Shepparton’s extra train services met with excitement, backlash and more track maintenance
By Aaron cordy
AS reported in the Adviser last week, on Wednesday, 22 April, the State Government announced an increase in train services along the Shepparton Line.
The announcement is on the back of previous investment in line upgrades, which means there will be nine return train services every weekday, almost double the current number of services, and five return services on Saturdays and Sundays. The extra services come with free public transport extended until the end of May, and half price until the end of the year.
“We’re putting our expanded network to work – delivering more services, more often across the network. Our new trains are bigger and more comfortable, and they’ll get more Victorians moving,” said Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams.
While many welcome the news of more trains, not the dreaded coaches, on the Shepparton line, the vagueness of the timeline for when the additional services will begin, with the announcement only stating in the coming months.
The state government has also announced more bus services, but continues to focus on metropolitan routes. Drysdale and Ocean Grove, Cowes and Inverloch, to Dandenong, Castlemaine, and Harcourt are the only three regional routes receiving a boost. Greater Shepparton’s outdated bus services were once again ignored.
State Member for Shepparton District, Kim O’Keeffe, has labelled the recent announcement of increased services on the Shepparton Line as nothing more than spin.
“Let it not be forgotten that this project was delayed by nearly three years when it was originally to be completed by 2023 and with additional services already promised as part of the upgrade,” said Ms O’Keeffe.
The excitement of the new train services has been dashed with V/Line announcing more maintenance works on the Shepparton line, with coaches again set to replace the trains from Tuesday, April 28, to Monday, May 25.
