How Swifties can score free public transport

Tens and thousands of Swifties will flock to Melbourne this week for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and the Victorian government has announced it will be adding hundreds of train services and extending the free tram zone to the MCG stadium to account for it.

Estimated to seat 86,000 people a night, tens of thousands of fans will be moving through the city during the three concert days: Friday, February 16 to Sunday, February 18.

Officials are urging the use of public transport over the use of cars, with the MCG stadium in walking distance from Richmond, Jolimont and Flinders Street stations.

Concert organisers have worked with the Department of Transport and Planning to arrange for extra capacity in many of the services, including regional lines.

Minister for Active and Public Transport Gabrielle Williams said that the Eras Tour will have the same impact as “three AFL grand finals back-to-back”, and they want those attending to plan ahead.

“We’ve added hundreds of extra train and free tram services across the three days to get Swifties to the shows as easily and safely as possible,” she said.

The MCG is already locked down in preparation for the event, including setting up the stage that Swift will be using during the concert.

MCG chief executive Stuart Fox described the organisation process as “just massive”.

“Building the seating plan, we obviously have people on the turf, but it’s really around the stage production – 70 semi-trucks coming onto your ground is quite confronting, and you’ve got six days of set-up, three concerts across Friday, Saturday, Sunday evening, two or three days of pack-down,” he said.

Unfortunately, there will be disruptions of these services on the Frankston and Belgrave lines, and will have replacement buses on the disrupted sections.

Other stations that will still be closed include Narre Warren, Keon Park, Croydon and Parkdale.

To plan more accurately and check for any disruptions on the night, use the PTV app or check for disruptions at ptv.vic.gov.au/taylorswift or 1800 800 007.

In the lead-up to the event, police are also warning about scammers who will attempt to steal people’s money by selling them fake tickets to the concert.

“Scammers are targeting fans with fake ticket sales through social media, often hacking accounts of individuals and then using the profiles to sell fake tickets to the victim’s friends,” Victoria Police Cybercrime Squad said.

“Check it once, then check it twice, they may try to rush you into buying the tickets and transferring them money.”