Public Transport Melbourne
The public transport in Melbourne are made up of buses, trams, trains and ferries. In addition, Melbourne is very easy to explore by bike, as there is a well-developed network of bike paths. Unfortunately , you ca n’t go far on foot in the capital of Victoria , as the distances are sometimes immense. Every day a lot of business people, travelers and residents set out into the cheerful hustle and bustle of the sprawling metropolis, which is why public transport and the transport network are also quite well developed.
However, the city is still busy patching the existing gaps in the outer suburbs. All trains run radially away from the CBD and the trams only provide connections to the inner districts. So if you live further away from the city center, you often have to allow for an hour and a half to arrive at your destination, as you first drive into the city and from here you can take a connection to the respective suburb. A couple of buses connect the outer areas in a circle.
General information
Since April 2, 2012, the PTV ( Public Transport Victoria ) organization has been responsible for public transport in Melbourne and Victoria. In order to make it easier for the user to find their way around, from now on this is the unified marketing organ for the many providers of the various buses, trams and trains. PTV is also responsible for the dissemination of user-friendly information, the provision of timetables and the uniform online presence of the local as well as regional transportation across the state.
The paper ticket system (Metcard) used until the end of 2012 was completely replaced by the smart card called myki replaced. It is a plastic card with an integrated chip, which is purchased once for a fee, can be topped up with money at the appropriate locations as required, thus making the purchase of conventional tickets unnecessary. myki works: 1. in all buses, trams and trains in the city of Melbourne, 2. in the V / Line trains in the area between Melbourne and Eaglehawk / Epsom, Seymour, Traralgon, Waurn Ponds and Wendouree and 3. in the city buses from Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Seymour and the Latrobe Valley. It must be charged in advance and stopped at a sensor station when entering or leaving the respective public transport. If necessary, the cheapest tariff is automatically deducted from the credit. The fare depends on the zone and time. There are two circular tariff zones in the city, which are made up of yellow zone 1 (inner city area) and blue zone 2 (outer districts). Zones 3 to 13 also exist in suburban areas. With “myki money” you can buy normal and reduced 2-hour, day and early bird tickets (free use of local transport before 7 am). If you want to use myki for a week, a month or longer, you need a so-called ” myki pass”. The chip card is available, for example, at Premium Train Stations, at the ticket machines at all train stations in Melbourne, at some tram and bus stations, at numerous sales points and online.
Tip : If you buy a two-hour ride after 6 p.m., you can use it until the end of operations or until 3 a.m. There are also discounts for the direct purchase of longer periods, holders of a Medicare card and certain groups of people (students, retirees, etc.).
Overview of public transport
Train
The train company Metro Trains operates some of the city’s major public transportation systems, which are more than 200 modern hybrid trains. 15 train lines travel to more than 220 train stations in the inner and outer city area on the almost 1,000 km long rail network. There are simple terminus stations, premium stations (staff are on site all day to help passengers with questions) and host stations (staff are present during rush hour). In addition, there is a special line and the City Loop (also known as Melbourne Underground Rail Loop), which runs daily to all stations of the train track system in the city center located below the Hoddle Grids (Flinders Street, Southern Cross, Parliament, Melbourne Central & Flagstaff). The busiest train station, however, is Flinders Street Station, where all trains from the suburbs arrive. The Southern Cross Station (Spencer Street), on the other hand, is the point of arrival or departure for national trains and buses. There are direct connections toAdelaide , Sydney and various places in Victoria are available (see Arrival & Onward Travel Melbourne ). However, all train lines also run from Southern Cross Station to the individual suburbs of Melbourne (Alamein, Belgrave, Craigieburn, Cranbourne, Epping, Frankston, Glen Waverley, Hurstbridge, Lilydale, Pakenham, Sandringham, Stony Point, Sydenham, Upfield, Werribee & Williamstown etc.). Furthermore, the railways operate daily between 5 a.m. and midnight. Night trains are also available on Friday and Saturday nights.
Bus
Among other things, buses are used for public transport in Melbourne to connect places that are not served by trains or trams with the important hubs. Numerous bus companies supply several hundred routes in the urbanized area. Most buses, however, go north and east, as the train and tram network was poorly developed here. The daily operating SmartBuses also provide circular access to the suburbs. The main bus stations are Central Station and Southern Cross Station, from / to which inter-state buses also start / arrive (see Arrival & Onward Travel Melbourne). In addition, free tourist buses commute to and from various Melbourne attractions make a stop. When no trains or trams are active between midnight and around 5:00 am, the night buses operate, most of which depart from City Square (Swanston Street). The practical NightRider buses are also available for night owls on Friday and Saturday nights at the weekend.
Tram
The city has had the largest urban tram network in the world since 1940, construction of which began around the 1880s, i.e. at the time of the gold rush. It is around 250km long and provides around 500 trams, of which almost 2,000 stops are served on more than 20 routes. The private, modern hybrid trams run under the name Yarra Trams and connect the city center with several districts within a radius of around 20 kilometers. In addition, the historic trams called Heritage Trams are a tourist attraction that travel around the CBD and the surrounding area free of charge on the City Circle Route. In the evening you also have the opportunity to dine in one of the Heritage Restaurant Trams.
Taxi
In Melbourne, taxis are also a form of public transport. Around 6,000 taxis in the greater metropolitan area are subject to certain state guidelines, which is why they must be registered, have a certain paint and have a taximeter. Taxis with green roofs are only allowed to run on public holidays, special events, at night and during rush hour. There are also several taxi terminals in the city center, with most taxis waiting for their guests on Flinders Street and Southern Cross Station. The best known taxi companies include Silver Top Taxi (+ (61) 432803601) and Maxi Taxis (+61 426 111 000) are available for larger groups. If you prefer something a little more romantic, it is also possible to explore the city in a horse-drawn carriage.
Bicycle
If you want to avoid public transport in Melbourne and at the same time do a little physical activity, the metropolis of Victoria is exactly the right place for you. The city is relatively flat and apart from that has a very well developed bicycle network. The Bicycle Network Victoria organization regularly organizes cycling events, distributes information on all aspects of cycling and promotes cycling culture in the metropolis. Many bike paths have been created in and around the city, but the Main Yarra Trail is one of the most popular routes. If you don’t have your own bike, you can rent a bike from various private bike rental companies. Furthermore, in parts of the CBD, lanes have been created especially for cyclists and there is a strict helmet requirement.
Ferry
Ferries and water taxis are also public transport in Melbourne. The largest passenger station for various ferries and cruise ships is the Pier station in Port Melbourne. One of the main ferry routes in Melbourne is the Westgate Punt ferry, which shuttles back and forth between Spotswood Jetty and Westgate Landing in Port Melbourne. Port Phillip Ferries’ passenger ferry service runs from Docklands in Melbourne to Geelong and Portarlington on the Bellarine Peninsula . The Western Port Ferry connects Stony Point with French Island and Phillip Island . If you want to stop at a certain station, you can express your wish to the ferry staff, who will stop at the destination if possible.
The water taxis also sail around the clock to any number of places. These operate both on the Yarra River between Williamstown and Abbotsford and between the confluence of the Maribyrnong River and Avondale Heights.