Metro Trains has spent six months preparing for the biggest New Year’s Eve in years, with more services, additional staff and free travel to help Melburnians bring in the New Year.

Up to 300,000 people are expected to attend the New Year’s Eve festivities in and around the city this Saturday night, with many using public transport to get there.

Flinders Street Station Master George Panoussis has been in the role for 15 years and at Metro Trains for 33 years.

He says his love for the job comes from the atmosphere that people bring to events like this, and the fact that no two days are the same.

“It’s also great seeing celebrities like footballers, radio and TV personalities and politicians catch the train – public transport really is for everyone!”

This will be George’s 10th year managing the New Year’s Eve celebrations at Flinders Street.

He says the team is really excited to welcome people back to the city to enjoy a big New Year’s Eve.

Metro has been planning for New Year’s Eve since July in preparation for large crowds and to make sure everything runs smoothly.

In the lead up to the big day, George and his team have been practicing loading trains, making safety and weather announcements and reviewing safety procedures and crowd management plans.

“There is a lot of work involved to ensure public transport runs as smoothly as possible on the night.”

“The team feel really relaxed on the day as there has been so much preparation that goes into the event beforehand. We’ve done this so many times before, but this year will be a return to Melbourne coming alive and celebrating with large crowds,” George said.

This year there will be 145 extra station staff supporting on the night at Flinders Street Station alone, with many more rostered on at other stations around the city.

Metro’s Security Operations team will be closely monitoring CCTV from a remote CCTV van, flying security drones and deploying additional security personnel in the city to help bolster these efforts.

Metro Trains CEO Raymond O’Flaherty says Metro’s crews have been busy preparing for the biggest crowds we have experienced on the public transport network over the past couple of years, with more than 300 extra services to get people to and from the festivities safely on the night.

“We can’t wait to welcome passengers back to the city for New Year’s Eve celebrations after three years,” he said.

Services will continue across the metropolitan train network all night on New Year’s Eve, ensuring everyone can get back home safely. A normal Saturday public transport timetable will be in place between 6pm and midnight, with additional services after midnight.

Passengers will be able to travel for free on all metropolitan and regional train, tram and bus services from 6pm on New Year’s Eve until 6am on New Year’s Day.

To plan your journey on public transport, visit ptv.vic.gov.au or call 1800 800 007.