Rail threat to the entire region

Wimmera development leaders fear the Wimmera will be left stranded if governments fail to respond to the potential demise of passenger rail services through Horsham.

They argue that plans to end The Overland train, the only passenger rail service running through the Wimmera and a service many consider inadequate, will further isolate the region.

Wimmera Development Association executive director Ralph Kenyon said a lack of passenger rail severely diminished the potential of the region to generate socio-economic growth.

“We’re in limbo when it comes to passenger rail services in the western part of Victoria,” he said.

“Between Ararat and the South Australian border there is nothing other than The Overland two days a week.

“A decision to now end The Overland, from a development perspective, is a further and profound inhibitor to growth and opportunity in western Victoria.”

Mr Kenyon said the hope was that Victorian ministers Jacinta Allan, transport infrastructure, and Melissa Horne, public transport, would act quickly to find a solution.

“We hope they would take this on board as a major issue for western Victoria,” he said.

“If The Overland is going to cease operation it makes it even more critical for Victoria to return passenger rail to the region.

“Surely in the government’s allocation or distribution of funding for public transport, with the provision of a ‘sprinter’ train or similar service to the Wimmera and southern Mallee, would be within the realms of possibility.

“There have been discussions regarding transport options but no commitment, even for a business case, let alone provision of services.

“The argument that it’s not economically viable wears very thin, especially when it’s hard to see the justification for other projects in the state.

“Let’s be honest. How many passenger-rail services run at a profit? Not many, if any. They are always run as a public service.

“The reality is that if The Overland ceases operation, the state needs to be looking at alternatives for at least some sort of rail service for this community.”

Mr Kenyon said discussions about possible solutions had already started on behalf of Western Rail, an advocacy group representing western Victorian councils.

“Something needs to happen very quickly if the threat to terminate The Overland occurs. We have a lot of nervous people who rely on The Overland,” he said.

The Overland is an interstate connecting service running through the region on standard-gauge rail, but instead of going directly from the Wimmera to Melbourne, diverts south to Geelong and vice-versa.

Political and community leaders have been lobbying for many years for domestic V-line services, despite running on broad-gauge lines, to continue west from Ararat to Stawell, Horsham and Dimboola.

Many lobbyists consider an interchange sprint service to and from Ararat, where passengers would change trains, would solve rail-gauge issues.

A decision by the South Australian Government to withdraw its annual $300,000 commitment to run The Overland has put the service in doubt.

The Victorian Government provides the lion’s share of funding.

• The State Government announced as The Weekly Advertiser was going to press that it would commit $3.78-million to rescue The Overland service in 2019.