• Free buses, early morning trains and extra trams for people attending the  ANZAC Day Dawn Service
• Free travel available for veterans and war widows on 24, 25 and 26 April
• Free buses running from 12 RSL locations across Melbourne

Free buses, early morning trains and extra trams will be available for people who want to  attend the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at the Shrine of Remembrance on Friday 25 April.

Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder said that the Victorian Coalition Government was  proud to provide these services in honour of Australia’s service men and women.

“We want to encourage everyone to attend the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at the Shrine of  Remembrance and show their support and appreciation for our heroes and their families,” Mr  Mulder said.

“Passengers can catch a free bus from 12 RSL locations across Melbourne, take a train to  arrive at Flinders Street by 5.40am or catch one of the dozens of extra trams.

“Rail passengers can connect with a tram or free bus along St Kilda Road to the Shrine of  Remembrance.

“Free travel across the public transport network is also available for veterans and war widows  on 24, 25 and 26 April to help them attend ANZAC Day commemorations,” Mr Mulder said.

Trains on all metropolitan lines will arrive at Flinders Street by 5.40am. Extra trams will run on  all routes except the City Circle. A free bus shuttle will run continuously from Flinders Street  to the Shrine of Remembrance.

The free buses will travel to the Shrine of Remembrance from RSLs in the following suburbs:

• Croydon via Ringwood East;
• Mordialloc via Mentone and Sandringham;
• Mitcham via Blackburn, Box Hill and Balwyn;
• Wantirna via Scoresby, Glen Waverley and Mt Waverley;
• Templestowe via West Heidelberg;
• Chadstone via Ashburton and Camberwell;
• Essendon Football Ground (Windy Hill);
• Doncaster via Balwyn North, Kew and Victoria Park (Jock McHale Stadium);
• Thomastown via Reservoir and Coburg;
• Greensborough via Watsonia;
• Williamstown via Yarraville; and
• Dandenong via Noble Park and Springvale.

All members of the public can book a seat on the buses. Buses arrive at the Shrine of  Remembrance by 5.40am for the 6am Dawn Service and depart at 7.30am to take attendees  home.

Bookings are essential and strictly close on Monday 21 April. For more information and  to book a seat, call Ventura Charter on 9575 4823 between 9am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.

To qualify for free travel, veterans and war widows need to do one or more of the following:

• wear their uniform;
• wear their service medals;
• wear an ex-service association or returned from active service or war widows badge;
• present their DVA Gold or White card; or
• present their Category “V’’ Victorian Public Transport Concession Card.

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Damian Drum said members of the Australian Defence Force,  Army, Navy and Air Force Cadets, Scouts, Guides and school students who are participating in ANZAC Day Parades are entitled to free travel on public transport on ANZAC Day provided they are in uniform.

“Extra trains and trams will run for the Essendon and Collingwood match at the MCG, the  ANZAC Day race day at Flemington Racecourse and the NRL match at AAMI Park,” Mr Drum  said.

“The ANZAC Day Parade will make its way along Swanston Street and St Kilda Road to the  Shrine of Remembrance. Trams and buses in the city will be disrupted between 9am and  2pm.”

The first trains on the Craigieburn, Hurstbridge, Werribee and Williamstown lines will leave  slightly earlier on ANZAC Day, so that trains can arrive at Flinders Street by 5.40am.