Bid falls short of hitting rail mark

AState Government decision to throw The Overland train service a financial lifeline has attracted a mixed reaction from groups lobbying for better Wimmera domestic passenger rail services.

While many lobbyists are thankful the historic Melbourne-adelaide interstate train will continue beyond January 1, they are also questioning why the government continues to believe The Overland represents an adequate service.

Wimmera Development Association executive director Ralph Kenyon said all the government’s decision to provide the extra $3.78-million to keep the service running did was maintain the status quo.

“It might be better if it meant more services and a greater promotion of services to get more customers to use it,” he said.

“But two trains a week is nowhere near enough, especially when it has an indirect trip to Melbourne via Geelong. What we’re seeing represents only a short-term fix.

“It is simply an unreliable service and isn’t regular enough to give people the option of using it.

“Making sure the Wimmera has at least some sort of passenger-rail service is a step in the right direction, but not a solution.”

Public Transport Minister Melissa Horne announced last week the government had stepped in ‘to keep a key part of Australia’s transport history alive’ by providing the money required to help fund the service for 2019.

The 131-year-old passenger-rail service was in jeopardy when the South Australian Government announced it would stop funding the service after December 31.

Great Southern Rail operates the 828-kilometre service, which the Victorian and South Australian governments have supported since 2000. The Victorian Government has pledged to ensure the twice-weekly service, which stops at Murray Bridge, Bordertown, Nhill, Dimboola, Horsham, Stawell, Ararat and North Shore in Geelong – will continue in 2019.

Minister Horne said the government had stepped in because The Overland provided an important connection and because it was an Australian ‘rail treasure’.

“Communities from across western Victoria have told us how important this route is for their travel and to the history of their town – that’s why we’re continuing our support for this historic service,” she said.

Mr Kenyon said The Overland operated in isolation of people’s needs and suspected operator Great Southern Rail had little understanding of regional demands.

“It would be useful if Great Southern Rail actually talked to some of the people along the route to see what the demand actually was,” he said.

“We’ve had no contact with them at all, yet they make decisions without understanding or knowing what we’re trying to do in the region in promoting visitation and building a tourist economy.

“The government decision really means nothing changes.”

Member for Lowan Emma Kealy, who has long lobbied for a better domestic rail service in the region, said the government’s decision to extend The Overland schedule for 12 months, after she had called on it to save the service, took too long.

“It doesn’t provide enough security for local people, particularly when there are local jobs that rely on our only rail service continuing in the long term,” she said. “While it’s better than nothing, this announcement doesn’t go far enough.”

• Group calls for holistic view, page 17.