It's the biggest week on the football calendar.
As the much-anticipated AFL Grand Final Parade and blockbuster match approach, travelling footy fans will have more options with the rollout of additional public transport services and the expansion of the Free Tram Zone.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around Melbourne here.
This move from the state government aims to ensure that getting to and from the event is as hassle-free as a classic speccy mark.
Do you get free public transport to AFL games?
Yes! From Wednesday, September 27 through to Saturday, September 30, the Free Tram Zone will extend its reach to the MCG, stretching its routes to include 48, 70, and 75. For those hopping aboard the trams, there’s a silver lining – no more tapping on and off when journeying between the CBD and the MCG, thanks to the extended Free Tram Zone. It’s a game-changer for match-goers looking to streamline their travel.
The Grand Final public holiday on Friday will see all public transport adhering to the regular Saturday timetable, with an impressive addition of 25 extra train services and eight additional tram services.
But the good news doesn’t stop there, folks! Saturday, the day of the Grand Final itself, will witness a transport bonanza:
- A whopping 184 extra tram services on routes 48, 70, and 75.
- An impressive 38 supplementary metropolitan train services covering the Mernda, Hurstbridge, Glen Waverley, Pakenham, Sandringham, Sunbury, Craigieburn, Lilydale, Belgrave, and Frankston lines, both before and after the game.
- Additional regional train services making journeys smoother on the Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Seymour, Shepparton, and Echuca lines.
And for those revelling late into the night, the Night Network is here to save the day (and night)! All-night trains, trams, buses, and coaches along selected routes ensure that celebrating or commiserating post-game will be safe and hassle-free.
For those seeking transport convenience, Richmond and Jolimont stations offer swift access to the MCG, Melbourne Park, and Yarra Park, particularly for those taking the north-eastern, eastern, or south-eastern train lines.
Route 70 tram users can utilise Stop 7C at John Cain Arena/Melbourne Park and its convenient footbridge connection to reach the MCG. Meanwhile, trams on routes 48 and 75 have you covered, stopping directly outside the MCG on Wellington Parade.
Here’s a friendly tip: ditch the car if you’re planning to attend. Yarra Park and the MCG will have no public parking available, so public transport is undoubtedly the way to go.
Additionally, a fresh set of regulations is set to kick in from Thursday. Taxi drivers picking up passengers from ranks or hailed on the street will no longer be permitted to negotiate fares exceeding the regulated maximum. They’ll be obliged to use their meters.
Find out more about the AFL Grand Final here.
