{"id":304956,"date":"2025-10-21T11:49:56","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T01:49:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=304956"},"modified":"2025-10-21T12:40:21","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T02:40:21","slug":"is-mildura-victorias-most-isolated-city-rail-push-gathers-steam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=304956","title":{"rendered":"Is Mildura Victoria\u2019s most isolated city? Rail push gathers steam"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With Qantas set to close Mildura\u2019s crew base by April 2026, leaders are pushing a weekly Mildura<\/a>\u2013Maryborough shuttle into Melbourne, arguing the need for a second fast link to the capital. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a> and Mildura is via Ballarat<\/a> where Standard Gauge is not available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a> passenger rolling stock with the ability to change gauge as is used in Europe and very successfully. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A similar service has recently been proposed between Adelaide and Mount Barker but like most valuable transport projects in Australia it has not progressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Return of the Mildura Passenger train is long overdue.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":304957,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[47,17684,186],"tags":[993,10333,8],"class_list":["post-304956","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rail-news","category-transport-victoria","category-v-line","tag-melbourne","tag-mildura","tag-victoria"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t