The Department of Transport has joined in the holiday spirit offering free travel across the public transport network on Christmas day and New Year’s Eve.
Announcing the move the Minister for Public Transport, Ben Carroll told the world that public transport was the best way to get around during the festive season and Victorians would be able to travel for free across the State to celebrate with loved ones.
“On Christmas Day metropolitan and regional public transport will run to a regular Sunday timetable and will be free from 3am Sunday 25 December until 3am on Boxing Day, Monday, 26 December, with Night Network services running through the night,” Mr Carroll said.
“Passengers using a myki are not required to touch on and off and will not be charged if they do,” he said.
“Victorians wishing to travel across the city or State to celebrate and welcome in the new year will be able to travel for free on all metropolitan and regional train, tram and bus services from 6pm on Saturday 31 December until 6am on Sunday, 1 January.”
Mr Carroll said public transport would continue across the metropolitan network all night on New Year’s Eve, to ensure everyone could get home safely.
He said a normal Saturday public transport timetable would be in place between 6pm and midnight, with additional services after midnight.
“Trains will run to a five to 15-minute frequency between midnight and 1:45am, a 30-minute frequency between 1:45am and 2:45am, and every hour from 2:45am,” the Minister said.
“On the tram network, most services will operate all night – running to a five to 15-minute frequency between midnight and 3am, and every 60 minutes from 3am,” he said.
“Passengers on V/Line services still need to book their Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve travel on reserved services – but will be issued a ticket free of charge.”
Mr Carroll said no ticket was required for regional bus travel.
