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Public transport

Melbourne is served with a robust public transportation network. It has one of the world's most extensive tram networks, almost 300 bus routes and a train system with more than 15 lines. Unlike many major cities in the world, Melbourne has an integrated public transport system. With Metcard, users can buy one ticket and are able to use it on bus, train and tram, or all three of them. Today, the city's public transport networks are run by private operators.

Tram

The tram network is run by Yarra Trams

Train

The train network is run by Connex.

At the substantive level, the railway network was assessed by a secret report commissioned by the Department of Infrastructure, in April 2004, as effectively at 100 percent capacity during peak periods due to serious "bottlenecks" around and in the city, leaving the system inadequate for meeting present, let alone future demands. The decades of under-investment has meant that very large new suburbs have no rail lines, and that the existing system has been unable to boost services to effectively capitalise upon the clearly increased demand caused by the rise in fuel prices - a missed golden opportunity as commuters struggle with inadequate services in uncomfortably packed carraiges, with their small seats and lack of legroom. The lack of new express tracks also means that the far flung outer suburbs have slow services into the inner areas, causing far more to use the parallel freeway-tollway systems than would otherwise occur.

Bus

The bus network is run by many dozens of bus companies under a franchise from the State Government. The system as a whole is currently being rebranded as 'Metlink'.

The bus "network" is a shambles, and only slightly better than in the early nineties when there was almost no integration across Melbourne's metropolitan area between the different bus companies. There has been a failure by all state governments to fully take advantage of Melbourne's long, straight arterial roads to provide fast long distance bus services that criss-cross the suburbs, and join major regional nodes. Usually the function of long distance buses is confounded with local services resulting in such buses wending and winding slowly and painfully over long distances - making the services an unviable alternative for most commuters and other users. Large sections of outer suburbia (Where nearly half of Melbourne lives) have no bus services very early after the evening peak, and often next to none on Sundays. The tendering bus companies are given a great deal of leeway in modifiying routes as they seek constantly to minimise costs, thereby making their systems difficult for users to rely upon, further reducing patronage. Generally the discussions that concern public transport, both at parliamentry level and as revealed in the media, such as in newspapers and talkback, is of an appallingly low standard - therefore there is absolutely no hope that the enormous public pressure for more and more freeways, to the exclusion of all other considerations, will even slightly abate.

Taxi

Taxis in Melbourne are required to carry a certain livery. Taxi licenses a valued at around $300,0000.

Airports

Melbourne's International Airport located adjacent to the outer north-western suburb of Tullamarine is the nation's second busiest. Over 30 airlines and 22 million passengers are served and service there each year. A secondary airport is located at Avalon, to the south-west between Melbourne and Geelong. A cut-price airline, Qantas subsidiary Jetstar, has recently commenced using Avalon for its flights to Sydney and Brisbane. Melbourne's first major airport, Essendon Airport, is no longer used for scheduled international or domestic flights. Airbase RAAF Point Cook, where the Australian Air Force originated, is located near the city's southwestern limits. Moorabbin Airport is located to the south of Melbourne, and is primarily used for recreation flying and for flying lessons, conducted in Piper and Cessna aircraft. Moorabbin is also used for small airlines such as services to King Island. Moorabbin is a GAAP airport and its code is YMMB.

Road

A controversial current project is the building of the Mitcham to Frankston Freeway, or Eastlink as it is now officially known. At a cost of $2.5 billion the freeway is currently being built through some of the most heavily developed regions of Melbourne, thus justifying the exorbitant cost. At the heart of the controversy the freeway is set to become a tollway, despite election promises from both Steve Bracks, the current Victorian Premier, and opposition leader Robert Doyle that the freeway would be toll free.

Rail

There are two interstate freight lines from Melbourne, one heading for Adelaide and the other for Sydney.

Sea

The Port of Melbourne is Australia's largest container and general cargo port. Regular shipping lines operate to around 300 cities around the world and 3200 ships visit the port each year. The Port of Melbourne is located in the inner west of Melbourne, near the junction of the Maribyrnong and Yarra rivers.

• Melbourne
• Transport in Australia
• Public transport in Melbourne