Metro is captivating young hearts and inspiring a new generation of rail enthusiasts with free rail-focused activities at this year’s Melbourne Royal Show.

As the official transport partner for the Show, Metro has set up the ultimate experience for kids to experience driving a train in the 9 News Lifestyle and Local Heroes Pavilion, and will run a free miniature railway for kids and their families.

Children will have the opportunity to drive a train and can ‘graduate’ from the Melbourne Royal Show Metro Train Driver Kids Academy where they will receive a special graduation certificate.

Metro staff from across different areas of the organisation will also be available at the stand and miniature railway for the duration of the show to answer questions about rail safety and careers.

Metro is also the VIP partner of the Melbourne Royal Show’s ‘After Dark’ series, where attendees can enjoy all the fun of the show until 10:30pm each night and see some of Australia’s biggest recording artists on the Entertainment Stage.

Metro CEO Raymond O’Flaherty said that whether people were planning to attend the show during the day for the great family fun and farm experiences or after dark with friends for the spectacular entertainment and live music, the super easy and convenient way to travel and from the show is by train.

Over the 11 days of the Show from Thursday, 21 September to Sunday, 1 October, it’s expected that approximately 600,000 people will flock to the Showgrounds and about half will use the train to get to and from the venue.

To ensure children and their families can get to the Melbourne Royal Show fuss-free, Metro will run 1,362 extra train services to and from the Showgrounds.

Metro will have services running every 10 minutes in and out of the Showgrounds during morning peak times, with trains departing from Flinders Street, Southern Cross and North Melbourne stations.

A train takes just 10 minutes from Southern Cross Station to Showgrounds Station, which is a short walk from the entrance.