Station access and Permits
Station Permit Applications will not be reviewed for issue for the period
8th December 23 to 15th January 24.
Metro moves Melbourne and is a popular place for activities that bring our stations and their surrounds to life. To access to our stations or their surrounds, you will need a permit. There are three types of permits at Metro; timeframes to adhere to for each of them; and a digital form to fill in that requires detailed information from you.
As safety is the foundation of everything we do here at Metro, each request is individually assessed and timeframes for review can sometimes be long therefore we ask that you submit your application as far in advance as possible
Community Permits
Activities with a community or educational purpose undertaken by (or on behalf of) a not for profit organisation or government agency.
Commercial Permits
Filming/photography activities where the purpose/outcome is used commercially by media or production companies.
Accessing the Metro Network
Management of third party projects, including facilitation of access requests with a construction related intent, which have the potential to interface with Metro network.
Tier 1
- A minimum of 10 business days for Metro’s initial assessment to come back to you
- An activity deemed as low-risk, low impact and of short duration, which may be, for example an already approved regular or ongoing activity or MTM associated partnership or activity
Tier 2
- A minimum of 30 business days for Metro’s initial assessment to come back to you
- A more complex activity when the request involves access on or near a platform, at peak times, for multiple people or when use of equipment other than hand held items is involved

Example Activities
- Community events
- Community support services
- Student film projects

Example Activities
- Commercial TVC or promotional video
- Stations used as location for shoot (print/media/digital)
- Photographic Images taken for sale

Example Activities
- Installation and removal of third party assets
- Maintenance and renewals works
- Inspections and surveys
- Government Projects
- Building or construction activities near or next to railway land
Terms and Conditions
Filming and photography requests
Please visit Filming with metro to ensure you are familiar with the specific requirements for filming, before you submit your request below.
Please note that there will be fees for filming if your application is deemed as commercial in nature or determined on review to be a high impact request.
Community requests
Requests are only accepted from not-for-profit organisations, registered charities, social enterprises, community groups and government agencies. We do not facilitate access for individuals. Due to the large amount of activity at the city stations, weekday access is strictly limited.
Given Metro stations are busy places recurring access is not permitted and requests for multi-day access is strictly limited.
Please visit our Community page to familiarise yourself with our community focus areas, which are part of the eligibility criteria for permit assessment.
Activity on trains
We cannot permit activity on trains due to safety reasons, Community Access Permits provide access to the station environment only.
Advertising and Promotion requests
Please see the Contact Us Page
Posters
The display of posters at stations is not permitted unless associated with an approved Metro or transport related marketing campaign or initiative. Any posters displayed without permission will be taken down by station staff.
Southern Cross Station activity:
All request for Southern Cross are managed via Southern Cross Station directly, please visit: https://southerncrossstation.com.au/contact/
Access times
While weekday activity is permitted, peak hour restrictions will apply as below unless essential or agreed by MTM otherwise.
- Monday to Friday access: 10:00-15:30 and 20:00-24:00
- Weekend access: generally any time of day (depending on location and other activity e.g.: special events or maintenance)
Content restrictions
In accordance with MTM regulations, the following are not allowed as part of any activity within our station precincts with no exceptions:
- Vandalism or graffiti
- Assaults on passengers or staff
- Suicides
- Fare evasion or ticket touting
- Use of firearms or weapons
- Drinking or carrying open containers of alcohol
- Misuse of escalators or property
- Unlicensed busking
- Begging
- Smoking or the use of illegal drugs
- Behaving in an overtly sexual or indecent manner (including nudity)
- Direct threats (including terrorist) to MTM, its staff or passengers
- Anything that may negatively affect the MTM brand, the brands of associated entities or government brands
- Anything associated with commercial outcomes for private interest.
We will refuse Permit applications which include activities which breach or contradict MTM regulations or may impact on the public perceptions of safe behaviours on the rail network.
Station activity that doesn’t require a permit
We get many requests from people ‘passing through’ our stations who may want to take photographs or film for their own personal use.
On the basis that it will involve very minimal impact to our stations, staff and operations we allow and support this as long as the following points are considered:
- additional camera equipment (specifically flash and tripods) are not used
- images clearly identifying or promoting the Metro brand/logos must not be published or broadcast without our permission ahead of time
- under no circumstances are photos to be taken of MTM staff without their permission
- people filming or taking photographs for their own purposes on MTM’s network are responsible for ensuring they comply with any lawful requirements of privacy and data protection legislation
All request for Southern Cross are managed via Southern Cross Station directly, please visit: https://southerncrossstation.com.au/contact/