LOCAL business and political figures are unanimously calling for additional train services to the Wellington Shire.
Leaders from the Committee for Wellington, Wellington Shire Council and the Sale Business and Tourism Association gathered at the Sale Railway Station last Monday, urging the state government to deliver on a long-held pledge.
Presently, just three V/Line passenger rail services operate daily between Sale and Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station, with local residents having to travel by road to Traralgon for additional services.
The three local leaders noted that Sale has had three services to and from Melbourne for more than 30 years, despite the big population growth in the region.
In the past two decades alone, the population of the Wellington Shire has risen by 6481 people, or 16.6 per cent, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Wellington Shire Council Mayor Ian Bye said the region needs rail services which reflect that growth.
“Locals are tired of having to drive to Traralgon to catch one of the 20 daily services that run to and from there, rather than being able to do so closer to home,” he said.
“We know that the population of Wellington Shire is growing, and the frequency of our services no longer suits the needs of our community and business sector.”
Committee for Wellington chair David Anderson echoed the mayor’s concerns.
“We have a train service suited to the needs of 1990, not 2022,” Mr Anderson said.
“The local business community has continued to grow and diversify. Employers and employees need more options to get to and from Melbourne.
“Increased fuel costs, congestion on the Monash Freeway and costly city parking make train travel very appealing for community and business, however only three daily services greatly limits access.”
Also backing an increase in train services is Sale Business and Tourism Association president Julian McIvor.
“The Sale Business and Tourism Association understands that more train services better connect people to Wellington,” he said.
“Better connectivity increases liveability.”
The joint advocacy of all three organisations echoes a similar call made by Member for Gippsland South and newly-appointed Shadow Minister for Public Transport Danny O’Brien.
Speaking about the issue in Parliament on Tuesday, August 2, Mr O’Brien called on the Minister for Public Transport, Ben Carroll, to outline a timeline for new services beyond Traralgon.
“There is no point in spending half-a-billion dollars to fix-up the Gippsland rail line and actually not give us any additional services,” he said.
With the completion of the new Avon River Bridge at Stratford and level crossing and signalling works between Traralgon and Bairnsdale, Mr O’Brien said it was time for additional services to Sale and Bairnsdale.
“I am aware that funding has been provided for train stabling at Bairnsdale which will allow for VLocity trains to be stabled there. But there are no further works proposed along the line itself beyond Traralgon now,” he said.
“There is no reason why we could not get additional train services, particularly to Sale. Then, once the Bairnsdale stabling is completed, we would actually have more services.”
On behalf of the Committee for Wellington, Mr Anderson has written to Minister Carroll and the Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Jacinta Allan, to seek assurances that more services would be provided to Sale.
“In May 2016 the Committee was encouraged by the release of the Victorian government’s Connecting Regional Victoria document,” Mr Anderson wrote.
“On page 43 of the document, in the Gippsland section, ‘Future Directions’ specifically states:
– Build train stabling at Sale to facilitate additional services and
– Upgrade signalling to allow more trains through to Sale.
“However since the release of Connecting Regional Victoria, almost six years ago, there is no commitment from the Victorian government or PTV that additional rail services to Sale are being considered.”
At the time of print, Mr Anderson had yet to receive a response from either Minister.
The Gippsland Times sent questions to the Department of Transport (DoT), requesting comment from Mr Carroll and/or Ms Allan.
In response, a DoT Spokesperson said the 12 new VLocity trains for the regional rail network and new stabling facilities at Bairnsdale will pave the way for additional services in the future as part of the Gippsland Line Upgrade.
The spokesperson did not directly address the proposal to increase Sale services by two each day.
“The Gippsland Line Upgrade has delivered benefits for Bairnsdale Line passengers, with trains travelling faster over the new Avon River bridge and modern and reliable VLocity trains running on the line,” the spokesperson said.
“This year’s Budget invests millions of dollars in new, locally-built regional trains and new stabling facilities in Bairnsdale.
“This investment will not only mean more services for local passengers, it will ensure all services to and from Bairnsdale are modern, reliable VLocity trains.”
DoT said testing and commissioning of the new signalling system will take place in 2023, ahead of an “expected timetable change to introduce additional services on the line”.
Regional spokesperson for the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA), Paul Westcott said frequency in public transport is key.
“Frequent services attract people,” he said.
“The Gippsland Line has, over the last decade or more, been the worst performing V/Line (service), and the principal reason is that the trains from Pakenham to Melbourne have to share tracks with the Metro trains.
“In the end, it comes back to the will of the government to fund.”
The Committee for Wellington, Council and the Sale Business and Tourism Association said they look forward to hearing from local candidates in the upcoming Victorian election, and whether they will commit to additional rail services for Wellington Shire.
