Thank you Mal. The identified problem is making all public transport free in the free zone and thus overloading it to the detriment of normal suburban commuters if a special service isn't provided in the zone to minimise free use of the commuter services.

Perth has addressed this by plastering the zone with wall to wall free CAT buses, so you're not going to get many people clamoring to get on the commuter services. Melbourne on the other hand has a threadbare free tram loop that isn't going to make much impact on reducing the numbers hopping onto the commuter services.

I wonder actually why the Melbourne train loop isn't free within this zone as it is right underneath the free tram loop for most of its length. It would have far more carrying capacity. It also seems to me that Melbourne could benefit from another free tram loop on a north-south axis.

So Melbourne trams are accessible? Accessible means that you have a stepless path on and off the vehicle and on and off the stop (and as much of a stepless path as possible inside the vehicle). Perth is leagues ahead of Melbourne or anywhere else in Australia on this standard, on both trains and buses.

For comparison, here are the maps for free circulator services in the other main cities previously mentioned. Adelaide has both bus and tram (from South Terrace northwards) free services. As you can see, all of these cities except Melbourne have a good coverage by dedicated free services to relieve any potential pressure on commuter services. As far as I know though, only Perth and Melbourne have all or most transit services free within the free zone. In Wollongong, Brisbane and Adelaide you pay on other services (I stand to be corrected if not). Also, many people aren't aware that the basic purpose of the Adelaide tram is as one of the free circulators. This accounts for around 70% of its patronage. The Glenelg service is basically an annexe to this.

Brisbane: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?ll=-27.46680311232546%2C153.0276416164246&spn=0.018087%2C0.012574&hl=en&t=m&msa=0&z=15&source=embed&ie=UTF8&mid=1yevyXIDs9zu5dPR36p-k-bepGgg https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?ll=-27.46680311232546%2C153.0276416164246&spn=0.018087%2C0.012574&hl=en&t=m&msa=0&z=15&source=embed&ie=UTF8&mid=1yevyXIDs9zu5dPR36p-k-bepGgg

Adelaide: https://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/content/download/856/8345/file/City_Connector_routemap_26-01-16.pdf https://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/content/download/856/8345/file/City_Connector_routemap_26-01-16.pdf

Canberra (one way only, how silly!): https://www.transport.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/887544/16224_Route-101-DL-Flyer-TC.PDF https://www.transport.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/887544/16224_Route-101-DL-Flyer-TC.PDF

Wollongong: http://www.premierillawarra.com.au/pdf/gongshuttlemap.pdf http://www.premierillawarra.com.au/pdf/gongshuttlemap.pdf

Tony P
---InTramsDownUnder@..., <mal.rowe@...> wrote : Hi Tony,

The map for the Melbourne free tram zone is at:
https://static.ptv.vic.gov.au/siteassets/PDFs/Maps/Network-maps/PTV-Free-Tram-Zone-Map.pdf https://static.ptv.vic.gov.au/siteassets/PDFs/Maps/Network-maps/PTV-Free-Tram-Zone-Map.pdf
It's much more than the City Circle - all trams in the central area are free.

Only the trams are free - no free travel on trains or buses ... but in fact no-one would choose either trains or buses for CBD travel as the trams cover the whole CBD and are frequent and accessible.

The PTV site is the place to go for definitive Melbourne public transport maps.
See: https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/getting-around/maps/ https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/getting-around/maps/

They even have geographically correct maps for local areas (indexed by local government name ... so you have to have a bit of local knowledge to find what you want).
The inner Melbourne 'real map' is at:
https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/getting-around/local-areas/view/30 https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/getting-around/local-areas/view/30

Mal Rowe - noting that the Melbourne Tram Map will change May 1 with timetable and route changes