Melbourne has reported its sharpest rise in public transport usage in more than two years.

The latest Department of Transport data shows usage last Thursday was 63 per cent of the pre-COVID baseline.

It’s a nine per cent increase on the week before.

The jump comes as experts confirmed to The Age the danger of catching coronavirus on a train is no worse than when eating at a cafe.

Tony Morton from the Public Transport Users Association says we’re getting back to normal.

“In the last week or so I’ve seen a massive change. It’s back to standing room only,” he told Ross and Russel.

“The move back to more people going back into the office is what’s made the difference.

“We found that if you just take people who go to work within four km of the GPO, if they all stay home, then you get a 50 per cent drop in public transport without anything else happening.”

Press PLAY below to hear more about public transport patronage