The Victorian Government will be providing a fleet of free buses to transport over 2,500 people to and from the Shrine of Remembrance for this year’s ANZAC Day Dawn Service.
“After a disrupted couple of years, we are ensuring people across the state can pay their respects and honour those who have bravely served our country,” Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll said.
According to Minister Carroll, over 50 additional buses will be in service to transport passengers along 12 Melbourne routes to ensure they arrive at the Shrine before the 6 am ceremony on Monday 25 April.
Buses will pick up and drop off passengers from routes starting at Chadstone, Croydon, Dandenong, Doncaster, Essendon, Greensborough, Mitcham, Mordialloc, Templestowe, Thomastown, Wantirna and Williamstown.
“In addition to the extra 50 buses to and from the Dawn Service, there will be extra services across the network to connect Victorians to a number of ANZAC Day sporting events,” he said.
Each metropolitan train line will also deliver an early ANZAC Day service to get people into the city for the Dawn Service. Meanwhile, the ANZAC Parade will commence after the Dawn Service.
Extra trams will run along St Kilda Road to ensure people can travel straight to the Shrine.
Following the conclusion of the Dawn Service, bus shuttles will depart the Shrine half an hour earlier than in previous years from Birdwood Avenue.
A number of free regional buses will also transport people in Mt Macedon to and from local ANZAC Day services.
Later in the day, there will be 24 extra train services to get sports fans to and from the AFL game between Essendon and Collingwood at the MCG and the NRL match at AAMI.
Veterans and War Widows can travel for free in economy class on Victoria’s public transport network so as to help them attend ANZAC Day commemoration activities.
Free travel is also extended to Australian Defence Force members, Scouts and Guides and school students on ANZAC Day so long as they are in uniform.
Passengers are required to book their seat on one of the wheelchair-accessible buses via the PTV website by 4 pm on Friday 22 April.
Source: Premier of Victoria Media Release