Luggage and oversized items on public transport
Learn about carrying luggage and large items on trains, trams and buses in Melbourne and Victoria.
Luggage on V/Line services
It’s free to bring luggage on V/Line trains and coaches.
On V/Line trains, your luggage can be stowed in overhead racks above the seats and in the storage area at the end of each carriage.
On V/Line coaches and train replacement coaches, all luggage must be stored in the luggage compartment.
People with special needs can ask station staff, train conductors and coach drivers to help with luggage when boarding, alighting or transferring between services.
Luggage limits
Each person can carry two items of luggage and each item must weigh less than 16 kilograms. The total luggage limit for all V/Line services is 32 kilograms. You can’t purchase an additional luggage allowance.
You can also carry one piece of hand luggage free of charge. This won’t be included in the 32 kilogram limit.
Please carry all personal medication, keys and valuables in your hand luggage.
Things you can bring
Besides bags and suitcases, other items which can be carried as luggage include:
- prams and strollers (up to 20 kilograms)
- children’s car seats
- wheelchairs
- small items of sporting and camping equipment (a set of golf clubs or snow skis, poles and boots will be treated as one piece of luggage).
Things you can’t bring
You can’t bring surfboards, sailboards, canoes or similar items on V/Line trains.
Checked luggage on V/Line services
A checked luggage service is available on the Albury, Bairnsdale, Shepparton, Swan Hill and Warrnambool lines. Checked luggage will only be carried to stations beyond Seymour (Shepparton services), Traralgon (Bairnsdale services), Eaglehawk (Swan Hill services) and Marshall (Warrnambool services).
Wherever possible, the luggage will travel on the same service. Wheelchairs, sporting equipment, prams and similar items must travel on the same service.
How to use the checked luggage service
- Clearly label your checked luggage with your name, address, destination, the date and the service you’re travelling on. Remove all previous luggage tags.
- Check in your luggage at the station at least 30 minutes before the service is scheduled to depart.
- Station or agency staff will give you a luggage tag (receipt) for your luggage. You must show this receipt to pick up your luggage at the end of your journey.
Retrieving checked luggage
Luggage is sent to the passenger's destination. It is put on the platform beside the train or on the roadside beside the coach. If that location is unstaffed, the passenger must pick up the luggage as soon as it arrives. V/Line is not liable for lost luggage.
At Southern Cross Station, checked luggage is put on the platform beside the train, or beside the coach. Unclaimed items are moved to the luggage hall.
If you lose your luggage tag, you must fill out V/Line forms in order to get your luggage back. You need to provide enough information prove you own the luggage.
Liability and insurance
V/Line may provide a small amount of compensation if checked luggage is lost, damaged or delayed as a result of negligence by V/Line's employees, agents or contractors. Compensation is only paid under these circumstances:
- The items were in a securely locked suitcase or bag and clearly labelled with the passenger's name, address and destination.
- The luggage was handed to an employee, agent or contractor of V/Line and a luggage tag was obtained for each item.
V/Line is not liable for any loss, damage or delay to bicycles, surfboards, sporting or camping equipment. V/Line is not liable for any loss, damage or delay arising out of any other cause. Passengers who require additional cover should obtain appropriate travel insurance.
Surfboards
Some public transport services allow you to bring a surfboard onboard, while others don’t.
| Service | Can I bring a surfboard on the service? |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan trains | Yes. Avoid travelling during peak hour and make sure it doesn’t block doors or aisles. |
| Metropolitan trams, buses, V/Line trains and regional town services | No. |
| V/Line coaches | V/Line coaches generally do not carry surfboards, canoes or similar items. If there’s space available, coach services along coastal routes may allow surfboards and boogie boards. |
| NSW TrainLink or Great Southern Railway services | Contact these companies directly to arrange carriage of bicycles and surfboards. Customers travelling on a V/Line ticket on these services, you must comply with the conditions of carriage set by these operators. |
For more information, contact us.
Motorised vehicles
You cannot bring a petrol-driven vehicle on public transport.
Electrically driven mobility aids (such as wheelchairs or scooters) are allowed on public transport, but you must check that it meets the mobility aid specifications.
Dangerous goods
Items which can cause harm or endanger other people aren’t allowed on public transport.
Examples of dangerous items include:
- flammable liquids and gases (petrol, kerosene, LPG, propane)
- firearms
- explosives
- corrosive or acidic chemicals.
Other large items
You can bring a personal shopping trolley (or shopping jeep) on public transport, but supermarket trolleys aren’t allowed.
Golf buggies and similar items are also allowed, as long as it doesn’t affect the comfort, access and safety of other passengers.