Ticketing & fares

Ticket type	Ideal for	Ticket rules
Single	One way travel, or when you need to travel to and from a destination on a different day.	One journey from the origin to the destination. Breaks in the journey are not allowed.
Day return	Same day return travel.	Unlimited same day travel between the origin and destination. Breaks in the journey are allowed.

Book your travel online using our plan your journey tool or find a station or ticket outlet near you.    

The full fare is payable by any customer who is aged 19 years and over and does not hold a concession card valid for travel in Victoria.
 
Children aged from five to 18 years are entitled to concession fares. Children under five travel for free.
 
Students and adults who hold concession cards valid for travel in Victoria are eligible for concession fares.
 
More information about concession travel, including how to apply for a concession card, can be
found on the Public Transport Victoria website. 

We recommend travelling at off-peak times if you can. Services are quieter and it's cheaper too.
 
Peak services

Peak services are all services where you touch off in Zone 1 before 9am weekdays or where you touch on in Zone 1 between 4pm and 6pm weekdays.
 
Tickets valid for travel on peak services include the Peak Single and Peak Day Return and myki money or myki pass.
 
Off-peak services
 
All other services including public holidays and weekends are defined as off-peak.
 
Concession customers now receive off-peak fares when travelling on non-myki weekend services.
 
Traditionally, off-peak services are quieter, and you are more likely to secure a seat.
 
Tickets valid for travel on off-peak services include Off-Peak Single, Off-Peak Day Return and myki money or myki pass.
 
If you have an off-peak paper ticket and need to travel on a peak service, please purchase a peak upgrade ticket before travelling.

Metropolitan Melbourne 

If you've travelled to/from Melbourne on a V/Line long distance train or coach with a paper ticket, your one way single ticket includes one hour of free travel either side of your V/Line journey within metropolitan Melbourne. All other paper ticket types, including Day Return, include free travel all day in metropolitan Melbourne.

If you’ve travelled to/from Melbourne using a myki, you can continue travelling within the zones for which you have paid, for the remainder of your fare duration.

Regional town buses
 
You can use your myki or V/Line paper ticket to travel on some local town buses, excluding privately operated services. Town bus travel is included if you travel to or from one of these stations:

• Geelong
• North Geelong
• South Geelong
• Corio
• North Shore 
• Marshall
• Waurn Ponds
• Ballarat
• Wendouree
• Kangaroo Flat
• Bendigo
• Eaglehawk
• Epsom
• Wallan
• Kilmore East
• Seymour
• Traralgon
• Moe
• Morwell

You must have your myki or V/Line paper ticket with you when you board the bus. Present your ticket to the bus driver who will check it. V/Line paper tickets or myki cards are not available from bus drivers.

First class seating is only available on long distance services that travel to and from Albury, Bairnsdale, Shepparton, Swan Hill and Warrnambool and seats must be reserved. First class seating is not available on coaches.

First class availability is indicated in the plan a journey tool on services marked with

What is the difference between First class and economy?

First Class carriages have tray tables and larger reclining seats with more leg room. The seats are sectioned in fours and there are approximately 52 seats in each carriage, compared to 88 in economy.

Reserving First class

You can reserve First class seats by booking in advance through V/Line stations and ticket outlets, or through the PTV call centre on 1800 800 007 or online using our plan a journey tool.

Online bookings on long distance services are opened 100 days in advance and close two hours prior to departure. Advance booking is encouraged to ensure a First class seat.

First class fares

The First class fare is based on an Economy fare and a First class upgrade fee. First class tickets may be purchased wherever V/Line tickets are sold.

It is important that you pay the First class fare before boarding. The upgrade can be bought along with the Economy ticket, or separately before travel. Conductors only sell First class upgrades if you board at an unstaffed station.

Refunds on First class upgrades

Refunds on First class tickets can be claimed when First class carriages are not available due to operational changes in trains or the First class carriage is full on short distance services.

You may claim a refund from any V/Line station or V/Line ticket outlet (if the ticket was sold there), or by sending the First class upgrade refund slip to:

V/Line Customer Relations
Reply Paid 5343
Melbourne Victoria 8060

Please note conductors do not provide refunds on board V/Line services.

 

If you need to make changes to your reservation or tickets, making changes depends on the type of ticket you have.

For reserved services

If you have a seat reservation you can either:

• call 1800 800 007; or
• visit a V/Line station or ticket outlet near you.

Changes can be made prior to the departure time printed on the ticket.

For unreserved services

If you do not have a seat reservation, you must visit a V/Line station or ticket outlet the day prior to the departure date printed on the ticket. You will need to bring your existing tickets to be exchanged for new tickets.

myki

Information about myki refunds can be found on the PTV website.

Paper tickets

You can receive a full refund for single or return tickets if you are unable to travel as long as you apply before the departure date of your service. No administration fee applies.

The easiest way to apply for a refund is to visit your closest V/Line station. Alternatively, please call 1800 800 007 or send a completed refund application form, along with your paper tickets, to the address specified below:

V/Line Customer Relations
Reply Paid 5343
Melbourne VIC 8060

Passenger Refund Application Form
PDF 20kB

Refunds on First class upgrades

Refunds on First class tickets can be claimed when First class carriages are not available due to operational changes in trains or the First class carriage is full on short distance services.

You may claim a refund from any V/Line station or V/Line ticket outlet (if the ticket was sold there), or by sending the First class upgrade refund slip to the address above.

Please note conductors do not provide refunds on board V/Line services.

Lost or stolen tickets

Refunds or replacements are not available for lost or stolen tickets, with the exception of reserved tickets and date-to-date tickets, which can be refunded at staffed V/Line stations.
 
Important notes

• Enclose the original ticket with your refund application.
• We cannot accept responsibility for applications which are lost in the post.
• Posted tickets must arrive before the departure date printed on the ticket.
• V/Line ticket agents can only refund tickets bought from their agencies.

Where we fail to meet our monthly targets, or you’re delayed for 60 minutes or more in a single journey, compensation may be available.
 
Please visit our compensation page for more information and to see if you’re eligible for compensation.
 
First Class tickets
 
You can have your First Class ticket refunded in advance by following the paper ticket directions above.
 
Occasionally, a scheduled First Class service will operate without a First Class carriage. In this case, you can get a refund for the First class portion of your trip from a staffed V/Line station or by calling 1800 800 007.

The Family Traveller ticket is an affordable way for families to travel in Victoria using V/Line.
 
A Family Traveller ticket allows each adult to take up to two children aged between five and 18 for free.
 
Eligibility
 
Family Traveller tickets are available for travel to/from all V/Line locations except for travel wholly within Zone 2 or Zone 1 and 2.
 
Family Traveller tickets can be used by adults travelling with children older than four and under 19. 
 
Children under five years old travel free but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
 
The adult may travel on a concession ticket if they are entitled to. The Family Traveller is not available if the adult is using a free pass, privilege ticket, periodical ticket or free travel voucher.
 
All customers using the Family Traveller ticket must travel together at all times. If there are more than two children travelling with each adult, additional children will pay the standard child fare.
 
Customers who book a Family Traveller package on a peak service will be charges an additional $4 for a single journey and $8 for a return trip.
 
Family Traveller tickets are only available in paper form and are not available with myki.
 
The Family Traveller is not valid for the Mansfield to Mount Buller V/Line coach service.
 
These tickets can be purchased at staffed V/Line stations or by calling 1800 800 007 (6am-midnight).

Group discounts are available on V/Line trains and coaches subject to space.

Group travel bookings, including return journeys, must be made for:

• 12 or more customers travelling together on V/Line coach services
• 20 or more customers travelling together on V/Line train services
• group travel is charged at concession fares, which is approximately 50 per cent cheaper than the standard weekday adult fares and approximately 30 per cent cheaper on weekends.

Find out more about group travel.