PDFPrintE-mail

 

 

Melbourne has a privatised public transport system comprising trains, trams and buses. Trams are the main form of transport throughout the Central Business District and run up and down most main streets. Trains are the main mode of transport throughout the greater Melbourne area.

The best way to get around the Central Business District is to catch the City Circle Tram, a free service that runs around the perimeter of the CBD. There is an excellent map of the CBD and its main points of interest on the website.

Travelling away from the CBD, your choice is catch a tram or a train (although bus services do operate to most areas).

Trains, Trams and Buses: (Please add some pics)

Metlink is the face of public transport in Melbourne.

A partnership of Melbourne’s train, tram and bus operators, Metlink provides customers with a ‘one-stop-shop’ for information about services, fares and ticketing. Metlink is also responsible for introducing new way-finding signage across the network.

Using public transport in Melbourne is made easy thanks to the Metlink website and journey planner, customer call centre, timetables and user-friendly pocket guides.

Metlink’s services are provided on behalf of:

  • The metropolitan public transport operators: Metro, Yarra Trams and bus operators
  • The Victorian State Government under the Department of Transport and within the Public Transport Division
  • Regional transport operators: bus operators and V/Line.

Metlink is also responsible for accepting customer feedback, tracking lost property, providing advice on new ticketing initiatives, instigating research, collecting data, collecting revenue, and managing a public transport think tank.

Metlink undertakes many promotions and activities. For more information, see:

http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au



SkyBus Airport Services: (Please add some pics)

 

Hassle-free transfers to your city hotel

At no extra cost for SkyBus passengers, SkyBus can transfer you to your city hotel or motel from our city terminal using their fleet of mini-buses.

What are the hours of operation?

The SkyBus Hotel Service operates during the following hours:

Monday to Friday: 0600 - 2130
Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays: 0730 - 1730

They do not operate this service on Christmas Day

What do I need to do?

Arriving at Melbourne Airport, Tullamarine

  • You do not need to book the SkyBus Hotel Service to get to your hotel.
  • From Melbourne Airport, take SkyBus to their Melbourne city terminal situated at Southern Cross Station (in Spencer Street).
  • You then transfer onto a SkyBus Hotel mini-bus, which delivers you to your hotel or motel. No booking is required and the mini-buses are available during operating hours (refer above).

Departing Melbourne

  • You need to reserve a pick-up time for the SkyBus Hotel Service for your trip to the airport. It is essential that you book your pick-up at least the day before departure.
  • Ask your concierge to call SkyBus on 9600 1711.(Please quote your room number)
  • The SkyBus Hotel Service will take you from your hotel to our city terminal where you will board a SkyBus express service to the airport.
  • SkyBus will endeavour to provide transfers to all passengers at the nominated time, but reserves the right to offer alternative pick up time or decline transport due to capacity and/or operational requirements.

For more information please log on to http://www.skybus.com.au

Taxis – Melbourne

Melbourne taxis are numerous and easy to spot – they are all uniformly yellow. As well, drivers must always wear a neat uniform and have an identity card on show at all times.

Hailing a cab
Cabs often wait in designated ranks that are clearly signposted at central locations like major hotels in the CBD, or busy spots such as Flinders Street Station. You can also hail a taxi in the street – if the rooftop light is illuminated, it means the taxi is available for hire – or book a taxi by telephone. Outside Melbourne, taxis widely operate in Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo, with additional cabs at country towns throughout the rest of the state.

Taxi totems
Melbourne has recently launched a number of 'taxi totems' around the city and in some regional centres, which will be lit and will make it easier to hail cabs and for cabs to notice you. The totems will feature your location name and the nearest cross street, a list of local taxi services and booking numbers  including numbers for wheelchair accessible taxis and connections to train, tram and bus services where relevant.

Fares and surcharges
Taxi meters are usually clearly visible, so you can keep check of your fare. Late night taxi trips must be paid for in advance. Between 10pm and 5am in Victoria, the driver will ask you for an up-front deposit, based on a table of point to point estimates. You can use the fare estimator to work out what your up-front costs are likely to be. Melbourne cabs attract additional charges like a late night surcharge from midnight to 5am, a fee for phone bookings, a fee for using the Citylink freeway and even a fee for taxis waiting at the airport rank.

Melbourne's major taxi companies include:

· 13 CABS (13 22 27 – within Australia only)

· Arrow (13 22 11 – within Australia only)

· Embassy Taxis (13 17 55 – within Australia only)

· Silver Top Taxis (13 10 08 – within Australia only)