Melbourne’s public transit network blows Winnipeg’s out of the water. There are three modes of transit: trains, trams, and buses. The train’s novelty has yet to fade. It took me a couple trips, but I like to think I’ve got the hang of it now!
Getting your Myki (“Mikey”) card
You purchase the card itself for $6, then can load money onto it or buy an unlimited pass for a set amount of time. For me, it made more sense to do the Myki pass because I am exclusively using transit to get around. If you load a pass that is longer than 28 days, you get a discounted rate.
Planning your trip
There are multiple ways to do this, I most often use the PTV (Public Transit Victoria) app, Google maps, or a new-to-me app called City Mapper. You can plug in where you want to go, the time you need to depart or arrive (handy for planning my commute to different schools!), and compare different methods/combinations of methods of getting there.
Assuming your trip involves the train (which it should, cause the train is the BEST), here’s what’s next:
Get your Myki card ready, you’ll need to tap on at the train station. Major train stations, like Southern Cross or Flinders Street have turnstiles where you touch your card and it will open to let you through. The smaller ones just have open gates and Myki terminals, where you are expected to tap on.
Side note: Across all methods of transit, there is the expectation that you are tapping on and off appropriately. I have yet to see one, but there are Authorized Officers that circulate and will check your card to make sure you have the appropriate fare. I like that the pressure is off of the transit drivers to ensure passengers have their fare, after all they are there to get me places, not get into confrontations with people about paying their share.
Next, find your platform. The PTV app will tell you where you need to go, but if you’re using Google maps, you’ll need to check the screens at the station. Once you are at your platform, there are screens showing when the trains depart and what stops they will be making. Not all trains stop at all stops along the route! Make sure the destination stop is listed.
Double check that you will be getting on the correct train by reading the LED light board as it arrives to the platform. I’ve made this mistake! Luckily, it was the same line that branched off later, so I just had to get off at a stop and wait for the correct train to arrive.
The train will stop, and either the people getting off will open the door, or you’ll have to press the button or pull the door open (depending what type of train it is). Hop on, but don’t sit down yet.
Each train has priority seats that are orange, with greater accessibility than the regular seats. You are allowed to sit on them, but must give it up if someone who needs it needs it. I’ve never had this happen, but I’m lazy so I always try to sit in a blue seat if I can.
Sit back and relax! Just don’t put your feet up. That’s one of the things that are NOT allowed while on transit. You can even be fined for it.
Also, don’t miss your stop. Some trains have full-colour displays showing all the stops and where the train currently is. I love those! Others have an LED light board that tells you the line and what stop you’re about to arrive at. The one I was on today (as I officially moved to my apartment!) didn’t give any stop information, so it was up to each passenger to check the signage as we approached each station.
When you get to your destination station, exit the train and find the way out of the station. Don’t forget to tap off! And please, don’t ask me why you have to tap off the train. I’m sure there is a perfectly logical explanation, but I haven’t found the right person to ask that question yet.
See you on the tracks!
– Kate
Amazing system, Wpg could learn a thing or two! Maybe a summer project for you to educate city officials when you
return 😉
Super cool, Kate.
Wow! Glad to hear that you have figured out how to navigate the system nd get around I am sure it will become old hat in a short while.
The Australians really value accessibility, I like how the seats are colour coded to help people get an accessible seat. Smart!