Metcard is the brand name for the ticketing system that is used on all trains, trams and buses in the metropolitan area of Melbourne. Please click here for more information about Metcards.

No, Weekly Metcards do not have to start on Mondays. Weekly tickets are valid for 7 days from the day of first validation. Similarly, Monthly Metcards are valid for one calendar month from the first validation.

Weekly and Monthly Metcards can be purchased from nearly 1000 Metcard retail outlets across the metropolitan area. Please click here to find out where to buy Metcards.

Weekly and Monthly Metcards can also be purchased online. Your Metcards will be delivered free to your home or office. Please click here to order Metcards online.

No. You need to apply for a Victorian Public Transport Primary/Secondary/Tertiary Student Concession Card. Application forms are available at most Premium Stations, The MetShop and some bus depots.

You can also download and print the application Form directly from this web site. Please click here for more information about student concessions.

If your Yearly Metcard is unable to be validated:
With Metcards purchased at a station, you must take the defective Metcard back to station from which it was purchased and complete a declaration form. The station will issue one Monthly Zone 1 + 2 Full Fare Metcard. Paperwork and the defective Metcard will be forwarded to OneLink, c/o The Station Master’s Office Flinders Street Station. Replacement tickets are then mailed to you – taking into account the Monthly Metcard already provided.

With Metcards purchased through a Commuter Club, you should contact your Commuter Club coordinator or visit the Stationmaster’s office at Flinders Street Station to arrange replacement.

For all other Metcard refunds:
Metcard Refund Application Forms are available from Premium Stations and the MetShop (located at the Melbourne Town Hall on the corner of Swanston Street and Little Collins Street).

Alternatively, call the Metcard Helpline on 1800 652 313 to request for a form to be posted to you or download the form here: Metcard Refund Application Form (PDF) 53.34 kB

For details on how to apply for a Yearly Metcard refund due to the implementation of the Early Bird initiative, please see Early Bird: Frequently asked questions.

Bicycles and surfboards can be carried for free on metropolitan trains,

Passengers are requested to use the area inside the last door of the last carriage and to consider the comfort and safety of other passengers.

Passengers with bikes are strongly advised not to travel in the area behind the driver’s cabin in the first carriage of the train as this area is reserved for passengers in wheelchairs.

Folding bikes are permitted in any part of the train if they are folded up, inside a bag or case. They should not be placed on a seat.

Bicycles and surfboards must not obstruct passageways or doorways and must not inconvenience otherpassengers. On metropolitan trains, they must not be placed near the first door of the first carriage, as this spaceis reserved for passengers in wheelchairs.

Bicycles and surfboards are not permitted onboard metropolitan trams and buses.

If your 10 x 2 Hour Metcard or 5 x Daily Metcard does not validate, please return to your nearest Premium Railway Station. A faulty 10 x 2 Hour Metcard will be replaced with single 2 Hour Metcards. A faulty 5 x Daily will be replaced with single Daily Metcards.

Alternatively, you may apply for a refund or replacement by obtaining a Metcard Refund Application Form from your nearest Premium Station or you can download the form from this website.

If you require further information, please call the Metcard Helpline on 1800 652 313.

Refunds or replacements are available on periodical Metcards of 3 months or more subject to the completion of a statutory declaration and payment of an administration fee.
Refunds or replacement are not allowed on other types of lost tickets.

Yes, you can apply for a refund on your Yearly Student Pass however documentation such as a letter from the school must accompany a refund application. Please note an administration fee will apply on refunds.

OneLink manages the operation of all ticket machines. They can be contacted by phone on 1800 652 313 to report the fault.

Yes, children under four years old can travel free, however the child must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

If you hold a valid Weekly, Monthly or Yearly Metcard, you may extend this ticket beyond the Zone for which it is valid by buying and validating a 2 Hour or Daily Metcard for the additional Zone you will be travelling in.

The 'extension' ticket must be purchased and validated before the journey. If this is not possible by taking all reasonable steps before the journey, the ticket must be purchased as soon as there is a reasonable opportunity during the journey or, if there is no reasonable opportunity during the journey, as soon as is achievable by taking all reasonable steps after the journey.

If the ticket is a Metcard, then it must be validated as soon as there is a reasonable opportunity during the journey, or as soon as taking all reasonable steps will permit after the journey.

On Saturdays and Sundays, Weekly, Monthly and Yearly Zone 1 or Zone 2 Metcards can be used for travel in Zones 1 and 2, irrespective of the Zone shown on the ticket.

Examples
1. If you have a Daily (Zone 1) Metcard and want to travel into Zone 2, you cannot extend the ticket and must buy and validate a 2 Hour (Zone 1+2) Metcard or Daily (Zone 1+2) Metcard before travelling.
2. If you have a Yearly (Zone 1) Metcard and want to travel into Zone 2, you may extend the Yearly ticket by buying a 2 Hour (Zone 2) Metcard or Daily (Zone 2) Metcard and validating it as soon as possible during or after your journey.

For more information, see the Victorian Fares and Ticketing Manual.

Yes. A 10 x 2 Hour or a 5 x Daily Metcard may be suitable for your travel needs. Please click on the ticket types for further information.

With Metcards purchased at a Station, you must take the defective Metcard back to station from which it was purchased and complete a declaration form. The station will issue one Monthly Zone 1 + 2 Full Fare Metcard. Paperwork and the defective Metcard are forwarded to Onelink, c/o The Station Master’s Office Flinders Street Station. Replacement tickets are then mailed to you – taking into account the Monthly Metcard already provided.

With Metcards purchased through a Commuter Club, you should contact your Commuter Club coordinator or visit the Stationmaster’s office at Flinders Street Station to arrange replacement.

If you require further information, please call the Metcard Helpline on 1800 652 313.

Yes. Metcards can now be purchased directly from our online store.

All orders are despatched within two business days and will be sent to you FREE to your home or office. Please note that you will require a credit card and the total value of your order must be greater than $10 and cannot exceed $500.

Validation allows transport operators to monitor the number of passengers on a particular route. It provides information about the time and date of journey.
The information is used to determine passenger travelling needs and helps identify where extra services are required. Please assist us by remembering to validate your Metcard for every journey.
After purchasing your Metcard, you need to validate your Metcard in the validator located at the station entrance, near the doors on trams and near the driver on buses.
Using the directional arrows on the both the validator and your Metcard as a guide, simply insert and remove your ticket and you are ready to travel. Remember to always check the expiry details on the back of your Metcard after validating.

The Victorian Fares and Ticketing Manual is available online and contains everything you need to know about the ticketing conditions for metropolitan and regional public transport services.

By law, you are required to validate your Metcard upon entering a station designated area, commencing a journey or entering a vehicle that has operational validators on board.
There is no intention to fine people travelling with a previously validated ticket for not re-validating; however, you are strongly encouraged to do so as validation allows us to determine passenger travelling needs and helps identify where extra services may be required.

Information about paying and appealing ticket infringements and fines is available at the Department of Transport website (opens in new window).

Authorised Officers are employed by public transport operators (train, tram and bus) to ensure that passengers comply with ticketing and behavioural requirements while travelling on or using public transport services and facilities. Authorised Officers also perform a range of roles beyond just checking tickets, including improving passenger safety, providing information and assisting at special events. Authorised Officers are trained in all aspects of the appropriate transport laws.

A brochure outlining the powers of Authorised Officers is also available for download:

Authorised Officers employed by Connex are also referred to as Customer Service Officers.
Authorised Officers employed by Yarra Trams are also referred to as Revenue Protection Officers.

Yes. To exercise their powers, Authorised Officers must first be accredited by the Director of Public Transport and have the authority, under the Transport Act, to ask you to produce a valid Metcard for your journey. Once they are accredited, Authorised Officers carry authority certificates displaying photo ID and badges to confirm their authority. They have the power to ask you to show your Metcard on all public transport premises and vehicles including when you have just left a public transport vehicle or premises.

Yes. Since 3 December 2003, Authorised Officers have had the power to ask to see your Metcard after you have just left a vehicle or premises.

Under the Transport Act, you are required to produce a valid Metcard on demand. If you do not have a valid Metcard or you refuse to show your Metcard, Authorised Officers have the authority to:

• Ask for your name and address.
• Ask you to produce documents confirming that the information given is correct.
• Arrest you and keep you under arrest for the length of time it takes to obtain such information.
• Arrest you if you refuse to give your name and address, or give a false name and address.

If you do not cooperate with requests from Authorised Officers in the exercise of their powers under the Transport Act, you may be arrested and held until the arrival of police.
If the matter cannot be resolved, then police may arrest you and the matter may go before the Magistrates' Court or the Children's Court.

Yes. Authorised Officers have the authority to request your name and address. If an Authorised Officer reasonably believes you are in breach of the Transport Act, you are required by law to give your correct name and address when requested to do so by an Authorised Officer. Authorised Officers can also ask for proof that these details are correct.

Yes. If you produce a Metcard that is not valid for a particular journey, or you produce a faulty Metcard, the matter must be reported. The Metcard is taken as evidence and will be produced in Court if required. This can only occur if the Metcard is confiscated by an Authorised Officer at the time of the offence.
All Metcards purchased for travel on Melbourne's public transport remain the property of the passenger transport company at all times.

If your confiscated Metcard has un-used valid journeys, you can apply to the Department of Transport to have the Metcard returned once the report is finalised and the fine has been paid.

Fines can be paid:

In person :

• At any post office
• Department of Transport
  Level 12
  121 Exhibition Street
  Melbourne

Note - In-person visitors are permitted, but they must call 1300 135 066 to make an appointment first.

By phone: 131 816

Online: www.postbillpay.com.au

By mail: Detach the payment section of the fine. Send it with a non-negotiable cheque or a money order and make it payable to Department of Transport (do not send cash).

If an Authorised Officer confiscates your Metcard, you will receive a Travel Permit to enable you to complete your journey. However, next time you travel, you will have to purchase a valid Metcard.

It is your responsibility to ensure you have a valid Metcard for your journey.
If you have not pre-purchased your Metcard, you must have enough change to purchase a Metcard from the coin-only Metcard machines on board trams.
If you do not have change to purchase a Metcard on board the tram, you must alight immediately or you will be reported if checked by an Authorised Officer.
The easiest way to travel is by pre-purchasing your Metcard. You can purchase Metcards from any retail outlet displaying the blue Metcard sign. You can also buy Metcards at the MetShop (located at the Melbourne Town Hall), by phone (1800 652 313) or online. By purchasing Metcards such as 10 x 2 hour or 5 x Daily Metcards you can save money.

Authorised Officers do not issue infringement notices or fines to passengers. Instead, a report outlining the situation is submitted to the Department of Transport (DOT), which determines whether the matter should proceed further.
If further action is decided, an infringement notice will be issued by the DOT. The Authorised Officer has no further involvement unless the matter goes to Court. The money from the fine goes directly to the Government, except for a small administration fee which is retained by the operator.

Under the Transport Act, you may be charged with hindrance if you intervene while another passenger is being reported. Often you may see only a small part of an incident. If you want to complain about the behaviour of an Authorised Officer, you can do so by calling the customer feedback number below.
Physical assaults on staff will not be tolerated. Any person assaulting staff will be prosecuted.

Customer Feedback lines are in place to accept complaints; however, please understand that reported matters will not be withdrawn simply because you are annoyed or angry about being reported.
Yarra Trams - 1800 800 166
Connex - 1800 800 705
For buses, contact the bus company on which you travelled, or call Metlink on 131 638 (6am-10pm daily).
To obtain a copy of the Transport Act and Regulations (Transport Act, 1983, number 9921), please contact:
Information Victoria
356 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Telephone: 1300 366 356
Or visit the website at www.dms.dpc.vic.gov.au (opens in new window)

Transport Infringement Administration
Department of Transport
PO Box 2797
Melbourne VIC 3001
Phone: 1300 135 066