Seniors Travel
Useful information for
seniors using V/Line
We care
about the safety of our customers and the community and we have updated our
educational brochure aimed at seniors.
It still
includes safe travel tips and advice for senior residents in our community, as
well as an updated section on the opening and closing door functions for all
our trains.
If you
think the information below might be useful to someone you know, please ask
them to visit www.vline.com.au/seniors.
Before
your journey
Plan your
journey well in advance and find out where your nearest station or retail
outlet is by calling 136 196 or visit this website (www.vline.com.au)
·
Purchase and collect
your ticket before you travel on public transport.
·
You will need
to reserve your seat if travelling long-distance (see www.vline.com.au/reservations for
more info)
·
Make
arrangements for mobility aids, guide dogs and seating needs well in advance by
calling us on 136 196.
·
Collect your
tickets before your trip from your station. If you purchased them far enough in
advance from our call centre, they can posted your tickets to you. Please ask
the staff member you speak to.
·
Pick up a
timetable in advance from your V/Line station.
When to travel
·
The best time
for seniors to travel on V/Line’s services is during off peak times. See www.vline.com.au/peak for more
information.
·
On services to Melbourne*, Off Peak services arrive into Melbourne after 9am, Monday to Friday. Services
are all Off Peak at weekends and on public holidays.
·
On services
from Melbourne*, Off Peak services leave Melbourne either before 4pm or after
6pm.
* Melbourne is defined as Southern Cross Station, Flinders
Street Station, North Melbourne Station and Richmond Station.
·
Enjoy the
benefit of free Sunday travel in metropolitan zones 1 and 2 with your Seniors Sunday card.
Buying your ticket
- You can
buy your ticket or make a reservation at staffed V/Line stations, via our call
centre by phoning 136 196, at an accredited V/Line
ticket agent or at some Premium Metro stations. See www.vline.com.au/wheretobuy
for a list of sales outlets.
- Reserve
your return trip at the time of booking your forward journey.
- You can
purchase your tickets up to three months in advance.
- When travelling
from an unstaffed station, you can purchase your tickets on board the
train from the conductor. Only cash is accepted.
- Each
year Centrelink issues seniors with a pensioner free voucher. This voucher
can be exchanged for a V/Line ticket at the outlets above prior to travel.
- You can
also travel for free on specified days during the Seniors Festival
(usually held in October).
- All
V/Line tickets to and from metropolitan Melbourne include free access to
Melbourne’s metropolitan trains, trams and buses. You can also use your
V/Line ticket to travel for free on local buses in Ballarat, Bendigo (including
Eaglehawk), Geelong (including North Geelong, South Geelong and Marshall),
Moe, Morwell and Traralgon.
- Single tickets include one hour’s free travel on either side of your
V/Line journey.
- Day Return, Weekly, Monthly and Date-to-Date tickets include free travel
all day.
Waiting for your train
or coach
·
Allow plenty of
time before your service departure. Never run to meet your train.
·
Safety starts
before you get on your train or coach.
·
Be aware of
your surroundings – make sure you’re on the correct platform and know from
which direction your train will arrive.
·
Always stand
behind the yellow line marking at train stations and behind the kerb at coach
stops.
·
NEVER lean or
walk out into the path of oncoming trains and coaches.
Do you have luggage?
- Checked
luggage will now only be available on locomotive-hauled long distance
services originating or terminating in Bairnsdale, Shepparton, Swan Hill and
Warrnambool.
- Luggage
must be checked in at least 30 minutes before you leave. All items must be
properly packed or they will not be accepted. You can only carry bicycles,
surfboards etc. on nominated train and coach services where space permits.
Call us on 136 196 before you travel to check your service.
- When
travelling short journeys passengers now have the flexibility to be able
to transfer their own luggage to the train.
- Each passenger
is allowed to bring 2 x 15kg pieces of luggage on all train and coach
services. Ask station staff for assistance with your luggage.
Travelling with mobility
aids
- Mobility
aids can be used on all trains, but can only be accepted on road coaches
that are wheelchair equipped.
- If you
travel with a mobility aid, it needs to:
–
fit within an
allocated space of 1300mm (length) and 800mm (width)
–
be no more than
750mm wide at a height of 300mm above the ground
–
the total
weight of the mobility aid, its user and any attendant must be less than 300kg.
Wait in a
prominent location on the platform so the train conductor may assist you by
putting down the ramp.
For coach
travel, please call us at least 24 hours in advance on 136 196.
During
your journey
Getting on board safely
- Stand well back when a train or coach approaches the
station platform or coach stop.
·
Be sure to mind
the gap. There is a gap between the edge of the station platform and the train
door. There might also be a height difference so watch your step.
·
Stand slightly
to one side to let people exiting the train or coach get off first.
·
Remember to
watch your step when getting on board a train or coach.
·
Find your seat
quickly and use the seats to steady yourself as you are walking up the aisle.
·
Do not carry
too many packages; always leave one hand free to hold the railing. Ask a train
conductor or station staff if you need help with bags.
When seated
·
Keep both feet
on the floor. This will help you steady yourself in the event the driver has to
brake or stop unexpectedly.
·
Place handbags,
shopping bags or briefcases on your lap or under your seat or alternatively ask
for assistance from the train conductor to place them in the overhead racks.
·
Locomotive-hauled
long distance services originating or terminating in Bairnsdale, Shepparton,
Swan Hill and Warrnambool allow you to check in luggage. This can be
transferred free of charge if you are connecting with other V/Line services.
Ask when making your booking or picking up your ticket.
Getting off safely
·
Listen to
announcements; these are made prior to arriving at the next station. This means
you need to gather your belongings and move to the door while the train is
moving. This will ensure you get off the train at the right stop safely.
·
Have your bags
or luggage ready.
·
Gather your
belongings and be prepared early to leave the train so you are not over carried
to the next station.
·
If you need
assistance getting on and off – ask the conductor when you get your ticket
checked.
·
When getting
off the train or coach always watch your step and check for traffic or other
people on the platform.
·
Never walk out
behind a coach to cross the road.
Opening doors is
slightly different for each of our train types:
VLocity
trains
Push the yellow button, when it illuminates green. The doors will then
automatically slide open and automatically close on departure
Sprinter trains
The doors slide open automatically and close automatically on departure
N-Set trains
Nearly all
N-Set trains are fitted with electronic doors. You need to pull the door toward
you from inside the carriage. Please allow room for the door to swing toward you.
The doors will automatically close when the train departs.
H-Set trains
You need
to manually slide open the door. The doors will close automatically on
departure.
For all
train types…
Never use
your body, arms or hands to obstruct the train or coach doors while they are
closing, otherwise you can hurt yourself. If you need the doors to be reopened,
please get the attention of the coach driver/train conductor.
Never get
out of a moving train no matter how slow it is moving. Wait and get off at the
next station.
After your
journey
Make arrangements for any mobility aids, guide dogs and seating needs well in
advance.
For
information and to book your tickets phone us on 136 196.
Quick guide
Victorian
Seniors Card holders are entitled to concession fares on public transport
services within Victoria. See www.vline.com.au/concessions
for more information.
Seniors
have access to Seniors Sunday Pass which allows free Sunday metropolitan
travel, two Off Peak travel vouchers per year and V/Line concession fares at
all times. See www.vline.com.au/ssp
for more information.
Need ideas on where to
go?
Visit the Discover Victoria section of our
website for ideas on where to go and what to see with V/Line, in Melbourne and
regional Victoria.