St Kilda Festival and Major Rail Disruptions to Impact Saturday Commutes

Overview of Saturday Commuter Conditions

Melbourne commuters should prepare for a busy and potentially disrupted travel day this Saturday, 14 February 2026. A combination of the massive St Kilda Festival, major rail replacement works on the northern lines, and ongoing North East Link construction will see significant changes to regular travel patterns. With Valentine’s Day falling on a Saturday, evening traffic is also expected to be heavier than usual around the CBD and inner-city dining precincts.

Public Transport Alerts: Rail and Tram Changes

The most significant impact to the rail network today is on the Mernda and Hurstbridge lines. Due to essential infrastructure works, buses will replace trains between Parliament and Clifton Hill stations for the duration of the day and through to the last service on Sunday. Commuters heading to the northern suburbs should allow at least 30 to 45 minutes of additional travel time.

• St Kilda Festival: Tram Route 96 will experience major disruptions and diversions to accommodate the St Kilda Festival. Special event trams will be running, but local service changes are in effect around the beachside precinct.
• CBD Tram Works: Minor delays may occur on city-bound trams as preliminary maintenance continues near the northern edge of the Hoddle Grid.

Major Roadworks and Arterial Closures

In the CBD North, drivers will face significant detours due to ongoing intersection upgrades and utility works. Specific closures to note include:

• Queen Street: A full northbound road closure is in place at the intersection of Franklin Street.
• Elizabeth Street: Northbound lanes are closed between Franklin Street and Therry Street.
• Eastern Freeway: As part of the North East Link project, the Bulleen Road citybound exit ramp remains closed 24/7. Motorists are advised to exit early or follow signed detours, which may add 20 minutes to their journey.
• West Gate Freeway: While the West Gate Tunnel is now operational, lane narrowed zones and speed reductions remain in place near the Williamstown Road interchange for final landscape and safety barrier finishing.

Event Traffic and Advice

The St Kilda Festival will result in the closure of Jacka Boulevard and several surrounding local streets. Parking in the area will be extremely limited, and authorities strongly recommend using public transport, despite the tram diversions. Additionally, with Valentine’s Day celebrations occurring across the city, expect heavy congestion in Southbank, Lygon Street, and the Chapel Street precinct from 6:00 PM onwards. Commuters should check real-time apps before departing and consider alternatives to driving into the city center this evening.