Travel on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve will be free across Victoria’s public transport network, and additional services will be provided following the CBD fireworks displays when half a million people are expected to crowd the city.
Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll announced on Sunday travel would be free from 3am on Christmas Day until 3am on Boxing Day in metropolitan and regional networks, with a regular public holiday timetable.
Public transport will be free in Victoria on Christmas Day and NYE.Credit:Darrian Traynor
Travel will also be free from 6pm on New Year’s Eve until 6am on New Year’s Day, with additional services after midnight.
“This is really important to ensure that Victorians getting through to the city to see the fireworks … can make the most of it,” Carroll said.
“We’re really wanting to make sure if you are wanting to get on the beers, you also get on the public transport system, because it’s the best way to celebrate this festive season.”
Passengers will not be required to touch on and off using their myki travel card and will not be charged if they do so.
Carroll said the public transport network was back to 75 per cent of pre-COVID levels and commuters should monitor the PTV app to plan their journey during upgrades over the summer months.
No trains will operate through the City Loop from January 2 and January 15, but extra tram services will be added through the CBD and trains will use Southern Cross and Flinders Street stations.
On V/Line servies, passengers are being urged to book ahead to reserve seats free of charge to manage the network and services during the two days of free travel.
No ticket is required for regional bus travel during the free periods.
Maintenance work on the West Gate Bridge will start on Boxing Day, leaving only one outbound lane open and closing four lanes until January 4.
Buses have been replacing trains in sections of the Stony Point, Upfield, Frankston, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines. The same lines, as well as the Sandringham service, will close again from January 4 to prepare tracks for the Metro Tunnel.
On the Lilydale and Belgrave lines, buses will replace trains from February 17 until late May to remove level crossings.
Trams will return to St Kilda Road on December 19.
Also in Melbourne, Dynon Road has been closed in both directions from Dryburgh Street to the Dynon Road inbound exit ramp from CityLink. It will reopen on December 22.
Regionally, train works will disrupt Gippsland, Bendigo, Echuca and Swan Hill services from January to early March.
Carroll said disruptions were deliberately done through summer when patronage was at its lowest, and the government would review the services provided on Saturday night, when major events packed Melbourne’s CBD, to ensure enough were also provided for New Year’s Eve.
The City of Melbourne expects half a million people to visit the CBD on December 31.
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