Australia / New Zealand - Any upcoming changes?

[stadler]

I also recommend doing the 901 bus from the airport to Broadmeadows and then the Metro suburban train to Melbourne city centre. Dont give your money to Sky Bus who are complete and utter rip off merchants and charge more for a single journey than the daily cap in Victoria for buses and trains throughout the entire state. I did this last time i was in Melbourne and it was very simple.

Victoria has an oddity where their Myki card is only valid (and is in fact the only way to pay) in Melbourne and surrounding areas but not in other places. In most other further out areas of Victoria you have to get a paper ticket on buses and trains. It is even more complex now that they have that fare cap.

So does this mean that you can get an AUD11.40 day paper ticket (same price as the AUD11.40 state wide day Myki cap) if you buy on a regional bus or a V Line train outside of the Melbourne area? Then if you get this i presume you could use the paper ticket on the Melbourne buses and trams and trains? If so then what is the closest place to Melbourne that you could buy a paper ticket in?

Also there is an AUD11.40 fare cap on the Myki card but how does this work on trains and buses outside of the Myki area? Does the fare cap only apply within the Myki area? So even if you reach the AUD11.40 on your Myki card then would you still have to buy another ticket to travel on trains and buses where Myki is not accepted?

I would be interested if anyone knows more about how this works. The last time i was in Melbourne was just before covid and this was before the fare cap started. It is not entirely clear on their website how exactly it works.

 

[Tester]

I also recommend doing the 901 bus from the airport to Broadmeadows and then the Metro suburban train to Melbourne city centre. Dont give your money to Sky Bus who are complete and utter rip off merchants and charge more for a single journey than the daily cap in Victoria for buses and trains throughout the entire state. I did this last time i was in Melbourne and it was very simple.

Victoria has an oddity where their Myki card is only valid (and is in fact the only way to pay) in Melbourne and surrounding areas but not in other places. In most other further out areas of Victoria you have to get a paper ticket on buses and trains. It is even more complex now that they have that fare cap.

So does this mean that you can get an AUD11.40 day paper ticket (same price as the AUD11.40 state wide day Myki cap) if you buy on a regional bus or a V Line train outside of the Melbourne area? Then if you get this i presume you could use the paper ticket on the Melbourne buses and trams and trains? If so then what is the closest place to Melbourne that you could buy a paper ticket in?

Also there is an AUD11.40 fare cap on the Myki card but how does this work on trains and buses outside of the Myki area? Does the fare cap only apply within the Myki area? So even if you reach the AUD11.40 on your Myki card then would you still have to buy another ticket to travel on trains and buses where Myki is not accepted?

I would be interested if anyone knows more about how this works. The last time i was in Melbourne was just before covid and this was before the fare cap started. It is not entirely clear on their website how exactly it works.

I can answer some of this but not all (I am in Melbourne now).

The principle of the fare cap is that you can travel anywhere in the state (about the same size as UK) for a maximum daily fare of $11.40 (about £5.70).

1. Within the Myki area you just tap on and off as usual, and the cap will be automatically applied.

2. For journeys partially or totally outside the Myki area paper tickets are issued, at a maximum fare of $11.40, which include unlimited travel within the Melbourne area (zones 1 & 2), and in some origin/destination areas, but are point to point otherwise.

Those two scenarios will cover nearly all journeys, but there are some edge cases, and I don't know the official answer, nor what happens in practice.

For example, I have a disused railway walk on my to do list, which involves bus and train to Bendigo (all covered by Myki for $11.40), followed by a regional bus to Axedale (Myki not accepted). I don't know whether I'll need to pay the local fare on top in cash (against the principle but pragmatic) or I wave my Myki and say I'm already up to the cap, and the driver takes my word for it.

The cap is such ludicrously good value that it's hard to get upset about, but it is a bit messy.

 

[stadler]

I can answer some of this but not all (I am in Melbourne now).

The principle of the fare cap is that you can travel anywhere in the state (about the same size as UK) for a maximum daily fare of $11.40 (about £5.70).

1. Within the Myki area you just tap on and off as usual, and the cap will be automatically applied.

2. For journeys partially or totally outside the Myki area paper tickets are issued, at a maximum fare of $11.40, which include unlimited travel within the Melbourne area (zones 1 & 2), and in some origin/destination areas, but are point to point otherwise.

Those two scenarios will cover nearly all journeys, but there are some edge cases, and I don't know the official answer, nor what happens in practice.

For example, I have a disused railway walk on my to do list, which involves bus and train to Bendigo (all covered by Myki for $11.40), followed by a regional bus to Axedale (Myki not accepted). I don't know whether I'll need to pay the local fare on top in cash (against the principle but pragmatic) or I wave my Myki and say I'm already up to the cap, and the driver takes my word for it.

The cap is such ludicrously good value that it's hard to get upset about, but it is a bit messy.

Thank you for this. It is so confusing working it out on the Transport Victoria website. They really need to do a better job of providing fare details.

So i presume this means that you could buy a paper day ticket for AUD11.40 in Melbourne by purchasing a ticket to some V Line station outside of the Myki card area. There would be no need to actually travel there. That would be a simple way to get a paper day ticket and avoid a Myki card even if you plan to stay entirely in the Melbourne area.

I agree it is fantastic value. A day ticket for AUD11.40 which is £5.70 at the current exchange rate (handily the exchange rate is exactly 50% at the moment so easy to remember) is incredible. That is just £5.70 to travel on trains and buses in Victoria all day which is an area almost the same exact size as the entire UK (England + Wales + Scotland + Northern Ireland) in land area. Australia seems very good at doing very low cost fares. Queensland also has an incredible AUD0.50 (£0.25) per single journey on their buses and trains.

 

[Pakenhamtrain]

Thank you for this. It is so confusing working it out on the Transport Victoria website. They really need to do a better job of providing fare details.

So i presume this means that you could buy a paper day ticket for AUD11.40 in Melbourne by purchasing a ticket to some V Line station outside of the Myki card area. There would be no need to actually travel there. That would be a simple way to get a paper day ticket and avoid a Myki card even if you plan to stay entirely in the Melbourne area.

I agree it is fantastic value. A day ticket for AUD11.40 which is £5.70 at the current exchange rate (handily the exchange rate is exactly 50% at the moment so easy to remember) is incredible. That is just £5.70 to travel on trains and buses in Victoria all day which is an area almost the same exact size as the entire UK (England + Wales + Scotland + Northern Ireland) in land area. Australia seems very good at doing very low cost fares. Queensland also has an incredible AUD0.50 (£0.25) per single journey on their buses and trains.

https://transport.vic.gov.au/tickets-and-myki/fares/regional-train-fares

Ticketing & fares

Learn more about ticket types, peak and off-peak travel, reservations, refunds and more.

www.vline.com.au

For all day travel to apply with a paper ticket the paper ticket fare has to be at at the cap.

Also there is an AUD11.40 fare cap on the Myki card but how does this work on trains and buses outside of the Myki area? Does the fare cap only apply within the Myki area? So even if you reach the AUD11.40 on your Myki card then would you still have to buy another ticket to travel on trains and buses where Myki is not accepted?

For example, I have a disused railway walk on my to do list, which involves bus and train to Bendigo (all covered by Myki for $11.40), followed by a regional bus to Axedale (Myki not accepted). I don't know whether I'll need to pay the local fare on top in cash (against the principle but pragmatic) or I wave my Myki and say I'm already up to the cap, and the driver takes my word for it.

According to the Victorian Fares and Ticketing Conditions 2026.

To avoid paying more than the daily fare cap when travelling outside the myki boundary, customers need to ensure that they purchase the appropriate ticket. For example, if a person’s journey includes travel on V/Line, the person should obtain a V/Line paper ticket that will allow the customer to travel all day at no additional charge. If a customer travels on a subsidised regional bus, they will need to ask the bus driver for a PTV daily ticket to ensure that they do not pay more than the daily fare cap.

Victorian Public Transport Fares and Ticketing Manual

The Victorian Public Transport Fares and Ticketing Manual sets out the cost and conditions of travel on the public transport network within Victoria.

www.vic.gov.au

Axedale would be

 

[AdamWW]

I also recommend doing the 901 bus from the airport to Broadmeadows and then the Metro suburban train to Melbourne city centre. Dont give your money to Sky Bus who are complete and utter rip off merchants and charge more for a single journey than the daily cap in Victoria for buses and trains throughout the entire state.

Might it be the case that the daily capped fares are highly subsidised but the Sky Bus operates without subsidy and therefore has to fully cover its costs?

 

[Tester]

Might it be the case that the daily capped fares are highly subsidised but the Sky Bus operates without subsidy and therefore has to fully cover its costs?

It absolutely might be!

 

[stadler]

https://transport.vic.gov.au/tickets-and-myki/fares/regional-train-fares

Ticketing & fares

Learn more about ticket types, peak and off-peak travel, reservations, refunds and more.

www.vline.com.au

For all day travel to apply with a paper ticket the paper ticket fare has to be at at the cap.


According to the Victorian Fares and Ticketing Conditions 2026.

Victorian Public Transport Fares and Ticketing Manual

The Victorian Public Transport Fares and Ticketing Manual sets out the cost and conditions of travel on the public transport network within Victoria.

www.vic.gov.au

Axedale would be

Thank you for this clarification. That is very useful to know. So it seems like the best option within the Myki area around Melbourne is to purchase a V Line ticket from Melbourne to some destination far outside of Melbourne for AUD11.40 (for example Wodonga / Shepparton / Echuca / Swan Hill / Maryborough / Ararat / Warrnambool or any other far out station) and then you have an AUD11.40 paper day ticket without even needing to travel on that V Line train. Even if you are travelling entirely in Melbourne within the Myki area then this still seems a simpler option than buying a Myki card or faffing around with Myki apps.

Are there any ticket machines or ways to buy paper tickets other than at V Line ticket offices or V Line guards or drivers on regional buses? For example if you were starting in some Melbourne suburb and travelling to a place far out in Victoria then i presume you would have to pay more than AUD11.40 as you would have to first use a Myki card for AUD5.70 just to get to the main V Line station in Melbourne to buy an AUD11.40 paper ticket?

One other question i have is whether the fare cap still applies for services that go across the border in to NSW or SA towns? V Line run trains and coaches to places in both NSW and SA that are just over the border (or in some cases much further in to those states) and i wonder whether the AUD11.40 fare cap ticket would be valid to and from those NSW and SA destinations or would you have to buy another ticket?

Also is the fare cap valid on NSW Trainlink Regional trains if you are travelling within Victoria only? What about the Journey Beyond Rail Overland train within Victoria only as i have heard conflicting reports whether it is valid on this too?

It is a great value fare cap offer but i wish they made their ticketing simpler. I am surprised they have not extended Myki across the entire state of Victoria as that would simplify it a lot. If not that then they should sell paper tickets on all buses and at all railway stations within the Melbourne urban Myki area. You would think it would be simple to have a uniform ticket system across the entire state of Victoria now.

 

[Tester]

Thank you for this clarification. That is very useful to know. So it seems like the best option within the Myki area around Melbourne is to purchase a V Line ticket from Melbourne to some destination far outside of Melbourne for AUD11.40 (for example Wodonga / Shepparton / Echuca / Swan Hill / Maryborough / Ararat / Warrnambool or any other far out station) and then you have an AUD11.40 paper day ticket without even needing to travel on that V Line train. Even if you are travelling entirely in Melbourne within the Myki area then this still seems a simpler option than buying a Myki card or faffing around with Myki apps.

Are there any ticket machines or ways to buy paper tickets other than at V Line ticket offices or V Line guards or drivers on regional buses? For example if you were starting in some Melbourne suburb and travelling to a place far out in Victoria then i presume you would have to pay more than AUD11.40 as you would have to first use a Myki card for AUD5.70 just to get to the main V Line station in Melbourne to buy an AUD11.40 paper ticket?

One other question i have is whether the fare cap still applies for services that go across the border in to NSW or SA towns? V Line run trains and coaches to places in both NSW and SA that are just over the border (or in some cases much further in to those states) and i wonder whether the AUD11.40 fare cap ticket would be valid to and from those NSW and SA destinations or would you have to buy another ticket?

Also is the fare cap valid on NSW Trainlink Regional trains if you are travelling within Victoria only? What about the Journey Beyond Rail Overland train within Victoria only as i have heard conflicting reports whether it is valid on this too?

It is a great value fare cap offer but i wish they made their ticketing simpler. I am surprised they have not extended Myki across the entire state of Victoria as that would simplify it a lot. If not that then they should sell paper tickets on all buses and at all railway stations within the Melbourne urban Myki area. You would think it would be simple to have a uniform ticket system across the entire state of Victoria now.

You can buy Vline paper tickets at many (but not all) Metro (suburban) stations.

If you can cope with e-tickets things become much simpler - easily purchased online without need for account.

The fare cap extends 60km across the state borders.

The fare cap does not apply to NSW Trainlink services at all, but does apply to the Overland within Victoria.

Whilst there are anomalies, I'm loath to criticise it, given its generosity. I'm off to Swan Hill and back on Saturday (690km of loco haulage) fare zero (special weekend offer until 1 February - normal weekend cap $8.00).

 

[gordonthemoron]

The fare cap does not apply to NSW Trainlink services at all, but does apply to the Overland

Albury to Melbourne is something like $55 on the XPT but only $11.40 on Vline

 

[stadler]

You can buy Vline paper tickets at many (but not all) Metro (suburban) stations.

If you can cope with e-tickets things become much simpler - easily purchased online without need for account.

The fare cap extends 60km across the state borders.

The fare cap does not apply to NSW Trainlink services at all, but does apply to the Overland within Victoria.

Whilst there are anomalies, I'm loath to criticise it, given its generosity. I'm off to Swan Hill and back on Saturday (690km of loco haulage) fare zero (special weekend offer until 1 February - normal weekend cap $8.00).

I am very pleasantly surprised that the Journey Beyond Rail Overland train is included. Especially as they are a very tourist train type operator rather than focusing on proper public transport.

It looks like you can go from Melbourne to Nhill or from Nhill to Melbourne for just AUD11.40 fare cap price which is a bargain. Unfortunately it looks like a day trip is impossible as the Melbourne to Nhill train arrives after the Nhill to Melbourne coach departs and the Melbourne to Nhill coach arrives after the Nhill to Melbourne train departs.

If you book directly on the Journey Beyond Rail site then Melbourne to Nhill or Nhill to Melbourne costs AUD135.00 (standard class) or AUD225.00 (first class) for a single. But yet the same exact train costs only AUD11.40 if you buy a V Line fare cap ticket. That is a crazy difference. That is twelve times cheaper for the same exact train.

If you already have an AUD11.40 fare cap paper ticket from another train then can you just turn up and board the Overland for a journey entirely within the Victoria borders? Or do you have to go to an Overland office first and get a zero fare reservation?

Also how do the V Line coaches and trains work regarding the fare cap on the routes that require a reservation? If you already have an AUD11.40 fare cap paper ticket from another journey then can you just turn up and board these V Line coaches and trains without a reservation or do you have to obtain a zero fare reservation somewhere?

Albury to Melbourne is something like $55 on the XPT but only $11.40 on Vline

Yes to go from Albury or Wodonga to Melbourne is currently showing as AUD63.50 (standard class) or AUD85.40 (first class) for a single on a NSW Train Link train. Or if you want a return then it is double at AUD127.00 (standard class) or AUD170.80 (first class) on a NSW Train Link train.

But on a V Line train it is only AUD11.40 for a single or day return or AUD22.80 for a return coming back on another day. So that makes NSW Train Link about six times as expensive as V Line for a single ticket or about twelve times as expensive as V Line for a day return ticket.

I am surprised that NSW Train Link are not included in the AUD11.40 fare cap despite being a normal public transport type train. But yet the Journey Beyond Rail Overland train is included in the fare cap despite mostly being a tourist type train.

 

[Tester]

I am very pleasantly surprised that the Journey Beyond Rail Overland train is included. Especially as they are a very tourist train type operator rather than focusing on proper public transport.

It looks like you can go from Melbourne to Nhill or from Nhill to Melbourne for just AUD11.40 fare cap price which is a bargain. Unfortunately it looks like a day trip is impossible as the Melbourne to Nhill train arrives after the Nhill to Melbourne coach departs and the Melbourne to Nhill coach arrives after the Nhill to Melbourne train departs.

If you book directly on the Journey Beyond Rail site then Melbourne to Nhill or Nhill to Melbourne costs AUD135.00 (standard class) or AUD225.00 (first class) for a single. But yet the same exact train costs only AUD11.40 if you buy a V Line fare cap ticket. That is a crazy difference. That is twelve times cheaper for the same exact train.

If you already have an AUD11.40 fare cap paper ticket from another train then can you just turn up and board the Overland for a journey entirely within the Victoria borders? Or do you have to go to an Overland office first and get a zero fare reservation?

Also how do the V Line coaches and trains work regarding the fare cap on the routes that require a reservation? If you already have an AUD11.40 fare cap paper ticket from another journey then can you just turn up and board these V Line coaches and trains without a reservation or do you have to obtain a zero fare reservation somewhere?


Yes to go from Albury or Wodonga to Melbourne is currently showing as AUD63.50 (standard class) or AUD85.40 (first class) for a single on a NSW Train Link train. Or if you want a return then it is double at AUD127.00 (standard class) or AUD170.80 (first class) on a NSW Train Link train.

But on a V Line train it is only AUD11.40 for a single or day return or AUD22.80 for a return coming back on another day. So that makes NSW Train Link about six times as expensive as V Line for a single ticket or about twelve times as expensive as V Line for a day return ticket.

I am surprised that NSW Train Link are not included in the AUD11.40 fare cap despite being a normal public transport type train. But yet the Journey Beyond Rail Overland train is included in the fare cap despite mostly being a tourist type train.

You need a reservation for the Overland - easily obtained, either 1. online (with seat selection) and issued as an e-ticket (or a paper ticket to be picked up) or 2. at a staffed station (Metro act as agents for Vline in the Melbourne area).

How that (or additional non-Melbourne journeys in general) would tie in with an existing paper ticket I do not know - I suspect that it would be too hard.

Whilst I don't know for sure, I think that NSW Trainlink are not included because their journeys are all paralleled by Vline, whereas this does not apply to the Overland.

The thinking behind the fare cap is to ease the financial disadvantage of living far from the city (Australia is very state capital focused), and it achieves that very well. The fact that it doesn't easily translate into what we might like is not a reason to denigrate it!

 

[Wandering Pom]

I am very pleasantly surprised that the Journey Beyond Rail Overland train is included. Especially as they are a very tourist train type operator rather than focusing on proper public transport.

The Overland is different from the other Journey Beyond trains: it's operated under contract to the Victoria and South Australia state governments, whereas the other two are purely commercial "cruise train" operations. The Overland has come close to being withdrawn several times in the last 10-15 years when one or other state has threatened to cut funding for it.

 

[LesS]

Fares across state borders do not have fare caps.
In NSW the daily fare cap only apples on Sydney Trains services operated by Sydney Trains rolling stock. longer distance trainlink services are charged by distance. For the few daily longer distance Sydney Trains services; to Goulburn, Bathurst, Scone, Dungog; the daily cap does apply.
Trainlink services are compulsory seat reservation trains.

 

[Pakenhamtrain]

I am surprised that NSW Train Link are not included in the AUD11.40 fare cap despite being a normal public transport type train. But yet the Journey Beyond Rail Overland train is included in the fare cap despite mostly being a tourist type train.

NSW Trainlink don't have anything to do with Transport Victoria services and vice versa. The fare cap applies only to Transport Victoria.

The Overland only has the fare cap because V/Line purchase seats on the train for Nhill passengers. If it wasn't for government subsidy The Overdue would have been killed off years ago.

Also how do the V Line coaches and trains work regarding the fare cap on the routes that require a reservation? If you already have an AUD11.40 fare cap paper ticket from another journey then can you just turn up and board these V Line coaches and trains without a reservation or do you have to obtain a zero fare reservation somewhere?

V/Line coaches require a reservation.

One other question i have is whether the fare cap still applies for services that go across the border in to NSW or SA towns? V Line run trains and coaches to places in both NSW and SA that are just over the border (or in some cases much further in to those states) and i wonder whether the AUD11.40 fare cap ticket would be valid to and from those NSW and SA destinations or would you have to buy another ticket?

If your destination is beyond 60km of the border an interstate travel fee of 26.60 is added to the 11.40
These are:

Adelaide City
Adelaide Hills
Mount Barker
Bega
Bermagui
Bodalla
Batemans Bay
Canberra
Coleambally
Coonalpyn
Cobargo
Dalmeny
Darlington Point
Griffith
Gundagai
Geranium
Jabuk
Mogo
Murray Bridge
Murrumbateman
Moruya
Narooma
Nimmitabel
Cooma
Peake
Sherlock
Tarcutta
Tailem Bend
Tintinara
Tuross
Yass

 

[AlastairFraser]

NSW Trainlink don't have anything to do with Transport Victoria services and vice versa. The fare cap applies only to Transport Victoria.

The Overland only has the fare cap because V/Line purchase seats on the train for Nhill passengers. If it wasn't for government subsidy The Overdue would have been killed off years ago.



V/Line coaches require a reservation.



If your destination is beyond 60km of the border an interstate travel fee of 26.60 is added to the 11.40
These are:

So that does that mean you can do the Overland the whole way to Adelaide for $38, or do you have to join the coach at Nhill?

 

[Tester]

So that does that mean you can do the Overland the whole way to Adelaide for $38, or do you have to join the coach at Nhill?

No Vline fare validity at all on the Overland outside Victoria.

The interstate add on applies only to coach services.

 

[RailExplorer]

Does anyone know if it's possible to alight at Footscray or Watergardens on the VLine from Southern Cross. It says pick up only, but is there anything to stop from getting off?

 

[Tester]

Does anyone know if it's possible to alight at Footscray or Watergardens on the VLine from Southern Cross. It says pick up only, but is there anything to stop from getting off?

Frowned upon but not actively enforced.

 

[railfan99]

Does anyone know if it's possible to alight at Footscray or Watergardens on the VLine from Southern Cross. It says pick up only, but is there anything to stop from getting off?

If you want a short, legal V/Line trip, travel to Deer Park on the Ballarat and Geelong lines, noting that during the offpeak and weekends, most trains stop there. In the weekday peaks, more trains are express through Deer Park.

It is an unattractive, elevated station given the recent level crossing removal. However it'll give you a taste of a VLocity railcar, built by Alstom.

A longer trip is to Little River on the Geelong line: an historic (unattended) bluestone station with a period bluestone, trackless goods shed tucked in behind the up platform.

 

[Pakenhamtrain]

So that does that mean you can do the Overland the whole way to Adelaide for $38, or do you have to join the coach at Nhill?

No. V/Line only have tickets for the train as far a Nhill

Does anyone know if it's possible to alight at Footscray or Watergardens on the VLine from Southern Cross. It says pick up only, but is there anything to stop from getting off?

There are set down and pick up restrictions V/Line trains in the Metropolitan area. Pick up only away from Melbourne and set down only towards Melbourne.

There are two exceptions to the rule, Sunbury and Pakenham.

Doing so renders your ticket invalid and be fined.

Frowned upon but not actively enforced.

They do enforce it every so often.

 

[Richard Scott]

Sorry but asking about V/Line tickets again. If I buy a Swan Hill to Melbourne ticket on line, which includes reservation, then is that valid all day within the fare cap area? I want to go out to Bendigo, catch the first loco hauled train in then go back out later in the day to pick up other one. Know need a reservation, which would be included in first ticket and would have to get second one when in Melbourne? Sorry to keep asking but a long way to go to find I then can't get on loco hauled trains!!!

 

[Tester]

Sorry but asking about V/Line tickets again. If I buy a Swan Hill to Melbourne ticket on line, which includes reservation, then is that valid all day within the fare cap area? I want to go out to Bendigo, catch the first loco hauled train in then go back out later in the day to pick up other one. Know need a reservation, which would be included in first ticket and would have to get second one when in Melbourne? Sorry to keep asking but a long way to go to find I then can't get on loco hauled trains!!!

It's slightly complicated.

The system works well for normals, but isn't designed for edge cases like us!

My suggestion is that you buy online a return ticket for the day in question, from Melbourne to Swan Hill (morning train out, afternoon back), which will cost the daily cap.

This will indisputably cover you for the journeys shown and any other travel (all modes) in the Melbourne suburban area, and by common sense proves that you have paid the daily cap for any other journeys outside Melbourne.

It's important to be clear that, despite publicity, the Swan Hill trains are not compulsory reservation. The carriage nearest Melbourne (declassified first class) and the next one are reserved; the others (typically two) are not. This will be announced on board.

Whilst I can't guarantee the absence of jobsworths, I'd be interested to know what one would think you should have done. Overall it's a far less confrontational system than ours.

 

[Richard Scott]

It's slightly complicated.

The system works well for normals, but isn't designed for edge cases like us!

My suggestion is that you buy online a return ticket for the day in question, from Melbourne to Swan Hill (morning train out, afternoon back), which will cost the daily cap.

This will indisputably cover you for the journeys shown and any other travel (all modes) in the Melbourne suburban area, and by common sense proves that you have paid the daily cap for any other journeys outside Melbourne.

It's important to be clear that, despite publicity, the Swan Hill trains are not compulsory reservation. The carriage nearest Melbourne (declassified first class) and the next one are reserved; the others (typically two) are not. This will be announced on board.

Whilst I can't guarantee the absence of jobsworths, I'd be interested to know what one would think you should have done. Overall it's a far less confrontational system than ours.

Thanks, apologies for more questions but would ticket work other way i.e Swan Hill to Melbourne as that's the way I want to do it I the morning?

 

[Tester]

Thanks, apologies for more questions but would ticket work other way i.e Swan Hill to Melbourne as that's the way I want to do it I the morning?

If your first journey is from Melbourne I'd be inclined to have a ticket to match that, but it's all a bit guesswork. The main thing is to have something to prove that you have paid the daily cap.

 

[Richard Scott]

If your first journey is from Melbourne I'd be inclined to have a ticket to match that, but it's all a bit guesswork. The main thing is to have something to prove that you have paid the daily cap.

Ok, thanks. I'll have a look at my options for the day.

 

[RailExplorer]

Hi again,
I have booked most things in Australia now, but struggling to book Sydney to Katoomba. It's says sold out / unavailable. Yet the full length trip to Dubbo is available. It's for Monday 16th March. What am I doing wrong?
Thank you

 

[Segedunum]

Hi again,
I have booked most things in Australia now, but struggling to book Sydney to Katoomba. It's says sold out / unavailable. Yet the full length trip to Dubbo is available. It's for Monday 16th March. What am I doing wrong?
Thank you

The first stop you can alight from an XPT heading out of Sydney is Lithgow, hence why you can't book to Katoomba but can to Dubbo.

 

[RailExplorer]

The first stop you can alight from an XPT heading out of Sydney is Lithgow, hence why you can't book to Katoomba but can to Dubbo.

Thank you - That answers Katoomba... But I have also tried Lithgow and it doesn't find any connections at all! It just says "no results found". Very puzzled!

First stop it'll sell to me is Tarana. Is there anything to stop me getting off earlier? Do Katoomba or Lithgow have barriers at the station?

 

[minimann]

I was at Katoomba a couple of months ago. No barriers, a quaint station, depending on timings you've got quite a nice brewery Mountain Culture next door too.

 

[Segedunum]

Thank you - That answers Katoomba... But I have also tried Lithgow and it doesn't find any connections at all! It just says "no results found". Very puzzled!

First stop it'll sell to me is Tarana. Is there anything to stop me getting off earlier? Do Katoomba or Lithgow have barriers at the station?

Lithgow definitely doesn't - 99% sure Katoomba doesn't either. Nobody will physically stop you getting off earlier. You'll have a valid ticket to be on board.

Can second the brewery at Katoomba. Was an excellent antidote to the rather brutal heat when I visited.