Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information
Published: Thu 27 Aug 2020
Keeping everyone safe on public transport
Metropolitan Melbourne
Metropolitan Melbourne has moved to the first step for reopening. There are only 4 reasons to leave home – shopping for food and essential supplies, medical care and caregiving, exercise and work or study, if you cannot do it from home.
In Melbourne you must shop for food and supplies and exercise within 5km of your home during the day. Victoria Police along with PSOs are enforcing these rules in the community including on public transport services.
Travelling from Melbourne to regional Victoria
If you live in metropolitan Melbourne, the only reasons to travel into regional Victoria are: for permitted work and medical care and care giving.
You can only travel to regional Victoria to shop for food and essential supplies if it is your nearest location. Victoria Police is monitoring people leaving and entering Melbourne to ensure everyone is travelling for one of the permitted reasons.
Victoria Police is out in full force, with increased patrols monitoring exit and entry points to regional Victoria including train carriages, train stations and ferry terminals. A new offence carrying a fine of $4,957 may be issued to anyone from metropolitan Melbourne who is found in regional Victoria without a valid reason.
Regional Victoria
Regional Victoria has moved to the third step for reopening.
Regional Victorians are not permitted to travel to metropolitan Melbourne except for work, medical care and care giving or to buy goods and services if this is the closest location to your house.
While in metropolitan Melbourne you must comply with the metropolitan Melbourne restrictions.
We're asking everyone to play their part in keeping Victoria safe by only travelling when you have a valid reason to travel.
Regional trains will continue to run to the normal timetable for people who need to make permitted journeys in line with the permitted reasons to travel between metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.
For those with a permitted reason to travel, please be aware V/Line’s Night Coach service is suspended until further notice and services are not crossing the New South Wales or South Australian borders.
We ask all our passengers to only travel for a permitted purpose. If you must travel, wear a face covering for your entire journey and practise good hygiene. If you’re unwell, stay home and get tested if you have the mildest of symptoms.
Please plan ahead and visit vic.gov.au/CORONAVIRUS for more information on restrictions and all the latest advice on coronavirus (COVID-19).
Frequently Asked Questions
How can we help ensure safety on V/Line trains and coaches?
Everyone has a role to play to keep our network safe – stay home if you’re unwell, practise good hand hygiene, wear a face covering, travel outside the peak and keep your distance where you can.
We will not be limiting the number of people on board our trains and coaches because this is likely to cause crowding in other areas such as platforms and coach stops.
There are things you can do to make your trip easier:
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Wear a face covering
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Spread out on trains, along platforms and at coach stops where you can, and use the space available
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We recommend travelling with your own personal hand sanitiser, as well as washing your hands before and after using public transport
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Download the COVIDSafe App and have it active while you travel
Please be patient, respectful and kind to each other and our staff – we’re all in this together.
What extra cleaning is being done and how often?
High-touch surfaces on the network such as door handles, myki touch points and handrails are being cleaned regularly, as well as nightly deep-cleaning of our trains, coaches and stations to help keep passengers safe. This increased cleaning program will be in place for as long as necessary.
What changes have been made to ticketing?
V/Line staff and coach drivers operating V/Line branded services are unable to accept cash as a method of payment until further notice.
Passengers still require a valid myki or paper ticket for their journey.
Passengers are encouraged to update their Myki or purchase their tickets online at ptv.com.au, and Myki cards can be purchased and topped-up by staff at stations using credit, debit and EFTPOS.
Paper tickets (V/Net) can also be purchased by these methods at staffed stations.
V/Line are still posting purchased online tickets as normal.
As a temporary measure, if you are unable to collect your V/Line ticket, your email confirmation printed or displayed on a smartphone or device will be accepted as your ticket for travel until further notice.
If you cannot print the confirmation, or you do not have a smartphone or device capable of displaying it, please contact the call centre on 1800 800 007
Please ensure you touch on and touch off with your myki to ensure you pay the correct fare.
Are conductors still travelling on the train?
Yes, conductors continue to travel on all V/Line trains to make announcements, perform essential operational tasks and provide assistance to anyone who needs help.
Conductors and station staff are also available to support customers at station stops with any assistance they need. Customers can wait in the Boarding Assistance Zones on all regional platforms and platforms 3A and 15A at Southern Cross Station to alert conductors that they need help with their journey.
If you do need a conductor while on your journey, please press the emergency button if available in your carriage and they will be able to assist.
Is checked luggage still available?
No. To help slow the spread of coronavirus checked luggage will not be available on V/Line services until further notice. Passengers are still able to take their own luggage onboard services provided it meets the normal requirements for luggage on V/Line trains and coaches.
Are refreshments available for purchase on board?
No. Our cafe/bar service will not be open until further notice.
We encourage you to bring your own food and non-alcoholic beverages on board. Please ensure your drink containers have a secure, fastening or spill proof lid.
Water will still be available on all V/Line train services.
For the latest information on coronavirus (COVID-19), click here.
For the latest information on using the public transport network, click here.