Introduction to public transport in Melbourne
Melbourne's public transport system comprises train, tram and bus services.
All train and tram routes operate 7 days per week. Running times are typically from before 6am to after 11pm, with later starts on Sunday and later finishes on Friday and Saturday nights. Service frequency mostly ranges from 10 to 20 minutes during weekdays to 15 to 40 minutes on evenings and weekends, with less service in outer areas. During peak periods service intervals are as short as 4 minutes on some lines.
Most buses run every 20 to 60 minutes on weekdays. Following service upgrades evening and weekend service is commonly at least hourly until 9pm, though there remain 'dead spots' with much less service, such as parts of Point Cook, Tarneit, Narre Warren, Laverton, Rowville, Cranbourne and Croydon. After 9pm service is available on some inner-suburban and SmartBus routes. Bus/train connections vary so check timetables to minimise waits. Nightrider buses operate late on Friday and Saturday nights to and from the city and popular nightspots.
Trains are most popular with middle and outer suburban commuters while the extensive tram network serves most inner suburbs. 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.
Outer suburban and country travel
Some suburbs beyond the urban rail network are served by diesel trains, mostly run by V/Line. These services operate to Melton, Sunbury and Stony Point. Metcard fares apply on these routes.
V/Line's trains and coaches also extend to all regional cities and many country towns. Timetables have been upgraded with hourly trains to the larger centres and two or three per day for smaller or more distant towns. With some restrictions V/Line tickets now permit free travel on regional city buses and metropolitan services in Melbourne. See the Viclink website for additional details.
Fares and Tickets
Most fares are based on the number of zones travelled through. Metropolitan Melbourne is divided into two fare zones. Zone 1 is for inner suburbs (within about 15 km of the city) and Zone 2 is for outer suburbs (beyond 15 km from the city). Travel between an outer and an inner suburb requires a ticket covering both zones (1+2).
Tickets, known as Metcards, have a magnetic strip that is 'read' by the validating machine when inserted. Metcards are available for various periods ranging from two hours to daily, weekly, monthly and yearly in all zone combinations. Metcards are currently being replaced by the Myki smartcard ticketing system. Myki include rechargable plastic cards for regular passengers with the option of short-term cardboard tickets for casual users. The fares system will be much the same as under Metcard with one or two changes (cheaper travel on public holidays but the removal of all-zone weekend travel for holders of single zone periodical tickets).
Rules and Good conduct
Considerate travellers observe the following:
* Carry a valid ticket (and any relevant concession card) when travelling.
* No smoking, messy food and drink, offensive language, loud music, littering, feet on seats.
* If occupying a specially marked (yellow) seat near the door, offer this to disabled people, parents with children and seniors.
* When waiting to board, stand clear and let people alight first. Keep door areas clear if possible. Luggage is best kept under seats and away from aisles and doors.
Penalties apply for infringements. Full lists of offences appear in the Transport Act 1983 and the Transport (Passenger Vehicle) Regulations 2005.
Bicycles
Regular bicycles cannot be carried on trams or buses. Bicycles can be taken onto trains but must be kept away from the front area of the first carriage (suburban trains) or stored in designated areas (country trains). Folding bikes can be carried on trains, trams and buses but must not obstruct other passengers. 'Parkiteer' bicycle cages have been installed at many suburban railway stations to stow bikes. Use of them is available through Bicycle Victoria.
Travel Assistance and Timetables
You can obtain travel advice by visiting the Met Shop. This is located in the Melbourne Town Hall on the corner of Swanston and Little Collins Streets. The shop opens Monday to Friday during business hours as well as Saturday mornings.
Outside these times, travel information can be obtained from the Federation Square Visitor Centre, city and suburban Premium (ie staffed) stations and the Metlink telephone information line. Online advice is available through the Metlink journey planner, though answers are conservative and may not include tight but sometimes usable connections.
The most useful printed items are the Fares and Travel Guide and local area transport maps. Both are available from the Met Shop and staffed stations.
Fixed timetables are provided at railway stations, tram stops and some bus stops. Paper timetables can be got from attended stations, bus drivers and on board trams. The Met Shop carries the full range for the metropolitan area. If a timetable is revised and you need a new one, bus companies are most likely to get them first - enquire on the bus or at the depot. Timetables have effective dates. Check against the AATTC list for currency.
Service reliability
Trams and buses are seldom cancelled, but heavy traffic can delay services. Cancelled trains though are a fact of life; 15 minute delays are not rare but don't happen every day for most passengers either. Take an earlier train if arrival time is critical for an appointment or bus connection. Regular passengers should consider joining the free 'SMS Update' service, to advise if a train is late or cancelled.
Reliability statistics are posted at railway stations and on trams each month. They also appear on operator websites. If reliability is low, transport operators get fined and holders of periodical tickets may claim compensation in the form of extra tickets. Compared to previous years, strikes today are almost unknown, and service disruptions are now due to other factors.
Reliability is least on days that are very wet, very hot or which follow electrical storms. If you travel frequently, it's worth finding out about alternative services that may be usable if your normal journey is delayed or cancelled.