1 runs approximately
to the edges of the tram system.
- City Saver tickets are available only within the City
Saver zone for one train, tram or bus journey, and cannot
be used on another vehicle.
- The City Circle tram route is free. Other trams running
on portions of the same route are not.
- Weekly, Monthly and Yearly tickets are valid in all zones
for the ticket holder only on weekends.
- MetCard (automatic) tickets are valid from the time that
they are first validated
Latest
fares information here
- Fare increases are normally each January, tied to inflation.
- Zone 3 (outer suburbs)
was merged with zone 2 in March 2007.
- 2 hour tickets are timestamped/validated from the next
hour, giving between 2 and 3 hours travel. 2 hour tickets
timestamped/validated at or after 6pm are valid all
evening (until 3am the next morning).
- The ticket must be valid at the time that you validate
your ticket when entering the paid area (eg station, for
trains) or boarding the vehicle (for buses or trams). If
the ticket expires after this time, you may continue to
use it until you leave the paid area (station) or bus or
tram
- Daily and longer period tickets expire at 3am on the
morning after the expiry date
- Weekly, monthly and yearly tickets are valid in all zones
on Saturdays and Sundays
- Monthly and longer tickets are eligible for passenger
compensation when trains or trams fail to meet
performance targets
- From January 2005, weekly, monthly and yearly tickets are
no longer valid for an extra day when first validated
after 3pm.
- Concession fares are available to:
- children under 15 years
- holders of Primary/Secondary card (cost $8/year)
- holders of Tertiary card (cost $8/year)
- holders of Health Care Card (government welfare
card)
- holders of Health Benefits Card (government
welfare card)
- holders of Seniors Card (for retired people over
60)
- 60 Plus Concession Card (predecessor of Seniors
Card)
- Pensioner Transport Concession Card (government
welfare card)
- More information from Metlink
- Full details of all terms and conditions: Victorian
Fares and Ticketing Manual
Disabled services
- All suburban train stations are
accessible by ramps or lifts. Each train is provided with
a driver-operated portable wheelchair ramps for boarding
- Some tram stops are accessible, and serviced by
accessible (no-step) trams
- Some bus stops are accessible, and serviced by accessible
buses
- All Skybus services between Southern Cross Station and
Melbourne Airport are accessible
- Holders of a Victorian Blind Person's Travel Pass travel
free on all train, tram, bus and coach services in
Victoria
- Tactile guidance paths for the blind have been
installed at all city underground railway
stations
- Large print and Braille transport guides are
available
- Guide dogs are entitled to travel free on all
services
- More details: Metlink
Melbourne: Accessible transport
Boarding procedures
Rail
- Open doors by hand (pull the handle yourself, or press
the Door Open button) when train stops (listen for the
tone indicating the doors have been released by the
driver). The doors will close by themselves (listen for
the warning tones).
- Passengers with prams, wheelchairs or shopping jeeps are
recommended to travel towards the front of the train,
where they can be more easily seen by the driver.
- Passengers with wheelchairs requiring use of a
driver-operated ramp should be at the front of the train.
Tram
- Board by any open door
- To protect tram passengers, Victorian (state) road laws
prohibit motorists driving past trams which are
stationary at stops, unless the stop is inside a safety
zone (fenced area between the road and the track). But
ensure the traffic has stopped before you step onto the
street.
- If you require assistance with a pram, shopping, etc, ask
the driver, though they are not obligated to help.
Bus
Alighting procedures
Rail
- Open doors by hand when door power is released by the
driver (See note about warning tones, above).
- If using a pram, it is recommended you pull it backwards
off the train, so you can easily ensure the wheels go
over the gap.
Tram
- Pull cord or press button for next stop. Listen for the
sound, or look for the light at the end of the tram that
goes on when the cord is pulled.
- If the doors close before you've alighted, pull the cord
again.
- Motorists are required by law to stop for passengers
alighting from trams. But "Watch out before you step
out".
Bus
- Pull cord or press button for next stop. On some buses,
signs may request that you exit via the rear door/s,
though most drivers don't insist.
Fare procedures
Note that MetCards bought at stations or retail outlets must
be validated in the validation machines before use. This is so
you can buy them in advance.
Rail
- If you do not already have a valid ticket, buy a ticket
at the station ticket machine or at a retail outlet. If
you buy a concession ticket, you will need proof of
eligibility if an inspector asks to see it.
- Exact change is not required, but machines will only give
a maximum of $10 in change.
- Large ticket machines will take coins, notes or
EFTPOS (debit) cards. At suburban stations there
is generally one large ticket machine, at the
entrance to the platform/s for city bound trains
- The small ticket machines only take coins, and do
not sell weekly, monthly, or 10x2 hour tickets
- Station ticket machines are subject to vandalism.
If using coins, you may wish to put in the lower
denomination coins first, in case the coin slot
is jammed. If no machine is working, make a
note of the station name in case an inspector
asks to see your ticket.
- Insert your MetCard into the validator when entering the
platform (even if you just bought it at the ticket
machine!). The validator will give the ticket back
to you, and show when the ticket expires on the display.
- Some stations have gates requiring you to insert the
ticket to open them. If you have luggage or a pram or are
in a wheelchair, look for the wide gate.
- If an inspector asks to see your Metcard ticket at a gate
or on a train, show the side that has the printed expiry
date on it.
- Keep your ticket as proof of payment, and if necessary to
open the gate at your destination.
Bus
- If you have a valid ticket, put it in the green
validator. The validator will give the ticket back to
you, and show when the ticket expires on the display.
- If you have no valid ticket, pay the driver as you board.
The driver will either give you the MetCard to insert
into the validator, or put it in the validator for you.
Take it when it comes out of the validator again.
- Exact change is not required, although large notes may
not be accepted.
- Keep your ticket as proof of payment until you alight.
Inspectors patrol buses.
Tram
- If you have already a Metcard, put it in the green
validator. The validator will give the ticket back to
you, and show when the ticket expires on the display.
- If you have no valid ticket, buy your ticket at the
machine on board the tram.
- Notes are not accepted by tram ticket machines,
but change is given.
- Unlike buying from railway stations, you do not
have to put a ticket bought on the tram into a
validator. It is automatically validated for that
trip.
- If an inspector asks to see your ticket, show the side of
the ticket that has the printed expiry date on it.
- Keep your ticket as proof of payment until you alight.
Inspectors patrol trams.
Ticket availability
- All tickets available from Met Shops/staffed railway
stations (some tickets not available from station ticket
machines)
- Only City Saver/2 hour/60 Plus/Daily tickets on trams and
buses.
- 2 hour, daily, weekly and monthly Metcards are available
from some retail outlets. Ensure you validate the ticket
in the tram or station validator machine when you travel.
- To receive concession fare, a concession card must be
shown when purchasing the ticket from a person (though
not when using a ticket machine, obviously). The
concession card must also be carried while travelling,
and shown on demand to inspectors.
- Railway station ticket machines will not sell you a
ticket not valid in the current zone, even if you have an
existing valid ticket but are going into another zone.
You can buy a ticket for another zone from a staffed
station, otherwise the Metcard help line advises you
should buy the extra ticket at your destination.
Intermodal fares
- With the exception of City Saver tickets, tickets are
valid on any mode of transport for the specified time and
fare zone, except Skybus buses and other special
services.
- 2 hour tickets validated at or after 6pm are valid until
3am the next morning. Daily and longer period tickets are
valid until 3am on the morning after the expiry date.
Inter-agency fares
- Met tickets are valid only on V/Line country rail
services within the metropolitan zones, for all trips to
Melton and Sunbury, and on all other trips outside peak
hours.
- Other V/Line country rail/bus tickets can be bought at
staffed rail stations, or from bus drivers/train
conductors
- V/Line fares are valid in the Metcard zone where the
V/Line trip starts or begins
- Metcards are not valid on Skybus
Airport
- Public transport services to the Tullamarine Airport (MEL) are very
infrequent, and only run in day time:
- Bus
500 (6 times per day, weekdays only) to
Broadmeadows station then train to city centre
- Bus 478/479
(7 times per weekday, 8 times per day Saturdays
and Sundays) to Essendon station, then train to
city centre
- Complete timetables at the unofficial guide to Melbourne
Airport by public transport
- Skybus
(airport-city) no concession available, single trip $16,
family $22-36. Departs from Southern Cross station to
Tullamarine Airport every 10 minutes during daytime, 15
minutes in the evening, hourly overnight. Met fares do
not apply.
- Other private airport shuttles available to suburbs. Met
fares do not apply
- Taxis are plentiful, and to the city centre, cost about
the same as three Skybus fares. This is probably the
easiest option, especially when carrying heavy luggage or
travelling in a group.
Country/interstate rail services
- All depart from Southern Cross railway station. Eastern
services also stop at Flinders Street. Some train
services may also stop at major suburban stations.
- Tickets from any major railway station, or V/Line booking
132232
- Direct rail and/or bus services run to Ballarat,
Maryborough, Mildura, Bendigo, Swan Hill, Kyneton,
Echuca, Moama, Deniliquin, Cohuna, Barham, Ultima, Sea
Lake, Seymour, Cobram, Tocumwal, Mulwala, Albury,
Warragul, Traralgon, Bairnsdale, Orbost, Leongatha,
Yarram, Inverloch, Geelong, Warrnambool, Mount Gambier,
Apollo Bay, Hamilton, Adelaide, Sydney
Other points of interest (excluding those in the city area)
- Melbourne Cricket Ground
- extra train and tram services run on event days
- train to Richmond or Jolimont
- any tram except City Circle running east along
Flinders St from the City
- tram 48 running west from Balwyn/Kew/Richmond
- tram 75 running west from
Burwood/Camberwell/Hawthorn/Richmond
- tram 70 running west from Wattle
Park/Camberwell/Hawthorn/Richmond
- bus 246 running north/west from
Elsternwick/Elwood/St Kilda/Prahran or south from
Clifton Hill/Collingwood/Richmond
- bus 605 running north from
Caulfield/Armadale/Toorak (daytime only)
- Rod Laver Arena
(Melbourne Park), Olympic Park and Entertainment Centre,
Multipurpose Venue (Formerly Vodafone Arena)
- extra tram services run on event days
- train to Richmond (10 min walk)
- tram 70 east along Flinders St, City
- tram 70 west from
Richmond/Hawthorn/Camberwell/Wattle Park
- bus 605 running north from
Caulfield/Armadale/Toorak (daytime only)
- bus 246 running north/west from
Elsternwick/Elwood/St Kilda/Prahran or south from
Clifton Hill/Collingwood/Richmond
- Telstra Dome
(formerly Colonial Stadium)
- extra tram and train services run on event days
- train to Spencer Street
- tram 48 from Balwyn/Kew/Richmond/Flinders Street
- tram 86 from Bundoora/Preston/Collingwood/Bourke
Street
- tram 30 from LaTrobe Street (weekday off-peak
only)
- City Circle tram
- walk over footbridge from any Spencer Street tram
- Railway Museum: train to North Williamstown
- Scienceworks:
train to Spotswood
- Shrine of Remembrance: any tram going south on Swanston
St except 1 or 22
- Royal Botanical Gardens: tram 8 going south on Swanston
Street or west from Toorak/South Yarra
- Melbourne University:
any tram going north on Swanston Street
- Monash University
(Clayton): train to Huntingdale, then 630 bus to campus
(zone 1 applies on this bus route). Many other bus routes
to Monash operate from various suburbs.
- Melbourne Zoo:
- Train to Royal Park
- Tram 55 from William Street (Monday-Saturday
only)
- Tram 68 from Elizabeth St (Sundays only)
- Tram 19 from Elizabeth St, if you don't mind a
five minute walk.
- Healesville Sanctuary
- Train to Lilydale, then 685 bus (buses are
infrequent - check
times)
- Puffing Billy narrow
gauge steam railway: train to Belgrave.
- Steam trains operate every day except Christmas
Day.
- No steam trains run on days declared as Total
Fire Ban days. Diesel trains run instead.
- Information 9870 8411.
- Met tickets do not apply on Puffing Billy.
- St Kilda
Beach
- Tram 16 running south from Swanston St
- Tram 96 running west on Bourke St.
- Tram 112 running west on Collins St
- Tram 69 running south from
Kew/Hawthorn/Malvern/Caulfield
- Tram 79 running south from Richmond/Prahran
- Trams 3, 5, 64, 67 run nearby (St Kilda Road)
- Bus 600/922/923 running north/west from
Cheltenham/Black Rock/Sandringham/Brighton/Elwood
- Bus 246 running south from Clifton
Hill/Richmond/Prahran, or west from
Elsternwick/Elwood.
- Bus 623 running west from Glen
Waverley/Chadstone/Carnegie/Caulfield
(Monday-Saturday daytime only)
- Albert
Park
- Tram 96 running west on Bourke Street
- Tram 112 running west on Collins Street
- Any tram except 1 or 22 running south on Swanston
Street
- Bus 216, 219, 220 running south on Queen Street
- Grand Prix (Albert
Park)
- See above. Extra tram and train services run on
race days
- Check ticket for gate number and Grand Prix
advertising for details of extra services. Look
for gate numbers indicated on trams.
Copyright© Daniel Bowen (dbowen at custard dot net dot au).
Updated January 2010. Thanks to all contributors.
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