New smartphone technology lets you make informed choices about how and when you travel on Melbourne’s trains.

After months of extensive testing and trials, the new online tool called RideSpace provides real-time information for passengers on Metro’s trains – showing how busy, or quiet, the train journey will be before boarding.

RideSpace is now available via a dedicated website – and its capacity data will soon be made available in third party journey planning apps to help passengers make informed choices about travelling safely on the network.

The tool shows the current and predicted level of busyness for trains, stations and platforms to support public health settings and help passengers decide which service they are comfortable using.

RideSpace was launched alongside the new train timetable, which provides 280 more services each week around Melbourne.

Until the end of April a 30 per cent fare discount is available for Metro passengers travelling outside of peak periods.

The off-peak discount will be automatically applied to myki fares for passengers touching off between 9.30am and 4pm or after 7pm on weekdays.