24 March 2016
The Andrews Labor Government has refused to say whether it will undertake $1 million of planned bridge upgrades and timetable improvements on the Echuca to Bendigo rail line.
It has taken almost a year for Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan to respond to questions on the rail improvements asked by Leader of The Nationals and Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh in Parliament.
In her response published yesterday Minister Allan did not once mention Echuca and simply referred to the government’s state-wide Network Development Plan.
Mr Walsh said the response was an insult to the Echuca community.
“Works to the Echuca rail line and services including $1 million of upgrades and an extra weekday return service were planned to start in 2016 “ Mr Walsh said.
“Around 20 000 passengers are estimated to use the Echuca V/Line service each year and they deserve answers.
“Instead we have waited almost a year to get this response from Jacinta Allan which tells us absolutely nothing new.
“V/Line has been in chaos under the city-centric Andrews Labor Government.
“It’s time Jacinta Allan stood up for rural and regional commuters and explained whether the Labor Government will undertake these important improvements.”