Melbourne Southern Cross

Melbourne's Southern Cross Station (SSS) is not just the main station of Melbourne, but where the entire Victorian rail network comes together. It's at the western edge of Melbourne CBD, with plenty tram, suburban and regional connections, in addition to a coach terminal. Unlike many main stations in Europe or even up in Sydney, Southern Cross has a rather modern aesthetic to it. However, that doesn't mean it's necessarily a pleasant station – in fact, far from it: for one, the sound of diesel-multiple unit trains (DMUs) is very loud (you'll find the V/Line announcement lady's voice very grating for this reason), but also it is semi-enclosed leading to diesel fumes being somewhat trapped (as none of the regional lines are electrified). However, its station amenities far exceed that of those found in Sydney Central or in most other main stations of its size for that matter. == Understand == === Station layout === There are three distinct sections to Southern Cross Station (with the V/Line sections disjointed). === Visitor information === 1 PTV Hub. M-F 7AM-7PM, Sa Su 9AM-6PM. The Transport Victoria hub, which assists with any transport or myki (smartcard ticket) related enquiries, including the sale of tourist packs. == Services == === MTM === Metro Trains Melbourne (most often just referred to as MTM) services – or suburban services – use platforms 9–14. Each line gets its own platforms and are as follows: Platform 9 (red): Mernda and Hurstbridge Lines (via Melbourne Central); Platform 10 (dark blue): Burnley Group – Lilydale, Belgrave and Glen Waverley, Alamein during peak-hours only (bidirectional line); Platform 11 (yellow): Craigieburn and Upfield Lines (bidirectional line); Platform 12 (green): Frankston Line (via Flinders St); Platform 13 (pink): Sandringham Line; Platform 14 (pink): Werribee and Williamstown Lines. Platforms 9–12 are part of Melbourne's City Loop, a set of four tunnels that loop around Melbourne CBD – the direction of Burnley Group (platform 10) and the Northern Group (platform 11) change based on the time of day and the day itself, but information boards and signage are very clear. Platforms 13 and 14 form part of the Werribee/Williamstown–Sandringham Line, the only line in Melbourne that through-runs – both have the same signage colour, so make sure to especially check the screens to ensure you're on the correct platform. Since February 2026, the Sunbury, Pakenham and Cranbourne Lines (light blue) no longer stop at Southern Cross and instead use the City Loop instead to cross Melbourne CBD (interchange at Melbourne Central/State Library or Flinders St/Town Hall). The loop that the latter lines used to run on are now used by the Frankston Line. On special event days, that is, whenever there is an event on at Flemington Racecourse, express services to Flemington Racecourse Station leave Southern Cross at platform 8. Note that this is in the V/Line area, despite the service being run by MTM. MTM specifically only runs to electrified lines – diesel trains, even those that do not leave suburban Melbourne to Melton and Wyndham Vale, are run by V/Line. === V/Line and interstate services === There are three interstate lines out of Melbourne Southern Cross: the thrice-daily Albury Line to Albury, the twice-daily XPT train to Sydney (run by NSW TrainLink) and the twice-weekly Overland train to Adelaide. All lines interstate (including the Albury Line) use the interstate freight network, which are standard gauge as opposed to the broad gauge lines used in the rest of the Victorian rail network – meaning that all lines interstate will always use either platforms 1 or 2 (and the XPT to Sydney always on 1). The other regional lines (except for Gippsland) – including services to Wyndham Vale and Melton – can be found on any of the regional platforms, including 1/2 but also 15 and 16 (on the other side of the station across the suburban lines). Gippsland is the exception to the norm in this regard as it is the only regional service to head south/eastbound instead of northbound. As such, all Gippsland Line trains to Traralgon and the thrice-daily services to Bairnsdale, will usually use either platform 8 (including 8S) or platform 15. === Tram services === There are five tram stops that surround Melbourne Southern Cross, all on nearby streets. They are, in a clockwise direction, as follows: 1 Spencer St/Bourke St (Stop 1) on Bourke St – routes 86 and 96 . 2 Southern Cross Station/Spencer St (Stop 122) on Spencer St – route 96 . 3 Spencer St/Collins St (Stop 1) on Collins St – routes 11 , 12 , 48 and 109 . 4 Spencer St/Flinders St (Stop 1) on Flinders St – routes 35 (westbound only), 70 and 75 . 5 Southern Cross Station/Collins St (Stop D14) on Collins St – routes 11 and 48 . The second and fifth stop on the list are directly outside the station and where most of the "tram" signs from the station will point to. The first and third require you to cross Spencer Street, but are also both very close to the station. The fourth, Spencer St/Flinders St, however, requires walking a fair bit south and isn't immediately visible from the station. However, it is the closest tram stop you'll get to routes 35, 70 and 75, and it is far easier to walk from there than to interchange for another tram. All tram stops in Southern Cross Station's vicinity are within Melbourne CBD's free tram zone. === Coach services === The coach terminal is not grand by any means, but it's functional, sitting underneath Spencer Outlet Centre. If you're using the coach terminal, you're most likely using it for one of three reasons: SkyBus to Melbourne Tullamarine or Avalon Airports, V/Line coach directly out of Southern Cross, or a private coach (usually interstate by either Greyhound, Flixbus or Firefly). Usually all V/Line coaches need to be booked (paper ticket or eTicket), but in the rare instance you are taking a coach that has myki tap on (such as a train-replacement coach), myki readers are there at various bus bays. Separate machines exist for purchasing SkyBus tickets (to both airports). == Get around == All of Southern Cross' platforms are within a gated area – you must have a valid ticket, whether that be a myki card or a paper ticket/eTicket for long-distance services, to enter the paid area. If you are entering with myki, simply touch on at the readers and you'll be in. Walking through the paid area is possible if you touch on and off, but you must do so within 15 minutes. There are two concourses at Southern Cross Station: the Collins St concourse and Bourke St concourse. The Bourke St concourse forms part of the Bourke St Bridge and forms an easy interchange between all the suburban platforms as well as most V/Line platforms, but does not have direct access to platforms 1 and 2 within the paid area. To reach these two platforms, there is a stairwell outside the paid area that leads right outside the fare gates into platforms 1 and 2, or if you do not want to leave the paid area, go down platform 3 and walk all the way down and then back up. The Collins St concourse is the larger concourse, one closer to most of Southern Cross' shops and other amenities. Unlike Bourke St, the Collins St concourse has two separate paid areas with no interchange between them unless you walk all the way up to the Bourke St concourse and then back down. == Wait == It's not controversial to say that Southern Cross, put simply, is terrible to wait at. This is very apparent if you're in the V/Line section where the sound of DMUs is very, very torturous, followed by a very grating announcement voice. Southern Cross Station is covered, so on one hand while it does protect you from the cold a fair bit (especially in winter), all those diesel fumes don't have as much space to leave the mostly enclosed area. The MTM platforms are slightly better in that the suburban lines are all electrified so far less diesel fumes and the noise is also a lot more tolerable. However, they are also a lot more packed. If you're going to be waiting at the station for an extended period of time, the Spencer St Concourse is probably your best bet (coupled with the fact that there are plenty of restaurants there). === Lockers === == Buy == There are a few shops at the station. Mostly convenience stores, but also many outlet stores at the Spencer Outlet Centre. 1 Quikstop (towards Spencer St near Francis St t-intersection). M–F 8AM–midnight; Sa 5AM–1AM; Su 6AM–1AM. A small convenience and grocery store; enough to do your afternoon shopping or fill up your stash of snacks before hopping on the train. (updated Feb 2026) == Eat and drink == All shops are outside the paid area. A myki touch on is valid for 2 hours (or 3 hours if you use V/Line services); if you have a transfer at Southern Cross, touching off and then touching back on will not charge you any extra, and if you use myki V/Line services you will have reached the daily fare cap anyway. 1 Boost Juice, ☏ +61 3 9642 1845. M–F 7AM–6PM; Sa Su 8AM–6PM. A standard Boost chain location, though one of the only places you can get a smoothie at the station during the summer. (updated Feb 2026) 1 Daniel’s Donuts, ☏ +61 3 7044 3609. Su–F 8AM–11PM; Sa 8AM–midnight. A local Victorian donut chain that happens to have a presence at Southern Cross. (updated Feb 2026) 2 Delicious Asian Cuisine. Budget Asian cuisine with fairly decent range of menu items. Temporarily closed as of Feb 2026. (updated Feb 2026) 3 Godfather Fried Chuan (Godfather Fried Skewers / 教父炸串). A skewer shop with plenty of quick bites. (updated Feb 2026) 4 Rozzis Southern Cross. M Tu Th F 6:10AM–midnight; W Sa 6:30AM–midnight; Su 6:30AM–10:30PM. Takeaway pizza place – it's a small chain found throughout Melbourne, but do be warned that the lines during lunch can get reasonably long. (updated Feb 2026) 5 Tower Sushi, ☏ +61 3 9670 9009. Daily 7AM–5PM. A standard sushi shop. (updated Feb 2026) == Connect == == Cope == == Sleep == See Wikivoyage's Melbourne CBD article for information about hotels near Southern Cross. Plenty are within walking distance, or at the very least, within Melbourne CBD's Free Tram Zone. == Nearby ==