How far ahead should you book Puffing Billy?
Puffing Billy needs a booking. The railway says every ticket must be booked before the day, even for infants and toddlers. The station sells no tickets on the day of travel.
So the real question is: how early is early enough? There is no official number. Use this guide as a rule of thumb, and check the booking page for your own dates.
A simple rule
| When you want to travel | Book |
|---|---|
| Weekday, outside school holidays | A few weeks ahead |
| Weekend, outside school holidays | As soon as you know the date, ideally a month or more ahead |
| School holidays | As soon as the dates open |
| Public holiday weekends | As soon as the dates open |
| Special events | On release day |
These are our guidelines, not the railway's. Popular days can sell out about a month ahead, so a month is a safe lead time for a weekend.
Why weekends sell out first
More people are free to travel on weekends. Some journeys run only from Friday to Sunday, such as Belgrave to Gembrook. When two groups of people compete for the same seats, the weekend fills first.
Weekdays are easier. Monday to Thursday has fewer departures and fewer travellers. Belgrave to Lakeside is the one journey that runs every day.
School holidays
Families with children travel in school holidays. The Victorian school holiday dates change each year. Look them up on the Victorian Government education site, then check the Puffing Billy booking page for those dates. See our guide to school holiday tickets.
Special events
Events such as Polar Express and Train of Lights draw large crowds. Reports say they have sold out online weeks before they start. Check the official site for release dates and book at once. See how to get seats for events.
Travelling from overseas
If you visit Melbourne from another country, you often fix your dates months ahead. Book Puffing Billy as soon as your flights are set. Choose a weekday if you can.
What if you are too late
- Try another departure or another journey.
- Move by a day or two.
- Check the booking page again after a few days.
- Use a seat alert. PB Watch is an unofficial service. It emails you when seats open for your dates and party size, and costs A$10. We cannot promise seats will open.
Read what to do when Puffing Billy is sold out for the full list.
Check-in times
When you have your ticket, plan to arrive early. The railway asks you to check in at the booking office 60 minutes before departure. Check-in closes 30 minutes before. The train does not wait.
Checklist
- Fix your date.
- Pick the journey. See Belgrave, Lakeside or Gembrook.
- Book as early as the table says.
- Save your confirmation.
- Plan to arrive 60 minutes before departure.
PB Watch is an unofficial service. It is not part of, and is not approved by, Puffing Billy Railway. Times, prices and rules can change. Check the official Puffing Billy site before you book.