PATRONAGE on the Ararat passenger railway line has increased dramatically since the introduction of lower fares, with new figures showing more than 1300 passengers using the service each week.
Imagine what could be achieved with a service between Ararat and Donald (via Maryborough) on the Standard Gauge. Services could be extended from Ararat to Horsham or Ararat to Portland completing what is a very important set of passenger rail services in the states western districts
Additionally an Ararat service to Geelong via Ballarat Railway Station should be considered. I have read on VB the population of Geelong and Ballarat and surrounding areas is now equivalent to Canberra.
Time to resume services between Ballarat and Geelong and using trains between Ararat and Ballarat.
If electrification was undertaken which it should have been years ago, then rolling stock off the Geelong line could be reallocated to the Ararat to Geelong proposed services.
Pleasing to see the passenger uplifts at Ararat at approximately 190 passengers per day. How does this compare with Maryborough and are buses still running between Ballarat and Ararat?
An easy step yes would be to extend the Ararat to Ballarat trains to Geelong meaning a service then becomes Geelong to Ballarat to Ararat (change in Ballarat or Geelong for Melbourne).