24 hour public transport in Melbourne

City Circle tram in front of Flinders Street Station

Melbourne is set to open up its night time culture when it launches 24 hour public transport on weekends from 1 January 2015 for a 12 month trial period. It is hoped that this convenient and affordable way to travel late at night will liberate night-owls and stimulate the cultural vibrancy and night time economy of the city.

The Night Network will include:

• Night Trains hourly on all lines (except Stony Point and Flemington Showgrounds lines), running direct to and from Flinders Street Station.
• Night Trams every 30 minutes on six key routes: 19, 67, 75, 86, 96 and 109.
• Night Buses (to replace the NightRider service), operating on 21 routes with 10 routes running to and from the city, every 30 minutes and 11 to and from suburban train stations to align with the train timetable.
• Night Coaches to the regional Victorian centres of Bendigo, Ballarat, Geelong and Traralgon, departing between 2.00 and 2.15am from Southern Cross Station coach terminal.

To coincide with the launch of the Night Network, Public Transport Victoria (PTV) is set to release an updated version of its smart phone app which will feature journey reminders to help passengers make their transport on time. While on the ground, an increased police presence, Protective Services Officers and staff at premium stations will help keep customers safe.

Throughout the one-year Night Network trial, patronage and the popularity of the new services will be closely monitored and community feedback will help inform the outcome of the trial.