{"id":145554,"date":"2024-10-31T07:34:45","date_gmt":"2024-10-30T21:34:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railexpress.com.au\/?p=117806"},"modified":"2024-10-31T07:34:45","modified_gmt":"2024-10-30T21:34:45","slug":"celebrating-20-years-of-passenger-trains-to-ararat-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=145554","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating 20 years of passenger trains to Ararat"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Victorian Government is looking to expand services to the community. IMAGE: Victoria\u2019s Big Build<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Ararat train line was reopened in 2004 after a 10-year hiatus. Impressive patronage numbers since reopening has demonstrated the importance of regional train services<\/a>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

July marked 20 years since V\/Line passenger<\/a>\u00a0trains returned to Ararat in Victoria\u2019s northwest.<\/p>\n

V\/Line passenger trains started rolling into Ararat in July 2004 after a 10-year hiatus and the line continues to provide a vital public transport service to the communities of western Victoria.<\/p>\n

The line operated for 119 years before it was discontinued in 1994. The trains were\u00a0welcomed back with community celebrations at Beaufort and Ararat stations in July\u00a02004\u00a0following a significant\u00a0investment by the\u00a0state government to upgrade the track.<\/p>\n

Two decades on, the government continues to invest in the Ararat Line, including upgraded stabling to enable extra services to operate with modern VLocity\u00a0trains.<\/p>\n

Member for Ripon, Martha Haylett spoke about the importance of bringing back this service to the region.<\/p>\n

\u201cTwenty years on, our rural communities are still so grateful for the return of passenger rail to Beaufort and Ararat,\u201d she\u00a0said. \u201cI\u2019m proud to be part of a government that has delivered modern trains, daily services, and cheaper fares for our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

More than 60 weekly services now operate between Ararat and Melbourne, carrying 70,000 passengers, on average, each month.<\/p>\n

Planning is also underway for the introduction of two additional daily return services on Saturdays and Sundays on the Ararat Line, as part of almost 200 extra weekend services to be delivered across the network over coming years.<\/p>\n

The introduction of the regional fare cap means passengers travelling between Ararat and Melbourne now pay a maximum of $10.60 per day, compared to $31 for a one\u00a0way trip before the fare cap was\u00a0introduced.<\/p>\n

In the first year of the fare cap, more than 708,000 passenger trips were taken on the Ararat Line. V\/Line currently delivers more than 2200 train services every week \u2013 with more than 800 new services added onto the V\/Line network since 2015.<\/p>\n

Planning is also underway for the progressive roll out of almost 200 extra weekend services, including the introduction of two additional return services per day on Saturday and Sundays on the Ararat Line.<\/p>\n

Modern and reliable VLocity trains run on the majority of regional lines, including the Ararat Line, with 119 already in service and new trains progressively coming into service as they roll off the production line.<\/p>\n

A V\/Line spokesperson noted the importance of the regional fare cap for the communities V\/Line serves.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re running more trains and services than ever before \u2013 helping Victorians get where they need to go \u2013 to work, school, education, medical appointments and more,\u201d the spokesperson said. \u201cSince the regional fare cap was introduced, more than 31 million trips have been taken \u2013 helping passengers save more than $80 million.\u201d<\/p>\n

As part of the 2023-24 State Budget, the Victorian Government has invested $601 million to build 23 new VLocity trains, with the first one hitting the tracks in August.<\/p>\n

The Regional Rail Revival program is a more than $4 billion investment by the Australian and Victorian governments to upgrade every regional passenger rail line in Victoria, delivering more frequent and reliable services, and creating 3,000 jobs and supplier opportunities.<\/p>\n

The Regional Rail Revival has already delivered significant benefits for regional Victorians, including:<\/p>\n