A Coalition commitment of three return passenger rail services a week to the Wimmera by mid-2029 is on the table if it forms government after next month’s state election.
The Liberals and The Nationals announced on Monday they would return passenger rail services to Dimboola, stopping at Horsham, Murtoa and Stawell, then connect with the V-Line network at Ararat.
They also pledged to return passenger services on the Mildura line, via Red Cliffs, Ouyen, Birchip, Donald, St Arnaud and Dunolly, connecting with Melbourne-bound services at Maryborough.
The passenger trains would travel on the standard gauge tracks that freight trains use.
Currently many Wimmera and Mallee towns are serviced only by bus.
Coalition leader Jess Wilson said under the Wimmera Mallee Rail Plan, an initial $51.2-million investment would fund infrastructure improvements, potential train acquisition and refurbishment, and operating costs across four years.
“Where you live shouldn’t determine your access to opportunity. We’re
reconnecting communities, opening up travel options and making sure regional Victoria isn’t left behind,” she said.
“Bringing back passenger rail will give people across the Wimmera and Mallee a more affordable way to travel and stay connected to the rest of Victoria.”
Shadow minister for public transport Matthew Guy said it was a ‘sensible first step’ in the return of passenger services to both regions, with the opportunity to ‘grow them as demand increases’.
The Nationals Member for Mildura Jade Benham said people across the Mallee had been calling for passenger trains to return for years.
“This isn’t just about getting from A to B. It’s about connecting our communities, giving people more freedom and affordable options to travel and making regional Victoria a better place to live,” she said.
Member for Lowan Emma Kealy said it would be amazing to see the return of passenger trains through Horsham and to Dimboola.
“It’ll be so good for our region to have those rail connections back, connecting into the Ballarat line and into Melbourne, and it’ll be a great extension throughout the Wimmera,” she said.
“It will be stopping at Ararat, Stawell, Murtoa, Horsham and Dimboola, and we’re going to do our best to extend it through to Nhill as well.
“It’s something our region has been calling for for a really long time – it’s been many election commitments in the making, and I’m just so hopeful that The Nationals are in government come November and we can make this happen.”
Ms Kealy said the Wimmera Mallee Rail Plan was a ‘novel approach’ – a concept the Coalition had not looked at previously.
“It’s actually a looping train that will connect in at Ararat, but it will go through the Wimmera region, stop in Ararat, and then go up to Mildura,” she said.
“Passengers from right across the region will look at rail a little bit differently because it’s not just about the daily commute or getting to Melbourne – this is about unlocking different parts of the state as a tourist destination.”
Ms Kealy said it would not only help attract tourists to both regions, but provided an opportunity for local businesses to unlock better connections.
Liberal candidate for Ripon Megan Read said ensuring there were efficient and affordable transport connections to metropolitan areas would ensure ‘regional Victoria keeps pace’.
“People across our community are telling me these services are desperately needed and they’re something our region needs sooner rather than later,” she said.
“This commitment proves we are listening and taking a commonsense approach to policy to actually deliver a government that works for people right across the state, not against them.”
Rail Revival Alliance welcomed the commitments to restoring regional passenger rail.
“Our campaign remains independent of political parties. We will continue working with all sides of politics to secure bipartisan support for the return of the Mildura service,” a spokesperson said.
“After more than three decades without passenger rail, this is important progress. The campaign continues.”
Labor was critical of the Coalition’s costings to return passenger rail.
Public Transport Minister Vicki Ward said the Liberals shut down the train to Mildura in 1993 and could not be trusted to bring it back again.
“The Liberal costings are also flat out wrong – line upgrades cost anywhere from almost $200-million to more than $500-million – we know this because we have upgraded every regional passenger train line,” she said.
Labor believes the Mildura track is only appropriate for freight trains and will require significant upgrades to accommodate and make regular passenger services safe, including track work, signalling, level crossings and station upgrades to operate the service.
While Labor failed to match the passenger train commitment for the Wimmera and Mallee, it announced its own public transport election pledge of capping fares at $30 a week, or $15 for concession holders, whether for train, tram or bus travel. The two-year commitment will cost the government $206-million.
Great idea about a “loop Service” running between Dimboola and Mildura via Maryborough and Ararat. This could really be a fantastic service meaning passengers could connect at Ararat and Maryborough connecting to Ballarat. A really good idea.
Would you then consider connecting a service to Portland?