Pop superstar Taylor Swift is set to perform the first of her Australian Eras Tour concerts in front of what’s expected to be the biggest audiences of her entire career.

With her first concert on Friday night, crowds at the Melbourne Cricket Ground are tipped to reach a total of 260,000 people across her three dates at the stadium.

That will be followed by another four sold-out concerts from the 14-time Grammy winner at Accor Stadium in Sydney from next Friday.

The Eras tour takes in every phase of Taylor Swift’s career in a concert that runs more than three hours, from her Speak Now album to Reputation and the more recent Midnights.

Fans have spent hours queuing and waiting on websites to secure coveted tickets to the show, with a second last-minute release of tickets on Thursday and the promise of further tickets being released on show days.

The concerts are expected to provide an economic boost for Victoria and NSW, with Swifties from interstate and overseas booking flights and hotels.

The city’s free tram zone has been extended to the MCG, and extra train, tram and bus services will be running on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Concertgoers from regional Victoria are being urged to make alternative arrangements as V/Line rail staff begin another round of strikes on Friday.

The industrial action takes place from 3am on Friday through to 7am with conductors, train controllers, station staff, customer service staff, and authorised officers all stopping work.