FAQs

Car parking spaces are available at most stations across the network. If you park at a V/Line station, please remember to lock all doors and remove all valuables from your vehicle.
 
Customers enter and use V/Line car parks at their own risk. V/Line will not take responsibility for any damage to vehicles or property loss in station car parks.
 
To check your nearest station’s parking facilities please click here.

Taking photos with your phone is fine as long as you’re behind the yellow line on the platform or outside the rail reserve. You must also not affect or photograph other customers.

For professional filming and photography, please submit a third-party access request.
 

Reservations are compulsory on all V/Line train services to and from Albury, Bairnsdale, Shepparton, Swan Hill and Warrnambool. 

They are are required for all journeys on reserved trains, even if you're only travelling a short distance.

Reservations are also required on most V/Line coach services.

Reserved services are shaded in timetables and are shown in the "Plan trip/buy tickets" tool with an "R" for "reservations required".

Reservations are not required on trains to and from all other destinations including Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Seymour and Traralgon.

We do not sell or give away railway sleepers. We reuse as many good sleepers as possible and those that are damaged or broken are disposed of.

Give as much notice as you can for your group travel. We recommend submitting your application at least 30 days before departure to maximise your chances of being accommodated on your chosen services. 

All group travel applications must be completed at least seven days before travel.

Generally speaking, there are four scenarios why tickets are not available to buy online on certain dates:

1 - Busy days for travel

Trains and coaches on certain dates – mainly public holidays – can be very busy or full. 

As online purchase is not directly connected to our reservations system, we do not want to risk selling you a ticket on a service that is full.

This is particularly the case at Christmas/New Year and Eastertime.

If you call us on 1800 800 007 our staff can check availability and make your purchase  over the phone.
 

2 - Different timetable in use

At certain times of year – mainly public holidays – our normal timetable is not in use. It is replaced with a special holiday timetable.

Sometimes the holiday timetable is not available until shortly before it is scheduled to take effect.

If you call us on 1800 800 007 our staff can advise when sales for these dates will be available.
 

3 – Fares on these dates differ from our standard fares

The Victorian government announces special fares - and sometime even free travel (e.g. Christmas Day). When this happens we cannot offer these fares with the online ticket sales system.

If you call us on 1800 800 007 our staff can offer you these special fares and you can make your purchase over the phone.

4 - Reservations not yet open

If you are planning to travel well in advance please note that you can only make reservations 100 days or less from your return travel date.

Sounding the horn is a safety requirement to notify people of a train approaching a level crossing. The location is determined on the distance from the crossing and the speed of the train.

At the discretion of the driver, the horn is also sounded when there is a person or animal near the tracks to warn them of the train approaching. Trains are heavy and fast moving, so drivers use the horn to alert all nearby motorists and pedestrians to stand back. 

The train horn sound and general operational sound of trains have specific exemptions in the Transport Act Noise Regulations under the Environment Protection Act (EPA) 1970 and the subordinate State Environment Protection Policy (Control of Noise from Commerce, Industry and Trade) does not apply to noise from V/Line trains.

V/Line is currently working on updates to our paper ticketing system that will enable e-tickets and the ability to print tickets for reserved services at home. 

As part of the Regional Network Development Plan (RNDP), the Victorian Government will undertake a review of the regional public transport fares and prepare a new fares and ticketing manual.

This includes a review of ticketing systems to reflect new technologies. At the moment, you must travel with a valid myki or V/Line paper ticket.
  
For more information about e-ticketing and the RNDP, please click here


 

Customer research has shown that most people prefer 24-hour time as it is clearer and doesn’t leave room for confusion between AM and PM.

It is an accepted standard for much of the transport industry which V/Line has also adopted.

Give as much notice as you can for your group travel. We recommend submitting your application at least 30 days before departure to maximise your chances of being accommodated on your chosen services. 

All group travel applications must be completed at least seven days before travel.