With Qantas set to close Mildura’s crew base by April 2026, leaders are pushing a weekly Mildura–Maryborough shuttle into Melbourne, arguing the need for a second fast link to the capital.
Due to the Mildura line now being standard gauge (not that the benefits of over a $1B investment in the changing of the rail gauge have been realised) means the shortest connection between Melbourne and Mildura is via Ballarat where Standard Gauge is not available.
The plan would see passengers changing trains between Maryborough and Melbourne when coming from Mildura. An alternative and more mainstream approach would be to invest in Talgo passenger rolling stock with the ability to change gauge as is used in Europe and very successfully.
A similar service has recently been proposed between Adelaide and Mount Barker but like most valuable transport projects in Australia it has not progressed.
Mildura had its passenger service axed by the Kennett Liberal Party back in 1992. The liberal party axed several key passenger services in Victoria including Leongatha, Mildura, Bairnsdale, and Cobram. Sadly Victrack primarily with assistance from V/Line (those who are responsible for the operation of the regional network) have destroyed much track that was mothballed at the time.
Victrack have been systematic in driving rail freight to road and V/Line have ensured many routes and sidings have been disconnected from the network including customer sidings.
Return of the Mildura Passenger train is long overdue, not just for people who live in Mildura, but for those who live between Mildura and Maryborough.
Talgo is a great idea.
Some idiot on farcebook is calling for the removal of the rail line from Mildura. What a fool and a clown.
Yes I read his comment, sound this person is motorist and inward thinking person and weathy enough afford airfare interstate!!!
He doesn’t care about anyone but himself, people with some healths isses moblity requirmeants or complex dietary restrictions buses can’t cater for those people!
That’s problem most people are very inward thinking when comes for less fortunate, if they going be like that they should move countries like Aisa, people like that are discouraged from moving around,too big, can’t move without assistance too bad stay at home be escorted around in controlled settings……
Lot of stairs and long walking distance to and foe, no such thing mobility accessible WC’s on their train or or wider seats for those who are morbidly obese due to health conditions or sheer gluttony…don’t fit buy a extra ticket or seat….
Victoria is still suffering from the damage inflicted by the Kennett years. They closed down a lot of rail services.
He is also the single reason we do not have a train to Melbourne airport.
Not so sure about that. Kennett and his Government closed down many things, but a planned rail link to Melbourne Airport was not one of them. At the time that his government was kicked out, they were in the early stages of planning a link to the airport via Broadmeadows.
Obviously various proposals for airport rail links have come and gone since then until we finally have the current project via Sunshine.
I do recall the government being offered the line to the airport at a cost of $850M fully paid for by the Feds.
Kennett closed the Mildura line.
It is shameful there is not a passenger service to Mildura and also South Gippsland. If there was to be a new service it could be provided by an SG n set as there were several and they are still available I believe. Would need to be loco hauled due to level crossing requirements. Could the sets be maintained at Maryborough?
Why not? currently there is railway workshop off Ballarat and Alstom plant before Ballarat Station!
Ballarat is on Broad Gauge the Standard Gauge Mildura sets would need to be maintained on the SG networks somewhere. Cannot go into Ballarat.
Brad easliy dealt with get them to install dual gauge in the workshops they got enough space!!!
Plus John Holland could install it too like the did with the SG near Seymour!!!
What workshops?
There isn’t standard gauge in Ballarat at all, it is 80 kms away.