Trams of Australia
[Links]


Melbourne's fare system

Melbourne's fare system is simple. The metropolitan area is divided into three concentric zones, which are colour coded: 1 - yellow, 2 - blue & 3 - red (see diagram). A ticket is bought for the zone(s) required, and is valid for a time period. During this time period, passengers may transfer from any train, tram or bus to any other without purchasing another ticket.

Most tram lines lie entirely within zone 1; only routes 75 and 86 reach zone 2.

Some short-trip/single-vehicle-only or return trip tickets are also available. Tram routes are subdivided into sections for the use of the Short Trip tickets. A tram Short Trip ticket entitles you to travel on one vehicle only within the section of boarding and an adjacent section.

Time/Zone tickets - Single/return trip tickets


Time/Zone tickets

Note: I have tried to make sure these are correct, but I could have made errors. If there are errors or omissions, please let me know.

Zones 2 Hour 10 x 2 hr Daily Weekly Monthly Yearly Zones
FullConc. FullConc. FullConc. FullConc. FullConc. FullConc.
[ 1 ] $2.30$1.30 $19.50$10.70 $4.40 $2.30 $19.10 $9.50 $71.50 $36.00 $770.00 N/A [ 1 ]
[ 2 ] $1.70 $0.90 $14.40$7.30 $3.00 $1.60 $13.10 $6.50 $48.00 $24.00 $525.00 N/A [ 2 ]
[ 3 ] $1.70 $0.90 $14.40$7.30 $3.00 $1.60 $13.10 $6.50 $48.00 $24.00 $525.00 N/A [ 3 ]
[1 2] $3.90 $2.00 $33.90$16.90 $7.10 $3.60 $32.30 $16.10 $110.00 $55.00 $1230.00 N/A [1 2]
[2 3] $3.20 $1.70 $28.60$14.40 $5.90 $3.00 $26.30 $13.10 $96.50 $48.00 $1030.00 N/A [2 3]
[123] $5.30 $2.70 $47.30$23.80 $9.50 $4.10
*$2.20
$39.50 $18.30 $134.50 $63.50 $1525.00 ** [123]
Buy at 2 Hour 10 x 2 hr Daily Weekly Monthly Yearly Buy at
On trams Yes No Not any more No No No On trams
On buses Yes No No No No No On buses
Railway
stations
Possibly Possibly Possibly Possibly Possibly Possibly Railway
stations
Met shop Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Met shop
Retail
outlets
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Retail
outlets
* for 60 Plus ticket (holders of Seniors card or 60 Plus concession card)
** for school students only. Enquire at the Met Shop or a staffed railway station for details.

Notes:

  1. Since the ticket machines have replaced trams conductors on all trams, you can no longer day tickets on trams. This is a very sore point with the people of Melbourne. This was a deliberate decision by the morons who run the PTC in Melbourne. A pretty obvious thing to do - make the most popular ticket bought on trams unavailable on trams - don't you think!
  2. If the railway station is staffed, you can buy any ticket there. But many stations are unattended. If the ticket machine there is working (and the reliability of these machines has improved) you can buy from it. Otherwise you are actually expected to detour to a shop somewhere to get a ticket (see note 4 - "retail outlets") (Not being able to buy a ticket is not considered an excuse for not having one should you be found travelling without one! You will be subject to a hefty fine. Interesting, no?)
  3. The Met Shop is at 103 Elizabeth St., Melbourne.
  4. "Retail outlets" are selected newsagents, chemists, milkbars and mixed businesses. They are so relentlessly described in the Met's advertising as "conveniently located", that you can be sure the public thinks otherwise, and therefore is in need of constant reminders.
  5. Tertiary students are permitted to buy a concession card for $107.00, which entitles them to buy Met tickets at concession prices.
  6. 2 hour tickets are valid for boarding any time up to 2 hours after the next whole hour after the time of first validation.
  7. Daily, weekly, monthly and yearly tickets expire at the end of a day, regardless of the time of day ticket was purchased.
  8. Weekly tickets are 7 day tickets, which can start on any day of the week
  9. Similarly, monthly tickets can start on any day of the month

Group discount tickets

Ticket Fare Conditions Available
Family daily
- zones 1 & 2 & 3
$18.50 up to 2 adults and 6 children Staffed railway stations
Met Shop
Group Get*A*Bout
- single zone
- zones 1 & 2 & 3

$9.10
$15.60
up to 2 adults and 4 children or
students, all day, weekends
and public holidays only
Staffed railway stations
Met shop
Other concessions are available for groups of 12 or more. Enquire at a staffed railway station.

Single/return trip tickets

Ticket Full Conc. Conditions Available
Rail Plus Two $1.50 $0.80 valid to 2 stations from station of boarding Stations & Met Shop
Tram/Bus Short Trip $1.50 $0.80 valid for 2 sections - boarding and adjacent Trams & buses & Met Shop
Short Trip card $12.50 $6.30 10 trips for price of 8 Met Shop and retail outlets
Nightrider $5.00 after-midnight bus service, weekends on the bus
Off-Peak Rail return
Zone 2 to City loop
$5.00?? $2.50?? Valid 9:30 am - 4 pm
and after 6 pm
Stations in zone 2 or 3
Off-Peak Rail return
Zone 3 to City loop
$6.40?? $3.20??

Further information

Contact the Met Information Centre on 131 638