This has now finished. The details below applied up to Saturday 24 October 2026 and are kept as a record.
At a glance
- When
- Saturday 24 October 2026. Gates 10:30am, first race 12:25pm, last race 5:50pm
- Where
- Flemington Racecourse, for the first time
- Parking
- VRC’s general race-day page (not specific to the Cox Plate) says public parking is complimentary for race day ticket holders, entering via Flemington Drive off Epsom Road
- Getting there
- Extra trains from Flinders Street (Platform 9) from 10:10am to 5:00pm; route 57 and 57a trams from Flinders Street / Elizabeth Street
- Last train home
- 9:00pm from Flemington Racecourse to Flinders Street
- Heads up
- Higher than normal crowds on trains via Showgrounds and route 57 trams
- Ticket
- General admission $80 per person (VRC, as of 19 October 2026)
For the 2026 Cox Plate on Saturday 24 October, Transport Victoria is running extra trains from Flinders Street to Flemington Racecourse from 10:10am to 5:00pm, plus route 57 and 57a trams. The race meeting is at Flemington for the very first time, because of redevelopment at Moonee Valley.
Gates open at 10:30am, the first race is at 12:25pm and the last race is at 5:50pm. The headline race is the Group 1 W.S. Cox Plate over 2040 metres, and the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup over 2500 metres is also on the program, according to the Victoria Racing Club’s Cox Plate page. This guide collects the transport and entry details from Transport Victoria and the VRC as checked on 19 October 2026.
Why is the Cox Plate at Flemington this year?
Transport Victoria says redevelopment is underway at Moonee Valley, so the 2026 Cox Plate is being held at Flemington for the very first time. The VRC says the Cox Plate remains a Moonee Valley Racing Club (MVRC) race day, held at Flemington. This affects entry for VRC members, whose membership cards do not give scan access on Cox Plate day. The VRC says members must book a dining space or register for a complimentary Members Enclosure ticket through Ticketmaster.
Which trains run to Flemington Racecourse?
According to Transport Victoria’s Cox Plate page, trains leave Flinders Street from Platform 9. They stop at Southern Cross (Platforms 13 and 14) and North Melbourne (Platforms 5 and 6), then run express to Showgrounds (Platform 1) and on to Flemington Racecourse (Platform 1).
| Direction | Service window | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Flinders Street to Flemington Racecourse | 10:10am to 5:00pm | Every 6 minutes until 1:30pm, then every 10 minutes |
| Flemington Racecourse to Flinders Street | 1:30pm to 9:00pm | Every 10 minutes to 5:10pm; every 4 minutes from 5:20pm to 8:25pm; every 10 minutes from 8:25pm to 9:00pm |
The last service home leaves Flemington Racecourse at 9:00pm. Coming home, trains leave Flemington Racecourse from Platform 1 and stop at Southern Cross (Platform 14), North Melbourne (Platform 6) and Flinders Street (Platforms 8 and 9).
Transport Victoria warns that some trains terminate at Showgrounds only, so make sure you board a service that continues beyond Showgrounds to Flemington Racecourse. The VRC’s separate Cox Plate page lists different train times: from Southern Cross Platform 8 between 12:45pm and 2:45pm (last departure) and, for the trip home, 4:47pm to 6:28pm from Flemington Racecourse Platform 1. The two pages do not match, so check the Journey Planner and the signs at the station on the day.
What about the trams?
Route 57 trams run from Stop 01 Flinders Street / Elizabeth Street, and Transport Victoria says passengers can get off at Stop 32 Sandown Road / Epsom Road via Flemington Road. The VRC’s Getting to Flemington page describes the same tram differently: catch the West Maribyrnong tram from the corner of Elizabeth Street and Flinders Street and get off at Flemington Drive (Stop 30), outside the main gate. The VRC also says route 57 does not operate low-floor trams, and advises passengers using mobility aids to take the train.
- Route 57a Racecourse Shuttles: 10:00am to 8:50pm between Stop 01 Flinders Street / Elizabeth Street and Stop 33 Showground via Flemington Road.
- Route 57a West Maribyrnong Shuttles: 5:00pm to 8:50pm between Stop 49 Central Park Ave / Cordite Ave and Stop 19 Royal Children’s Hospital / Flemington Road via Flemington Road.
Will the Showgrounds events add to the crowds?
Transport Victoria says the Cox Plate coincides with the Future Drive Australia and The Coven: Tattoo & Arts Expo at the Showgrounds. It tells passengers to expect higher than normal crowds on public transport, particularly on train services operating via Showgrounds and route 57 trams to the Showgrounds. The page does not give times for those events.
Can I take a bus?
Transport Victoria lists route 472 (Williamstown to Moonee Ponds via Footscray): catch it from Footscray Station and get off at Langs Road / Showgrounds. The VRC says route 472 goes to Fisher Parade, with entry through The Elms Gate, and route 404 from Footscray or Moonee Ponds goes to Smithfield Road, where the Stables Drive entrance is. Use the Journey Planner for times.
Coming from regional Victoria
Transport Victoria says passengers arriving at North Melbourne or Southern Cross are advised to change trains and catch a Showgrounds service. On the way home, catch any train from Showgrounds, get off at Southern Cross or North Melbourne, and change to a regional train. Check the Journey Planner for your regional line.
Can I drive and park?
The VRC’s Getting to Flemington page says public parking at Flemington Racecourse is complimentary for race day ticket holders, with the best entry point through Flemington Drive off Epsom Road. That page is written for race days in general and does not mention the Cox Plate by name, so check the signs and traffic staff on the day. VRC members with reserved sites use Members Drive, and the Members Unreserved Car Park begins from Row 15 and is accessed via Flemington Drive. If spaces are full, members are directed to the nearest available parking area.
- Rideshare: the VRC’s general race-day page says patrons arriving by rideshare can be dropped off at the main entrance at the Main Gate.
- Taxi: the VRC’s general race-day page lists one taxi rank, the Main Rank, reached via Stables Drive off Smithfield Drive.
How much is a ticket, and how do I get in?
The VRC lists general admission at $80 per person, General Admission Plus at $115 (with a $50 food and beverage credit) and a Hill Stand Reserved Seat at $115 per person. Prices are as of 19 October 2026. Some products on the page are marked sold out, so check availability before you go. The VRC says all bookings are made through Ticketmaster.
You can leave the racecourse and come back in; scan your ticket to exit at the turnstiles. The VRC says no alcohol can be brought through the turnstiles, bag checks take place at the entry points, and glass containers and large umbrellas are among the prohibited items. Folding fabric chairs and stools are the only seating allowed in. The Family Lawn in The Elms is complimentary with a race day ticket, with pony rides, face-painting and lawn games.
Quick plan by how you are travelling
- From the CBD by train: Flinders Street Platform 9 to Flemington Racecourse, from 10:10am. Check the destination board shows Flemington Racecourse and not Showgrounds only.
- From the CBD by tram: route 57 or 57a from Flinders Street / Elizabeth Street.
- From the west: route 472 from Footscray Station, or route 404 to Smithfield Road.
- By car: the VRC’s general race-day page lists complimentary public parking for ticket holders via Flemington Drive off Epsom Road; check signs on the day.
- Going home: the last train leaves Flemington Racecourse at 9:00pm.
Use myki on trains, trams and buses in Melbourne; fares are half price until 1 January 2027 according to Transport Victoria. Plan your trip with the Journey Planner and check Disruptions on the day, as service changes can affect your journey.
Sources
- Transport Victoria — Public transport for the Cox Plate, Saturday 24 October 2026 (checked 19 October 2026)
- Victoria Racing Club — 2026 Cox Plate (checked 19 October 2026)
- Victoria Racing Club — Getting to Flemington (checked 19 October 2026)
- Victoria Racing Club — Race day FAQs (checked 19 October 2026)
- Transport Victoria — Public transport now half price for everyone (22 May 2026)
Featured image: Flemington Racecourse station (photo: LachlanTansey / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with the Victoria Racing Club, Moonee Valley Racing Club or Transport Victoria. Times and conditions can change; check the official pages above before you travel.