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Luggage allowance

This page tells you all you need to know about carrying luggage on trains, trams and buses in Melbourne and Victoria.

Folding Bicycles

Folding bicycles can be carried free on metropolitan trains, trams and buses; V/Line trains and coaches, and regional town bus services at any time. Folding bicycles must not exceed the dimensions of 79cm long x 59cm high x 36cm wide and must be folded up and stowed in a bag before boarding. Folding bicycles must not obstruct passageways or doorways and not inconvenience other passengers.

A folding bicycle has small wheels and frame latches allowing the frame to be collapsed. Regular bicycles of any size, with or without wheels, are not considered folding bicycles and are subject to the conditions below regarding bicycles on public transport.

On buses, folding bicycles cannot be stored in parcel racks. On V/Line trains and coaches, folding bicycles cannot be stored in overhead luggage racks.

Bicycles

Metropolitan Trains

Bicycles can be carried free on metropolitan trains at any time. As a courtesy to fellow passengers, cyclists are requested to avoid heavily congested carriages. Cyclists must not board at the first door of the first carriage at any time, as this area is reserved for passengers in wheelchairs. Bicycles must not obstruct passageways or doorways and must not inconvenience other passengers.

Metropolitan Trams, Metropolitan Buses, Regional Town Buses, V/Line Coaches

Bicycles are not permitted on these services at any time, with the exception of folding bicycles (see above).

V/Line Trains

Bicycles will be allowed to travel on all V/Line trains (both peak and off peak) at all times, subject to the availability of space. Space for bicycles is generally better available on locomotive hauled services but space is limited on Sprinter and VLocity trains. Your bicycle will be carried by V/Line at your own risk. Motorbikes and other petrol driven vehicles are not permitted.

Bicycle lockers

Some Connex and V/Line train stations have bicycle lockers, which can be used to store bicycles, helmets and safety vests.

Passengers may obtain lockers for up to 3 months by paying a bond, which will be returned at the end of the period (provided the locker is clean and undamaged). This period can be extended beyond 3 months if renewal is applied for on or before the expiry date. Other stations such as Southern Cross have a self-storage locker system.

Bicycle lockers at unstaffed stations may be reserved at a nearby staffed station.

Transport operators will not be liable for any loss of or damage to items stored in bicycle lockers.

Surfboards

Metropolitan and Regional Town Services

Surfboards are not permitted onboard metropolitan trams and buses or regional town services at any time.

Surfboards can be carried for free on metropolitan trains, but passengers with surfboards are requested to avoid travelling during peak periods. Surfboards must not obstruct passageways or doorways and must not inconvenience other passengers.

On metropolitan trains, surfboards must not be placed near the first door of the first carriage, as this space is reserved for passengers in wheelchairs.

V/Line

Surf skis, sailboards, canoes and similar items are not permitted on V/Line trains.

Generally, V/Line coaches do not carry bicycles, surfboards, surf skis, sailboards, canoes and similar items. There is an exception for coach services along coastal routes where surfboards and boogie boards may be carried subject to available space on the day of travel. Passengers are to be aware that this applies to both the forward and return legs of the journey.

Call 136 196 for further information.

Cloakrooms

Cloakrooms are available at Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and Wodonga stations for storage of parcels, luggage, sporting equipment, umbrellas, walking sticks, bicycles, prams, shoppers, wheelchairs and other items.
To store items in the cloakroom, passengers must pay $3.70 per item per day and will be issued with a separate ticket for each item.
To retrieve an item, passengers must present their ticket at the cloakroom and pay any overtime charges due. Staff should ask for a description of the item.
If a passenger needs to access an item from the cloakroom, the ticket must be handed in and another ticket issued and paid for when the item is returned to the cloakroom.
Passengers who lose their ticket must sign a declaration giving a description of the item. They must pay any outstanding charges along with a $1.20 search fee.
V/Line is not liable for any loss of or damage to items stored in cloakrooms.

Luggage on V/Line services

The luggage allowance on all V/Line services is 40kg per passenger (two items of up to 20kg each) plus one item of hand luggage.
Passengers do not have to check in their luggage – they can carry it with them on board trains or stow it in the luggage compartment under coaches.
Passengers are advised to carry personal medication, keys and valuables in their hand luggage.

Luggage checks and procedures

Luggage to be checked in must be packed in a suitcase, backpack or other travel bag. Tea chests, cardboard boxes or plastic bags will not be accepted.
Prams, pushers and strollers (weighing up to 15kg), children’s car seats, wheelchairs and small items of sporting and camping equipment can also be checked in. A set of golf clubs or snow skis, stocks and boots will be treated as one piece of luggage.
Passengers should clearly label all luggage with their name and address, their destination and the date and service they are travelling on, as well as removing all previous luggage tags.
Luggage can only be sent to the passenger’s destination. If that location is unstaffed, the passenger must pick up the luggage as soon as it arrives. V/Line is not liable for lost luggage.
Passengers must check in their luggage at least 20 minutes before their service is scheduled to depart. Where possible, the luggage will travel on the same service (wheelchairs, sporting equipment, prams and similar items must travel on the same service).
When checking in luggage, station or agency staff and coach drivers should give the passenger the receipt portion of the luggage tag, drawing their attention to the conditions on the back. Passengers must present this tag to retrieve their luggage.
Passengers who lose their luggage tags must sign a declaration giving a description of the items and indemnifying V/Line against any loss or claim for wrong delivery. V/Line will only return the luggage if sufficient evidence of ownership is provided. A $1.20 search fee applies.
Fees for lost keys and uncollected items are incurred:

  • Luggage locker uncollected item - $ 7.40
  • Lost locker key replacement - $ 24.50
  • Lost Property storage (only if not collected within 24 hours) - $ 3.70 per item

At Southern Cross (Spencer Street) Station, checked luggage will be delivered on the platform beside the train’s brake van or beside the road coach immediately on arrival. Luggage unclaimed on arrival will be transferred to the luggage hall.

Transfers between V/Line services

Allow at least 30 minutes between scheduled arrival and departure for transfer of luggage between V/Line services at Southern Cross (Spencer Street) Station.
Staff should endorse the luggage tag with the departure time of the service from Southern Cross (Spencer Street) Station. For example, a suitcase from Ballarat for transfer to the 12.10 pm service to Wodonga would be endorsed on the tag as ‘Ballarat to Wodonga 12.10 pm transfer at MEL’.
On train–coach journeys, checked luggage will be automatically transferred between train and coach services (en-route) at the interchange stations. Luggage for en-route transfer should indicate on the luggage tag (in the TRANSFER AT section) the station at which the luggage is to be transferred.
Passengers who board a service at an unstaffed location can check in their luggage when they transfer to another service. It is the passenger’s responsibility to check in their luggage at the transfer point.

Liability and insurance

V/Line may pay up to $600 to any passenger whose checked luggage is lost, damaged or delayed as a result of negligence by V/Line’s employees, agents or contractors, but only when:

  • the items were in a suitcase, bag or other receptacle that was securely locked and clearly labelled with the passenger’s name, address and destination
  • the luggage was handed to an employee, agent or contractor of V/Line and a luggage tag was obtained for each item.

V/Line is not liable for any loss, damage or delay arising out of any other cause. Passengers who require additional cover should obtain appropriate travel insurance.

Luggage lockers

Luggage lockers are available at Southern Cross (Spencer Street), Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and Wodonga stations. Explosives, flammable liquids, corrosive and poisonous chemicals, liquefied and compressed gas or other dangerous goods must not be put in the lockers.
V/Line is not liable for any loss of or damage to items stored in luggage lockers.

Prams, shopping jeeps and golf buggies

Prams, pushers, shopping jeeps, golf buggies and similar items can be carried for free on public transport services, as long as the comfort, access and safety of other passengers are not affected.
On V/Line trains, these items can be given to the conductor to stow in the train’s luggage van if space is available. The items must be presented at the station at least 20 minutes before departure. These items can also be checked in as checked luggage.

Scooters and motorised vehicles

Petrol-driven vehicles are not permitted on public transport services for safety reasons. While wheelchairs are permitted on accessible services, scooters or motorised vehicles that exceed standard wheelchair dimensions (800mm x 1300mm) are not permitted. Please select a train station, bus or tram stop in Stations & stops for details about wheelchair accessibility.