Melbourne set for 24-hour public transport trial from New Year’s Eve

TRAMS, trains and buses are set to run non-stop for 93 hours in Melbourne this weekend.

5.23 flinders street train is right on time at Newport railway station. Metro train. Strike. Early morning services cancelled. Picture: Nicole Garmston

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TRAMS, trains and buses are set to run non-stop for 93 hours in Melbourne this weekend.

The epic timetable kicks off on New Year’s Eve and coincides with the launch of the Government’s 24-hour weekend transport trial.

Operators are confident they are well prepared for the first-ever four-day timetable and expect services to run without a hitch.

Trains are scheduled every hour, and buses and trams every 30-60 minutes under the long-awaited Night Network.

Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said the scheme would put 70 per cent of people’s homes within 1km of all-night public transport.

“Night Network will bring our city to life, allowing locals and visitors to enjoy the world’s most liveable city for longer, every weekend,’’ she said.

Mr Morton said the change was “attractive for public transport users”.

Public Transport Users Association president Tony Morton said “fingers crossed it will be a success”.

“There has been a lot of work done behind the scenes to make sure it can run for that period of time,” he said.

“We will be very interested to see what the reaction of the public is.

“Certainly, the change is attractive for public transport users.”

Up to 21 routes will be open overnight. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Mr Morton said if the scheme proved popular he would like to see train services scheduled every half-hour in the future.

The State Government originally budgeted $50 million for the scheme but saw that figure blow out earlier this year by $34.1 million to cover the cost of hiring 62 transit police and 109 Protective Services Officers to staff 82 of the busier train stations.

Authorised officers and ticket inspectors will be deployed across the network, targeting fare dodgers and drunk or aggressive passengers.

Up to 21 routes will be open overnight, departing the CBD as well as linking up with trains departing Flinders St.

However, other city stations will be closed from 11.45pm.

Transport will be free from 6pm on New Year’s Eve to 6am on January 1.

Myki fares and fines will stay the same overnight. However, the system clocks over at 3am for people hoping to use return fares.

Buses will also leave for Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and Traralgon at 2am.

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