I was in Victoria last weekend and made use of the V/Line rail service instead of driving to travel from Melbourne to Ararat, then return the following day, after realising that the journey would only cost $6.70 each way following the reduction in fares that commenced back in April.
This might be worth a look for anyone contemplating intrastate travel in Victoria, or to some interstate destinations close to the border which are also included in the new cap, which as of the recent fare rise on 01/07/2023 means that any one-way or same day return journey is capped at a maximum fare of $10.00 on weekdays, or $7.20 on weekends.
I found the service to be perfectly pleasant and comfortable for my journeys, neither of which were crowded, albeit I have seen media reports of overcrowding since the fare cap came into place. Perhaps daytrippers were put off on the day of my journey as the first 30 minutes of the trip was via a replacement bus to Sunshine, connecting with an onward train service, due to trackwork in the inner suburbs of Melbourne.
One of the best value journeys has to be that you can travel from Melbourne to Merimbula for $10 on weekdays or $7.20 on weekends, albeit it is a 9 hour journey of which is half is via coach, and the train no longer offers either first class or a buffet service on that line since they introduced new rollingstock. I can't see any Qantas or REX fares currently advertised for MEL - MIM costing less than $179 for comparison.
This might be worth a look for anyone contemplating intrastate travel in Victoria, or to some interstate destinations close to the border which are also included in the new cap, which as of the recent fare rise on 01/07/2023 means that any one-way or same day return journey is capped at a maximum fare of $10.00 on weekdays, or $7.20 on weekends.
I found the service to be perfectly pleasant and comfortable for my journeys, neither of which were crowded, albeit I have seen media reports of overcrowding since the fare cap came into place. Perhaps daytrippers were put off on the day of my journey as the first 30 minutes of the trip was via a replacement bus to Sunshine, connecting with an onward train service, due to trackwork in the inner suburbs of Melbourne.
One of the best value journeys has to be that you can travel from Melbourne to Merimbula for $10 on weekdays or $7.20 on weekends, albeit it is a 9 hour journey of which is half is via coach, and the train no longer offers either first class or a buffet service on that line since they introduced new rollingstock. I can't see any Qantas or REX fares currently advertised for MEL - MIM costing less than $179 for comparison.
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