In Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, you'll see signage in major train and metro stations encouraging people to stand on the right and leave the left side free for those walking. However, compliance varies significantly: during peak hours in busy stations like Sydney's Town Hall or Melbourne's Flinders Street, the convention is more likely to be respected, while in quieter locations or tourist-heavy areas it breaks down noticeably. Unlike London, where the rule is deeply embedded in commuter culture, Australian cities treat it more as a polite suggestion than a social contract — don't be surprised to find people standing two-abreast regardless.
Planning this trip?
🚇 Check our free Public Transport Pass Checker before you go.
Try the Public Transport Pass Checker →Yes, some major transit stations in Sydney and Melbourne do have signage or floor markings encouraging passengers to stand on the right. However, these signs are not universal across all stations or transport networks, and their presence doesn't guarantee compliance from commuters.
In a very busy CBD station during peak hour, blocking the left side can draw mild impatience from commuters who want to walk past — a quiet 'excuse me' is the normal social signal. Outside of rush hour or in less-trafficked locations, it's unlikely to bother anyone at all.
The 'stand right' norm is most consistently observed in Sydney and Melbourne, where heavy commuter traffic creates more pressure to follow it. In smaller cities like Adelaide or Perth, or in shopping centres rather than transit hubs, there's really no strong convention in practice either way.