Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michelle Payne has been honoured with her very own V/Line train.

Nicknamed “The Payne Train” after the jockey, who rode 100-1 shot Prince of Penzance to victory in the famous race this year, it made its first journey from Wendouree Station to Southern Cross on Tuesday.

The VLocity passenger engine is the first V/Line train to be named after a member of a public in more than a decade, reported The Courier.

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The announcement was made by V/Line chief executive Theo Taifalos at Payne’s hometown of Ballarat earlier on Tuesday.

Ms Payne said the praise was “very humbling”.

“Hopefully one day I’ll get a chance to have a ride on the train myself,” she laughed.

“Obviously I’m a very proud Ballarat girl and to have a train named here today is just awesome.

“[It’s an] absolute honour. So grateful to everybody who’s helped me along the way and Darren Weir, who was a big part of the [Melbourne Cup] win.”

Mr Taifalos added V/Line was “privileged” to have Payne involved.

“Ballarat is such an important part of the V/Line network, so it just seemed to align and we’re very, very privileged and grateful that Michelle and her family have agreed to name a train in her honour,” he said.

Other sporting heroes to have V/Line trains named after them include runner Steve Moneghetti, equestrian champion Bill Roycroft and jockey Roy Higgins.

Check out video of the Payne Train’s arrival at Ballarat below:

@VLine has named a train after champion #Ballarat jockey Michelle Payne. First service today. #Paynetrain pic.twitter.com/gBTEPsR37N

— The Courier (@ballaratcourier) December 21, 2015