At a glance
- When
- Derby Day Saturday 31 October; Melbourne Cup Day Tuesday 3 November; Oaks Day Thursday 5 November; Stakes Day Saturday 7 November 2026
- Train
- To Flemington Racecourse Station from Flinders Street, Southern Cross or North Melbourne
- Tram
- Route 57: Stop 32 (5 minutes’ walk), Stop 31 (10 minutes) or Stop 29 (15 minutes)
- Bus
- Route 472 to RAS Showgrounds / Langs Road (4 minutes); route 404 to Epsom Road / Smithfield Road (20 minutes)
- Times
- Train and tram times are not on Transport Victoria’s page; they appear in Journey Planner within 14 days of each event
- Crowds
- Transport Victoria says there will be lots of travellers using Flemington Racecourse Station
Transport Victoria is running extra trains to Flemington Racecourse Station for all four days of the 2026 Melbourne Cup Carnival, with trams on route 57 and buses on routes 472 and 404 as other ways in. It has not yet published train or tram times, which will show in Journey Planner within 14 days of each race day.
The four days are Howden Victoria Derby Day on Saturday 31 October, Lexus Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday 3 November, Crown Oaks Day on Thursday 5 November and TAB Champions Stakes Day on Saturday 7 November, according to the Victoria Racing Club. This guide uses Transport Victoria’s Melbourne Cup Carnival page and the VRC’s pages, checked on 23 October 2026.
What time are the races?
The VRC’s day pages list these race times for 2026:
| Day | Date | First race | Last race |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howden Victoria Derby Day | Saturday 31 October | 12:20pm | 5:40pm |
| Lexus Melbourne Cup Day | Tuesday 3 November | 10:45am | 5:15pm |
The VRC pages for Crown Oaks Day (Thursday 5 November) and TAB Champions Stakes Day (Saturday 7 November) are listed on its Carnival page; check them for the race times.
Which trains go to Flemington Racecourse Station?
Transport Victoria says trains run in and out of Flemington Racecourse Station during the carnival. You can catch the train to Flemington Racecourse Station from Flinders Street Station, Southern Cross Station or North Melbourne Station. It notes that there will be lots of travellers using the station, and that services run during specific times when the carnival is on, so use Journey Planner for your trip and check disruptions before you travel.
The VRC’s Cup Day page also lists train times, but that page still carries references to the 2025 carnival, so this guide does not copy them. For the Cox Plate on 24 October, the two organisations’ published times did not match, as our Cox Plate guide shows, so Journey Planner is the safer source.
Which tram stops are closest?
| Route 57 stop | Walk to the racecourse entrance |
|---|---|
| Stop 32 Sandown / Epsom Road | 5 minutes |
| Stop 31 Racing Victoria / 400 Epsom Road | 10 minutes |
| Stop 29 Flemington Racecourse / Racecourse Road | 15 minutes |
Transport Victoria lists route 57 from West Maribyrnong to Flinders Street Station and the city. The VRC’s general race-day page describes a different stop, Flemington Drive (Stop 30), outside the main gate, and notes that route 57 does not run low-floor trams, so passengers using mobility aids are advised to take the train. Use Journey Planner for your trip.
Which buses can I take?
| Route | Recommended stop | Walk to the entrance |
|---|---|---|
| 472 (Williamstown to Moonee Ponds via Footscray) | RAS Showgrounds / Langs Road | 4 minutes |
| 404 (Footscray to Moonee Ponds via Newmarket) | Epsom Road / Smithfield Road | 20 minutes |
| 404 | Gatehouse Drive / Smithfield Road | 25 minutes |
The VRC’s general race-day page describes the buses differently: route 472 to Fisher Parade, with entry through The Elms Gate, and route 404 to Smithfield Road, where the Stables Drive entrance is. That page is written for race days in general, so follow the stops Transport Victoria lists for the carnival and check Journey Planner.
Can I drive, take a taxi or use rideshare?
The VRC’s Getting to Flemington page, written for race days in general, says public parking at Flemington Racecourse is complimentary for race day ticket holders, entering through Flemington Drive off Epsom Road. It also says rideshare patrons can be dropped off at the main entrance at the Main Gate, and that one taxi rank, the Main Rank, operates via Stables Drive off Smithfield Drive. The page does not name the Melbourne Cup Carnival, so check the signs and traffic staff on each day.
How do I pay, and what else should I check?
Use myki on trains, trams and buses in Melbourne; Transport Victoria says public transport is half price until 1 January 2027, as set out in our myki fares guide. Transport Victoria also links a Flemington event precinct map (PDF) and says to check Disruptions information and VicTraffic for road closures before you travel.
Quick plan
- Check Journey Planner for Flemington Racecourse Station within 14 days of your race day.
- By train: Flinders Street, Southern Cross or North Melbourne to Flemington Racecourse Station.
- By tram: route 57 to Stop 32, 31 or 29, depending on how far you want to walk.
- By bus: route 472 to RAS Showgrounds / Langs Road, a 4-minute walk.
- Expect crowds at the station, as Transport Victoria warns.
Sources
- Transport Victoria — Melbourne Cup Carnival (checked 23 October 2026)
- Victoria Racing Club — Melbourne Cup Carnival 2026 (checked 23 October 2026)
- Victoria Racing Club — Lexus Melbourne Cup Day and Howden Victoria Derby Day (checked 20 October 2026)
- Victoria Racing Club — Getting to Flemington (checked 19 October 2026)
- Transport Victoria — Public transport now half price for everyone (22 May 2026)
Featured image: Flemington Racecourse during the 2014 Spring Carnival (photo: Fozzybronze / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with the Victoria Racing Club or Transport Victoria. Times and conditions can change; check the official pages above before you travel.