Vic:Free public transport for Christmas day and New Year's

AAP General News (Australia)
12-15-2005
Vic:Free public transport for Christmas day and New Year's

MELBOURNE, Dec 15 AAP - Victorians will have access to free public transport across
the metropolitan area and on regional V-Line services on Christmas Day and New Year's
Eve.

Transport Minister Peter Batchelor said metropolitan bus, trains and trams would be
free on December 25, and from 3pm on December 31 until first services resumed at 8am on
January 1, 2006.

"This time of the year is usually spent with family and friends celebrating Christmas
and the coming year, but all too often we hear of these celebrations turning to tragedy
on the road," Mr Batchelor said.

"That is why the state government and public transport operators have agreed to provide
free public transport on Christmas Day and New Year's Day."

V-Line passengers also would enjoy free travel on December 25, on services to Melbourne
after 3pm on December 31 and the first return services on New Year's Day.

Mr Batchelor said New Year's Eve revellers would not be caught out trying to get home
from the city, with train and tram services to operate all night.

"New Year's Eve revellers will not have to cut their celebrations short to catch the
last train or tram home as metropolitan public transport will run all night."

The government said an additional 230 train services would run to and from Flinders
Street Station between 8pm on New Year's Eve and 8am the following day.

Trams would run every five minutes from the city between midnight and 1am on January
1, then every half hour until normal services resumed.

Flinders Street and Southern Cross (formerly Spencer Street) railway stations would
be open throughout the night, but city loop stations would remain closed.

The escalators at Flinders Street Station would also run one way to help move the large
crowds through the station.

The cost of providing free tram and train services would be covered by public transport
operators, while the state government would pick up the tab for metropolitan bus services.

AAP sam/ce/cdh/de

KEYWORD: XMAS TRANSPORT VIC

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