Melbourne's Public transportation...
How things have changed.

Public Transportation here in Melbourne has changed dramatically over the past years.

We can now proudly boast real comfort, affordability and a lot of traveling fun.

With petrol prices still on the rise and more cars arriving on the roads, what better way to travel than sitting and being chauffeured around.

Why not take advantage of public transportation with this great budget travel pass, the Attraction pass for Melbourne & Beyond.

Over $1000 worth of admission fees.

Buy 2, 3,or 7 day pass for unlimited access to over 35 top attractions in Melbourne. Valid for 12 months from purchase.

Featuring: Melbourne Aquarium, Melbourne Zoo, Eureka Skydeck, The Pengiun Parade and Visitor Centre, The Werribbe Open Range Zoo and much more.

See Melbourne and Beyond Attraction Pass by Smartvisit Solutions Tours.

Everyone in the world uses some form of transport almost every day of their lives.

We move around for work, school, leisure and pleasure, and forms of transport range from walking and animals to high-speed planes and trains.

Discover a selection of books that examine the different types of transportation and some interesting ecological sustainable choices for this modern day phenomenon.

Just click on the the banner below...

The Melbourne Tram Book.This new edition of The Melbourne Tram Book is a gloriously colorful and compact tribute to the famous and iconic trams of Melbourne. More than 200 photographs and illustrations show the trams in the streetscapes of today and yesterday.	Trains.There are few things more exciting than the sound of a train chugging through the country-side. First, steam engines hissed billowing clouds into the air, then gleaming diesel locomotives pulled boxcars, freight cars, and sleek passenger cars north, south, east, and west. Trains have been getting people and things to where they need to go for almost two centuries, and have long been a symbol of adventure and possibility.	Greyhound-in-Postcards-Buses-Depots-and-Post-Houses.Relive the days when traveling by Greyhound was so popular. As part of Greyhound's objective to establish the nation's largest national intercity bus system, the company began an aggressive campaign to build its own terminals in the 1930s, an era of 'art deco' styling. And to better serve the traveling public, Greyhound also began building a network of restaurants and rest stops. This collection of vintage Greyhound Bus postcards portrays the buses, depots and post houses from a variety of regions all across America and Canada. A visual treat for all bus enthusiasts and postcard collectors.

I have divided this page into 4 sections making it easy for you to get around...

• A- Melbourne Trams
• B- Melbourne Trains
• C- Melbourne Buses
• D- Melbourne Ferry services

The ride back then was very basic, cold and uncomfortable, the old green trams rattling and swaying along the tracks and a very different ride to what is experienced today.

Some of these oldies can still be experienced, all done up and presenting themselves as part of Melbourne's heritage.

They service the central city district and the inner suburbs.

A single ticket called a Metcard allows the public to travel wherever there are tram tracks. On board you will find a coin only ticket machine that issues a time zone range of tickets.

For more detail on how the Melbourne public transportation ticketing system works, visit the Metcard page.

Riding on our Melbourne trams is a pleasurable experience, well if you avoid peak hour rushes. At most stops in the city you will find staff who can direct you and answer any touristy type questions. Just look for their brightly coloured yellow vests.

There also are stands displaying tram numbers and routes for your traveling convenience.

The free City Circle Tram travels around the CBD covering Flinders Street, Spring Street, Nicholson Street, Victoria Street, LaTrobe Street and harbor Esplanade.

It also travels the exciting Docklands precinct.

These trams are recognized by their distinctive maroon federation colors.

Some of the trams have a recorded commentary pointing out the attractions along the way. There is usually a supply of brochures and sometimes you will find a live guide on board.

Another great way to experience the public transportation Melbourne Trams is to book a table on the privately run Colonial Tramcar Restaurant. The Colonial Tramcar Restaurant is a restaurant which operates from a converted fleet of three vintage trams.

Here's a little taste of Melbourne's public transportation trams

For more detail on Melbourne's unique trams and service details visit the Melbourne Tram's page. (Coming soon)

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It is part of the Metlink network and part of the Metcard ticketing system.

Most of the suburban lines are serviced by a fleet of electrified trains.

Throughout the Victorian countryside the public is serviced by Vline trains. These are diesel models and there is also a fleet of locomotive hauled trains.

The hub of the regional passenger network is the Southern Cross Station in the heart of Melbourne's CBD. Formally known as Spencer Street Station, it has been rebuilt and now stands proudly as an interesting and modern designed railway station.

Melbourne and Sydney are connected by the CountryLink XPT and Melbourne and Adelaide by the great Southern Railways-The Overland.

For more information on these interstate and intrastate train networks visit the #Country and Interstate trains pages on the site...both a little delayed due to congestion on the lines.

The public transportation bus network is run by several bus companies.

There are approximately 300 routes in operation.

The actual structure of the network is currently being revised to allow better transportation of the public across the city and the suburbs.

Most of the bus network is part of the Metcard ticketing system.

The ticket can be used between the different modes of public transport throughout the zones and times of the day.

Some local government councils operate a free community bus service in and around the local area...contact the local council for more details.

Melbourne City Council operates the Free City Shuttle Bus. For more information on the route this takes, visit the #Shuttle Bus page.

There is also a NightRider bus system that operates on Friday and Saturday nights. For details click here.

Melbourne's buses are a modern, safe, comfortable and affordable fun way of getting around. They are operated by competent and friendly staff who are only too pleased to help you with your travel inquiries.

For a full timetable check out the Met.

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Seeing Melbourne this way is quite different, a different perspective and different areas that otherwise you would never see.

You can catch a small cruiser or passenger ferry. These travel along the Yarra river from Southbank.

There are also ferries that operate on the Mornington Peninsular and Westernport Bay.

One such ferry is the passenger and vehicle ferry crossing between Sorrento and Queencliff. I love traveling on this one, I pretend that I am cruising the open ocean on a big liner, always the kid...

Another great and exciting ferry is the Spirit of Tasmania. This passenger and Vehicle ferry is more like a small ocean liner.

It sails at night in both directions, departing from Station Street pier, Melbourne and traveling the Bass Straight over to Devonport, Tasmania.

In summer there are also day sailings.

For a lot more detailed information on Melbourne's ferries visit the #ferries page...it's almost docked!

Ok, then...where would you like to go and how would you like to get there?

• Metlink
• Vline
• The Met shop
• The Spirit of Tasmania
• City River Cruises
• Williamstown Ferries
• Queenscliff-Sorrento Ferry

Hop on back to Getting around for some directions.

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