THE announcement by the State Government that Victorians can travel free on public transport for the month of April will place additional pressure on already overcrowded V/Line train services between Shepparton and Melbourne, highlighting the need for the Government to deliver the nine weekday return services they promised on the Shepparton line.
In 2021, Jacinta Allan promised Shepparton rail users that nine return weekday services would run between Shepparton and Melbourne by 2023. However, completion of the track and signal upgrades needed to provide the additional services fell behind by more than two years.
Late last year the Government claimed the work would finally be completed by December, 14 2025, but since then no additional services have been announced, nor have the traffic lights on Wyndham Street at SAM been turned on.
Overcrowding on Shepparton trains services is a frequent problem and passengers often tell me they had to stand or sit on the carriage floor for significant portions of their trip between Melbourne and Shepparton.
Free travel will only add to this overcrowding, and the Allan Labor Government needs to deliver on the promise of nine return weekday services to meet the additional demand.
Wendy Lovell MP
Liberal Member for Northern Victoria
