Savings promised for commuters

Workers that travel regularly on V/ line trains between the Warragul area and Melbourne would save thousands of dollars a year if a Liberal led state government is elected next month, according to the party’s candidate for Narracan Wayne Farnham.

Mr Farnham said the Liberal-National policy announced by Liberal leader Matthew Guy last week would cut travel costs in half.

Citing a passenger that travelled from Warragul five days a week as an example Mr Farnham said the savings would be $92 a week or more than $4000 a year.

Under the plan announced by Mr Guy, he said that in addition to the cut to fares that are proposed to continue for at least four years, travel would be free whenever buses were used when train services were cancelled.

Mr Farnham said the current daily adult return fare between Warragul and Melbourne was $36.80 or $184 for a five-day working week.

He said as well as being real relief to a major cost for many local households the lower fares could encourage those that don’t currently use the train service to consider it.

In addition to the benefits for those commuting to work the cheaper fares would also help students that use V/ line to get to and from schools or tertiary education, families travelling to the city to watch sporting and other events and many more, including those having to travel to the city for appointments.

Mr Guy said cheaper transport costs were a key part of the Liberal-Nationals long-term economic plan and would be made possible by reining in the current government’s spiralling debt and wasteful spending.