BOOKING your tickets
BOOKING YOUR TICKETS - IT'S AS EASY AS 1, 2, 3
Well done! If you've made it this far, you're obviously interested in booking a seat (or more!) on The Blues Train. As a consistently sold-out event, we have worked hard to make it quicker, easier and more convenient to book your tickets on one of Victoria's premier dining and entertainment experiences.
Here's how it's done ...
STEP 1: CHOOSE A DATE
The Blues Train operates every Saturday night from August to May each year. In December we run additional shows on Friday nights to cater for Christmas and end-of-year functions.
Therefore, get your booking started by taking a look at our SHOW DATES page. Here you'll find information on when we're running shows, who's playing, when
tickets are on sale and an indication of ticket availability. (Contact Ticketek on 132 849 for up-to-the minute ticket availability.)
It's also a great idea to finalise your numbers now. Whether you're travelling with friends, family or work colleagues, whether you will be a large group or just a handfull, knowing how many people will be attending will make your life (and ours) much easier.
IS THE BLUES TRAIN AVAILABLE FOR HENS AND BUCKS NIGHTS
We run a whole range of functions throughout the year on the Blues Train. So much so, we have a dedicated page on our website all about functions. Please don't hesitate to contact us to discuss your special event.
It is worth noting our policy on hen's and buck's nights. We do not, as a rule, accept bookings for hen's or buck's nights. Unfortunately we have had problems ensuing from excess alcohol consumption prior to arrival at the train, which has resulted in safety issues. We are committed to ensuring ALL our guests have a good time on The Blues Train and so our concern with hen's and buck's nights is that they have a high chance of interfering with the comfort and safety of our other Blues Train patrons travelling in the carriage with the hen/buck group.
If you really want to arrange a hen's or buck's night on the Blues Train, you must contact us first to discuss these issues prior to booking. We do not wish to discriminate against the soon-to-be-married and their family and friends, however, unfortunately these events tend to pose the abovementioned problems
CAN I BRING A BIRTHDAY CAKE OR OTHER SPECIAL TREATS FOR MY GUESTS
Among the many special events we have hosted there have been a huge number of birthday parties. Some people even hire a whole train for big occasions, such as 50ths – the ultimate baby boomer birthday party.
We prefer not to have cakes on board as 9 times out of 10 the cake ends up in the carpet. A great alternative is individual gourmet cupcakes.
Should you still wish to bring a cake, a $100 fee will be charged, 50% of which will be returned should no cleaning be required. You will also be required to bring utensils, napkins etc.
No fee is incurred for individual gourmet cupcakes.
If you plan to bring a cake for a birthday party, please let us know in advance so we can plan accordingly -- either email us or call on 03 5258 4343.
Please also note that the Blues Train is a fully licensed event and there is NO BYO. The T-bar opens at 6.30pm at Queenscliff Station, is open at each of the three stops during the night and closes at 11.30pm when the train returns to Queenscliff Railway Station. Check out our drinks list.
IS THERE A SPECIAL PRICE FOR GROUPS OF 20 OR MORE
We offer a discount for gorups of 20 or more people. See our
Bookings page for details and pricing.
HOW DOES TICKETEK'S RESERVE A SEAT FUNCTION WORK
'Reserve A Seat' For Your Friends
Ticketek has released a great new feature. Gather a group of friends and family members for a great night out on The Blues Train!
'Reserve A Seat' is a feature on www.ticketek.com.au that provides a quick and easy way to purchase your tickets and hold adjoining tickets for friends. Avoid the hassle of collecting money and hold tickets for your friends to pay as they confirm their attendance.
Note: A standard transaction limit of 10 tickets apply, including paid admits and tickets placed on hold. Your tickets will be held for a maximum of 24 hours before they are re-released for sale to the general public.
How To Use 'Reserve A Seat'
1. Visit The Blues Train page on www.ticketek.com.au.
2. Select the date of your choice, and click on Buy Now.
3. Select the preferred Start Carriage Option.
4. Choose the quantity of tickets you wish to purchase.
5. Specify which delivery option you prefer.
6. Select the number of tickets you wish to hold for friends.
7. Enter your friends email addresses. (Click on Add More, to add more email addresses).
8. Enter a message for your friends.
9. Select a Theme Layout for your message.
10. Click on 'Continue'.
11. Log In to your My Ticketek account or create a new one (if you haven't done so already).
12. Check your event order, enter and confirm payment details.
13. Once you select 'Submit Payment' for your tickets, your friends will be sent an email to advise that you have placed tickets on hold for them to purchase within 24 hours.
* Please note, held seats are sold on a first-in basis. For example, if you hold two tickets and inform four friends, the friend who purchases first will acquire the held ticket(s). The others can still attempt to book tickets for the same date, but they cannot be guaranteed tickets on the same carriage.
STEP 2: PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS
Excellent, so you've worked out when you want to travel,and how many tickets you're after. You're well on your way to boarding The Blues Train!
Now let's talk about ticket costs. Your ticket to The Blues Train includes a delicious meal, the full show (seeing all four acts) and the train journey from Queenscliff to Drysdale and back. (Drinks are not included.) Prices for tickets to The Blues Train vary depending on the number of tickets you're purchasing. We offer a discount and a dedicated booking line to groups of 20 people or more.
Ticket prices
GENERAL TICKETS
PRICE: $80.00 plus booking fee of $3.50 per person
All prices are inclusive of GST. Ticketek transaction fees will apply
GROUPS OF 20 - 52 PEOPLE
PRICE: $74.00 plus booking fee of $3.50 per person
SATURDAY NIGHT DECEMBER SHOWS: $77.00 plus booking fee of $3.50 per person
All prices are inclusive of GST. Ticketek transaction fees apply.
Tickets may be held for up to 14 days, check with your Ticketek groups seller at time of purchase.
53 OR MORE TICKETS
PRICE: $POA
No booking fee. Cash, cheque and EFT only.
Booking of this size are made through The Blues Train direct:
Phone: (03) 5258 4343
Fax: (03) 5258 2626
Mob: 0409 553 702
Email: Contact Us
Note: For Christmas parties, you need to book early to avoid disappointment, as December trains sell like hotcakes!
Bar tabs are available by arrangement directly with the Blues Train
CORPORATE FUNCTIONS
PRICE: $POA
No booking fee. Cash and cheque only.
Booking of this size are made through The Blues Train direct:
Phone: (03) 5258 4343
Fax: (03) 5258 2626
Mob: 0409 553 702
Email: Contact Us
Note: For Christmas parties, you need to book early to avoid disappointment, as December trains sell like hotcakes!
Bar tabs are available by arrangement directly with the Blues Train
But wait! before you purchase your tickets, it's important that you understand where you will be seated and what you will see. Seating on The Blues Train is allocated when your ticket is purchased. Capacity is 52 people per carriage (48 in A Carriage) and there are four carriages.
The carriage indicated on your ticket is your start carriage. Each carriage features a different musical act. Carriage A contains a duo act, Carriage B a solo musician, Carriage C a three-piece band and Carriage D a band. Both Carriages C and D have dance floors. During the show the train makes several stops and you spend time in each carriage and see all the acts.
We have teamed up with one of Australia's largest ticketing agencies who offer a range of simple ways to secure your tickets to the show.
Where to purchase tickets
WEB SALES - GENERAL PURCHASES

General Tickets to The Blues Train can be purchased online through
Nb. A maximum of 10 tickets per transaction applies through the Ticketek website. Please ensure you purchase all tickets in one transaction, so you all start in the same carriage.
WEB SALES - RESERVE A SEAT
'Reserve A Seat' is a feature on Ticketek.com.au that provides a quick and easy way to purchase your tickets and hold adjoining tickets for friends. Avoid the hassle of collecting money and hold tickets for your friends to pay as they confirm their attendance.
Simply select the number of seats you wish to hold under the "Reserve A Seat" option on the purchase page. An email will be sent to your friends enabling them to purchase the tickets on hold.
* Please note, held seats are sold on a first-in basis. For example, if you hold two tickets and inform four friends, the friend who purchases first will acquire the held ticket(s). The others can still attempt to book tickets for the same date, but they cannot be guaranteed tickets on the same carriage.
Nb. A standard transaction limit of 10 tickets apply, including paid admits and tickets placed on hold. Your tickets will be held for a maximum of 24 hours before they are re-released for sale to the general public.
PHONE SALES (Under 20 tickets)
General Tickets to The Blues Train can be purchased by calling Ticketek on 132 849
GROUP SALES - (20 - 52 tickets)
For groups of 20 to 52 people (up to one carriage), please contact the Ticketek Melbourne Group Bookings Department.
Their friendly staff will guide you through the purchasing process.
Phone: 03 9299 9030
Emaill: groupsmel@ticketek.com.au
Nb. The Group Bookings Department can hold tickets for up to 14 days depending on how close you are booking to the event. Please ask your group seller at the time of booking.
GROUP SALES - (53 or more) & CORPORATE FUNCTIONS
Booking of this size (more than one carriage) are made through The Blues Train direct:
Phone: (03) 5258 4343
Fax: (03) 5258 2626
Mob: 0409 553 702
Email: Contact Us
Note: For Christmas parties, you need to book early to avoid disappointment, as December trains sell like hotcakes! Bar tabs are available by arrangement directly with the Blues Train
TICKETEK COUNTER OUTLETS
QUEENSCLIFF OUTLET - OVER THE COUNTER - CASH SALES ONLY
Mckenzie Ebbels Food Store (ME Athelstane) in Queenscliff offers limited tickets to The Blues Train.
ME Athelstane Food Store is a CASH sales outlet only. NO credit cards or cheques will be accepted. NO tickets will be sold over the phone and NO tickets will be held.
It is recommended you call ahead to check ticket availability. Please note, ME Athelstane Food Store is NOT a Ticketek outlet.
STEP 3: RIDE THE BLUES TRAIN
Congratulations! By now you've either purchased your tickets, or you are well on your way.
To ensure you get the most out of your night on The Blues Train, we highly recommend you cast your eyes over our comprehensive FAQ section as well as the ticketing FAQs and the Terms and Conditions below.
We're confident everything you need to know about The Blues Train is on this website. However, should any of your questions remain unanswered, please contact us and we'll do our best to assist.
Ticketing FAQs
HOW DOES THE TICKETING & SEATING SYSTEM WORK
Instead of allocating seats alphabetically, those who book their tickets first get the next available seating, much like you would if you were booking tickets at The Arts Centre or The Rod Laver Arena. The tickets indicate the carriage in which you will begin the journey and your subsequent carriage order.
This does not mean you can't choose the carriage you want to be in as your start carriage as long as there are seats available in that section, i.e. you can start in Carriage D and work your way back from there.
It is still essential, as with any event, to purchase all tickets in one transaction under one surname. However, as the individual seats in the carriage are not numbered, you can purchase extra tickets if they are available in your chosen start carriage - as long as you make sure that whoever books the extra tickets books under the orginal surname.
The carriage orders are as follows:
Start Carriage A - B, C end in Carriage D
Start Carriage B - C, D end in Carriage A
Start Carriage C - D, A end in Carriage B
Start Carriage D - A, B end in Carriage C
See a
virtual tour of our carriages
Dinner is served at the beginning of the evening. Patrons are welcome to sit on the platform to eat their meal, or in your first allocated Carriage (this applies to all carriages). If you are commencing your journey in D Carriage, there is amble seating in the alcove on the platform, as well as limited seating in D Carriage.
Please note tickets are General Admission. It is vital to book tickets under one surname in one transaction, otherwise you will be allocated separate carriages. So, remember, if you want to be together, book tickets in one hit!
HOW OLD DO I HAVE TO BE TO RIDE THE BLUES TRAIN
The Blues Train is a licensed event. You must be 18 or over to ride the Blues Train. It is not suitable for babies or children of any age and people younger than 18 are not covered by our public liability insurance, so sorry, but babies and children will be refused entry.
Patrons of all ages enjoy the Blues Train Having said that, there is no upper age limit for the Blues Train. Seating is available in every carriage for those who like to sit down, even in the dance carriage.
WHAT CARRIAGE WILL I BE IN
We have made some changes to the way you book your tickets. Instead of allocating seats alphabetically, those who book their tickets first get the best available seating, much like you would if you were booking tickets at The Arts Centre or The Rod Laver Arena . The tickets now indicate the carriage in which you will begin the journey.
Everyone still swaps carriages at the stops. The carriage orders are as follows:
Start Carriage A - B, C end in Carriage D
Start Carriage B - C, D end in Carriage A
Start Carriage C - D, A end in Carriage B
Start Carriage D - A, B end in Carriage C
WILL I RECEIVE A HARD TICKET
All of our over-the-counter outlets (including Ticketek) will provide you with a hard ticket upon purchase. People making Internet or phone bookings via Ticketek up to 10 days prior to the show will receive hard tickets via registered mail.
If you book later than this, the name of your group will be called out on the gate. Please have your reference number ready.
If you have a hard ticket, please read it; it will indicate your starting carriage for the event (eg. A means you will start in carriage A, go on to carriage B, then C and then D). Check that everyone else in your group has the same starting carriage on their ticket. Although there is very little we can do on the night to change carriage allocations, if you realise early enough that you have booked in separate carriages, get in touch and we may be able to accomodate you, depending on availability of seats in other carriages.
We introduced a new ticketing system in October 2005, where carriage allocations were given at the time of purchase.
Please read your ticket, as it contains useful information. You may also be required to present a stub from your ticket to receive your dinner.
Refer to our Terms and Conditions page if you need any further information.
WHAT IF A TRAIN HAS TO BE CANCELLED
Should this ever occur, Ticketek and our local ticket outlets will make every attempt to contact patrons prior to the date. It's important to leave a contact phone number when making your ticket purchase. Ticketek ticketing policy will apply. See Ticketek Terms of Sale.
HOW DO I SELL ANY SPARE TICKETS
The best way to sell spare tickets is to call the Queenscliff Visitor centre on 52584843 and M.E. Food Store (our local ticket outlet) 5258 4829 and leave your details as most weeks people are looking for tickets to buy.
They can call you and buy them from you or meet you at the gate on the night.
Also if you have not sold them buy the day of the show call Hugo on 03 5258 4343 after 12 noon on the Saturday and he can try and sell them at the gate as a last resort!
You can also sell tickets to friends or on Ebay as long as it is not at a profit.
Follow this link to read our Terms and Conditions.
DO YOU HAVE DISCOUNT TICKETS FOR COMPANION CARD HOLDERS
For people wishing to ride on the Blues Train who require professional carers, we can offer a discount ticket for one accompanying carer (Companion Card holder). We cannot offer the carer's ticket completely free, as we must cover the cost of the meal and the railway trip, but can offer the entertainment for free. This needs to be arranged directly with us at The Blues Train (i.e. not through Ticketek).
Note: The primary ticket purchaser needs to purchase their ticket at full price. This discounted rate is only for the companion. Both tickets should be booked directly through us and paid for by cheque or money order.
Please contact us to discuss your requirements and we will do our very best to ensure you have an enjoyable Blues Train.
We have wheelchair access on the Blues Train, however due to the age of the heritage train carriages and the width of the doorways and arrangement of fixed seats, mobility can be limited. Please refer to our FAQ specifically about wheelchair access.
View our Safety information and terms and conditions
DO YOU HAVE GIFT VOUCHERS
The Blues Train has a number of Gift Voucher options. See our dedicated
Gift Voucher page:
WHAT ARE YOUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS
HOW DO I GET MY TICKETEK TICKETS AFTER BOOKING OVER THE PHONE OR ONLINE
Delivery information for Ticketek tickets
Delivery Conditions: Ticketek will only mail tickets to the residential address of the credit card holder, and will not send tickets to PO Boxes or business addresses. If you have purchased concession tickets, you are required to present a valid proof of entitlement and photo ID on entry at the venue.
• Registered Mail (Allow 14 working days for delivery)
- Registered Mail provides you with a unique and traceable identifier with Australia Post. Australia Post recommends that you allow 14 working days delivery time for registered mail.
- Lost, stolen, or destroyed tickets will only be replaced according to the promoter of each event's policy. In most cases Ticketek uses registered mail for general admission (GA) tickets which cannot be replaced if not received, lost, stolen or destroyed etc.
- Tickets sent by registered mail incur an additional fee and is not recommended for overseas addresses.
Collect in person
Collection Conditions: As part of the terms of sale, the only person authorised to purchase tickets is the credit card holder. Tickets will not be issued to persons other than the credit card holder. You are required to present your credit card and photo I.D. to collect tickets. If you have purchased concession tickets, you are also required to present a valid concession card.
City Box Office Collection Only
Tickets must be collected the day before the event. You must be the credit card holder to make this booking. You are required to present your credit card and photo I.D. to collect the tickets. Tickets will not be issued to persons other than the credit card holder. Valid concession card must be presented where applicable.
HOW DO I ACCESS A MYTICKETEK BLUES TRAIN SPECIAL OFFER
For those of you who have purchased Ticketek tickets online before, you will already be a member of MyTicketek. If you also subscribed to the Ticketek mailing list, you will have seen the MyTicketek newsletters with special offers. MyTicketek is free to join, and you need to be a member to make any online booking.
MyTicketek subscribers receive a weekly newsletter. At the top of the newsletter, there are always four ‘hot buttons’ for different events. Sometimes they will be linked to special offers. The Blues Train regularly offers ‘hot button’ specials.
How to access the special offerS: Subscribe to MyTicketek.
When you get a MyTicketek newsletter with a Blues Train special offer, click on the button in the newsletter, follow the prompts and you will be elligible for the special offer when you book a blues Train ticket. Special offers we have had in the past include discounts on tickets and free wine.
HOW MANY SEATS ARE AVAILABLE FOR EACH TRAIN
Each carriage can hold approximately 50 people, so with four carriages on the Blues Train, capacity is 200 people.
All tickets go on sale at the same time. Tickets sell starting from Carriage A. So, if you want your allocation to be A, B, C, D you will need to book early.
This does not mean you can't choose the carriage you want to be in as your start carriage as long as there are seats available in that section, i.e. you can start in Carriage D and work your way back from there. Everyone still swaps carriages at the stops. Everyone sees the same show.
The carriage orders are as follows:
Start Carriage A - B, C end in Carriage D
Start Carriage B - C, D end in Carriage A
Start Carriage C - D, A end in Carriage B
Start Carriage D - A, B end in Carriage C
Carriage A is a 48-seat dining car
Carriage B is a 52-seat car
Carriage C is a 52-seat dining car with a small dance floor
Carriage D is a dancing car with a stage and approximately 30 seats (capacity 52).
It is still essential, as with any event, to purchase all tickets in one transaction under one surname. However, as the individual seats in the carriage are not numbered, you can now purchase extra tickets if they are available in your chosen start carriage - as long as you make sure that whoever books the extra tickets books under the orginal surname.
DO WE HAVE A SEAT
everyone who wishes to will have the opportunity to sit at all times during the show. The actual seats are not allocated. All carriages have seats for every patron, except the D (dance) carriage, which has seating for 35 along the sides. Usually there are plenty of seats in D because everyone is up dancing!
Your ticket gives you an allocated start carriage, and your subsequent carriage order after that.
During the event, you will spend time in each of the four carriages (see the photos of each carriage below or check out our virtual tour of the train). Each carriage on the Blues Train is different. Some have booths with tables, some facing bench seats, while carriage D (the dancing carriage) only has seating along the sides to keep the centre space clear for dancing.
(Due to health and safety regulations, each carriage can carry a maximum of 52 passengers, and this limit is strictly adhered to, so carriages are never over-full.)
WHAT CARRIAGE WILL I BE IN
Those who book their tickets first get the best available seating, much like you would if you were booking tickets at The Arts Centre or The Rod Laver Arena. The tickets indicate the carriage in which you will begin the journey.
All tickets go on sale at the same time. The ticket system will start selling from Carriage A. So, if you want your allocation to be A, B, C, D you will need to book early.
This does not mean you can't choose the carriage you want to be in as your start carriage as long as there are seats available for sale in that section, i.e. you can choose to start in Carriage D.
Dinner is served at the beginning of the evening between 7.00 and 7.40 pm. Patrons are welcome to sit on the platform to eat their meal, or in your first allocated Carriage (this applies to all carriages).
Everyone still swaps carriages at the stops. The carriage orders are as follows:
Carriage A is a 48-seat dining car
Carriage B is a 52-seat car with no dining tables
Carriage C is a 52-seat dining car with a small dance floor
Carriage D is a dancing car with a stage and approximately 30 seats (capacity 52). Everyone starting in the D carriage will be seated for their meal - 37 in the D carriage and 15 at reserved dining tables in the alcove. Those dining in the alcove join the carriage prior to departure.
Please note these are General Admission tickets. It is vital to book tickets under one surname in one transaction, otherwise you will be allocated separate carriages. So, remember, if you want to be together, book tickets in one hit! There are no refunds, see our Terms and Conditions.
WILL I BE WITH MY FRIENDS
Friends enjoy the Blues Train together in the A carriageIf you are coming on the Blues Train with a group of friends, it's best to make a group booking. That way we can allocate you all to be on the same carriages throughout the night. Groups booking through Ticketek must buy all their tickets in one transaction. Seating is allocated when your ticket is issued. Capacity is approximately 50 people per carriage, 200 people per train.
The Blues Train is ticketed in a similar manner to most theatrical events, i.e. ticket allocation is divided by sections (in our case, carriages). Whilst individual seats in the carriages themselves are not allocated, the start carriage (and therefore the group of people you will be with for the rest of the evening as you progress to subsequent carriages) is allocated at the time of purchase. Therefore, it is essential that when booking, if you want to be with other people who have already purchased tickets, or who are planning to purchase tickets, you know which carriage they are starting in (i.e. A, B, C or D, indicated on their ticket) and also that you ensure that you buy available tickets for that carriage.
Friends enjoying the Blues Train in the B carriageIf you buy tickets in a different start carriage to your friends, just as with any other event, there is very little we can do on the night. You may be able to find some people to swap tickets for another start carriage, but we leave this strictly to you.
If you realise more than one month prior to the show that you have tickets in a different carriage to your friend, you can contact Ticketek Administration on 9299 9000 and ask to speak to the Blues Train event manager, who may be able to help you if sufficient tickets are available in another carriage. (Fees and charges may apply).
DOES THE BLUES TRAIN HAVE ACCESS FOR WHEELCHAIRS AND PEOPLE WITH LIMITED MOBILITY
We do have wheelchair access, however due to the age of the heritage train carriages and the width of the doorways and arrangement of fixed seats, mobility can be limited. Please contact us to discuss your requirements and we will do our very best to ensure you have an enjoyable Blues Train. All carriages have safety ramps and a guard on board at all times who can assist with embarking, disembarking and mobility while in the carriage.
For people who require professional carers, we can organise a discount ticket for the accompanying carer (Companion Card holders).
Regarding toilets, the public toilets at Queenscliff and Drysdale station have wheelchair access. Suma Park has portaloos only. Wheelchair access portaloos will be made available at Suma Park Station for patrons requiring these facilities. To arrange, please contact The Blues Train direct on 03 5258 4343. Please note we need at least two weeks' notice to arrange this.
View our safety information and terms and conditions
View Terms and Conditions/Safety Information