Melbourne is home to one of the world's great urban tram networks and sits alongside San Francisco as the world tram capital. Thanks to the vision and perseverance of the late Sir Robert Risson, chairman of the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Melbourne retained and expanded its electric tramways in spite of accepted wisdom, public opinion and political wishes of his masters in an era when most cities destroyed their tram networks with gusto. The result is a revered and immeasurably valuable asset for Melbourne to this day.
Often in the shadow of the city's more famous trams, Melbourne's suburban train network is also of impressive size and efficiency. Operated by Metro Melbourne, there are seventeen routes radiating to all corners of the suburbs. Trains are frequent and generally comfortable. If the truth be known, the train network contributes more to the economic advantage of Melbourne than does the tram network.
Metro train routes are shown on our map as thick coloured lines. Most trains operate between the City and a suburban destination via the "City Loop". The City loop is a four-track, five station loop that encircles downtown. As a general rule, trains operate from Flinders Street station to and from their suburban destination via the City loop stations of Southern Cross, Flagstaff, Melbourne Central and Parliament.
An extensive network of country train services from Melbourne to provincial cities throughout Victoria is operated by VLine. Fast, modern Vline trains depart Melbourne Southern Cross station at regular intervals (1 to 3 times each hour) to Ballarat, Geelong, Bendigo, Seymour and Traralgon. Two to five trains each day depart for the more distant destinations of Warrnambool, Ararat, Maryborough, Echuca, Swan Hill, Shepparton, Albury and Bairnsdale. Reservations are not essential, but they are available on longer distance trains and are advised at peak travel periods such as holidays. You can use your Myki card to travel on VLine trains to Geelong/Warn Ponds, Ballarat/Wendouree, Bendigo/Eaglehawk/Epsom, Seymour and Traralgon. For trips beyond those stations you must purchase a paper ticket at the station.
Melbourne is served by two major airports, both of which are connected to downtown by express bus services. Whilst a new airport railway connection is being developed, both Tullamarine airport (code MEL), the major international and domestic airport, and Avalon Airport (code AVV) are served by a fast and frequent express bus services operated by Skybus. Skybus connect both airports to Southern Cross Station in downtown Melbourne and they run a service from Melbourne Airport to Frankston (not shown on this map)
If you wish to save the premium fare charged by Skybus services, you can travel on regular bus routes from Melbourne Airport terminal 4 using standard myki fares. Terminal 4 is just a short walk from other terminals. You can purchase a myki card from vending machines in the arrivals area of the airport terminals.
