Guide to Public Transport in Melbourne
How to get Around on Melbourne's Trams, Trains & Buses
Sep 28, 2009
Melbourne city centre itself is very walkable, with most places reachable on foot within 5-15 minutes. Venturing further afield one discovers that feet can only take a tourist so far. Melbourne's sprawling suburbs spread north and south for miles while its many daytrip destinations are well out of the city. With this in mind, a knowledge of Melbourne's public transport system is vital for those without their own wheels.
Melbourne's public transport system, also known as Metlink or the 'Met', incorporates buses, trains and trams and serves customers miles out of the city. Interlinking all forms of public transport, Metlink is handy and economical and allows customers to use the city's trams, trains and buses interchangeably and all with the one ticket. Below is a guide to Melbournes public transport system and ticketing.
Travelling on Melbourne's Trams
Its biggest icon after Australian soap opera 'Neighbours', Melbourne's network of trams – the largest in the world – is its most popular form of public transport amongst tourists and locals alike. Coming every 5-20 minutes depending on the time of day, trams are relatively frequent and are often the easiest option for getting around. Services are most frequent during peak times, running every 10-12 minutes, while Sunday services tend to be slightly more infrequent. Trams service the city and inner suburbs of Melbourne and most services pass through the central transport hub, Flinders Street.
There are also a number of tram services which link different suburbs without passing through the city. To request a stop on the tram, simply push the 'stop' button or pull the wire overhead. While traffic must give way to trams setting down or picking up passengers, vehicles are allowed to travel on tram tracks which means traffic can build up so come peak times, the train is a good alternative for many destinations.
Something first-time visitors to Melbourne should note is that fare evasion on trams is not as easy as it looks. While tram drivers do not check passengers tickets (people simply hop on), inspectors have been known to appear regularly onboard trams checking passengers for valid tickets. They can even check the tickets of passengers once they've alighted and random ticket checking points are not uncommon, especially in busy areas such as the Arts Precinct / Flinders St stops. Passengers caught evading the fare can be prosecuted.
Melbourne's Public Transport Ticketing for Trams, Trains & Buses
Melbourne and the surrounding area is divided into three different ticketing zones but most places of interest to tourists fall into Zone 1. Zone 2 refers to the areas bordering Zone 1 while Zone 3 is further out again and is not covered by trams at all.
A two-hour ticket for this area costs $3.70 but the daily ticket, at $6.80, is better value and allows travel on all public transport in Zone 1 for that day. For visitors intending to spend more time in the Victorian capital, the weekly or monthly ticket is a great money-saver. Available at all 7-Eleven stores, major train stations and all milkbars / shops displaying the Metlink flag, the Weekly ticket (Zone 1) costs $29.40 and the Monthly ticket (Zone 1) is $109.60.
Tickets for both Zone 1 and 2 are required for most daytrips out of the city, with weekly Zone 1&2 tickets costing $49.60. However, worth noting is the exception – all day Saturday and Sunday, a Weekly Zone 1 ticket covers both Zone 1 and 2 so for visitors planning daytrips from the city looking to save cash, the weekend is the best time to do so.
Melbourne's Buses & Train Network
Melbourne's trams largely cover the central areas. Many regions not covered by trams are covered by buses. Generally, buses continue on from where trams and trains finish, allowing passengers to complete the rest of their journey. Bus tickets can be bought from the bus driver onboard the bus or pre-purchased Metlink tickets can be validated in the machine onboard.
Melbourne has an extensive train network, covering the city centre and sprawling suburbs. Most trains service suburbs and regions well out of the city. Flinders Street Station is also the main terminus for suburban train lines with most trains beginning and ending here. Most trains come every 10-15 minutes, getting more infrequent after 7pm. Come the weekend, trains come half hourly on Saturdays from 5am-midnight and 7am-11.30pm Sundays.
A detailed map of Melbourne's tram system and train network are displayed in the images attached below.
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