Melbourne does not have a traditional underground network, but this is very well replaced by a dense network of city trains.

Officially, this network is known as the ‘Metro’, and many locals tend to use the term ‘metro’ rather than ‘train’.

For tourists, however, these trains are really only useful for travelling out of the city centre to more distant beaches. The exceptionally dense tram network is much better for getting around the city centre.

What’s more, the sights in the city centre are close together and can easily be explored on foot.

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Train fares

The same fare applies across the entire metropolitan area for all modes of transport – trains/underground, trams and buses. You can change between modes of transport as you wish.

Ticket prices

Public transport tickets in Melbourne are relatively cheap and the fare system is very straightforward.

• 5,50 aud – 2 hours (unlimited transfers), for journeys within Zone 1 or Zones 1 and 2
• 11 aud – maximum daily fare on a working day (known as the ‘daily cap’), calculated by calendar day, not 24 hours from the first journey
• 7,60 aud – maximum daily fare at weekends and on public holidays, calculated by calendar day, not 24 hours from the first journey
• 55 aud – 7-day pass

The zone system is described in more detail in the Transport section.

How do I pay for a metro journey?

To pay foryour journey, you’ll need a mykicard (6 aud )or you can pay via Google Pay. Mobile payments are currently only available on Android phones and not on iPhones.

When purchasing a myki card, you must choose from two options:

• myki Money – you can top up the card with any amount of money, which is then deducted gradually according to the fares listed above
• myki Pass – you can load a 7-day or annual pass onto this card

Detailed information is available on this page:ptv.vic.gov.au/travel-with-myki.

Hold your card or your phone with myki enabled in Google Wallet against the turnstile when entering the station or against the validator on the platform.

You must also tap your card when exiting – always at the validator on the platform or the turnstile.

Where can I buy and top up a myki card?

You can buy a myki card at many locations:

• Vending machines at some tram stops and at all train and underground stations – you can pay by card or cash at these
• All 7-Eleven shops
• The PTV information centre at Southern Cross station

However, you cannot buy a physical myki card atMelbourne Airport.

You can top up your physical card at the locations mentioned above, as well as viathe PTV mobile app.

Map and train routes in Melbourne

Melbourne has a total of six colour-coded metropolitan train lines. However, each line always branches out at its termini, and to make them easy to distinguish, the name of the terminus is used as the name of the entire route, in addition to the colour.

All lines converge at the central station, Flinders Street.

The red, yellow, light blue and dark blue lines in the city centre form the so-called City Loop – a circular route beneath the city centre.

In which direction do trains run on theCity Loop?

If you’re heading into the city centre to one of the stations on the ‘City Loop’, pay attention to the direction in which that line travels around the loop.

Directions often change throughout the day, but they can be identified at a glance from the departure boards.

If a particular train is listed as via City Loop, the service will first travel along the northern (underground) section of the loop, which means:

• Trains from the north and west follow this route: North Melbourne -> Flagstaff -> Melbourne Central -> Parliament -> Flinders Street -> Southern Cross -> North Melbourne
• Trains from the south and east run as follows: Richmond -> Parliament -> Melbourne Central -> Flagstaff -> Southern Cross -> Flinders Street -> Richmond

If a specific train is marked Flinders Street, the service takes the quickest route to that station, which means:

• Trains from the north and west run as follows: North Melbourne -> Southern Cross -> Flinders Street -> Parliament -> Melbourne Central -> Flagstaff -> North Melbourne
• Trains from the south and east run as follows: Richmond -> Flinders Street -> Flagstaff -> Melbourne Central -> Parliament -> Richmond

Which ones are useful for tourists?

These routes lead to tourist attractions:

• Sandringham Line (pink)– take this to get to the Brighton Bathing Boxes
• Craigieburn Line (yellow)– a cheap alternative for travelling to Melbourne Airport (you’ll need to change to bus 901 at Broadmeadows station)
• Williamstown Line (green)– take this to get to Williamstown
• Lilydale + Belgrave Line (dark blue)– take this to Dandenong Ranges National Park

Operating hours – do trains run 24/7?

Individual lines usually run from 5.30 am to 12.30 am on weekdays and Saturdays, and from 7.30 am on Sundays.

In the city centre, where all branches of a given line converge, the interval between trains is usually 5–8 minutes, whilst on the outlying branches it is typically 15–20 minutes.

On the nights from Friday to Saturday and from Saturday to Sunday, services run until around 2.00 am.

Full timetable information can be found on the websiteptv.vic.gov.au/timetables.

What do the trains and stations look like?

The metro trains are very spacious and clean, and travelling on the trains in Melbourne is safe.

Major stations in the city centre are equipped with toilets – all of which are free to use.

At all stations, there are vending machines on the platforms selling drinks, sweets and sandwiches, and you’ll often find various newsagents and mini-markets in the vicinity of the stations.