That was the verdict of state Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe in response to an announcement on Monday that several train lines, which don’t include Shepparton’s, would see more services added.
The Victorian Government announced that services would be delivered every 40 minutes along the Traralgon line, plus additional peak services would be introduced on the Seymour line in the morning and afternoon, and longer trains and more weekend services for the Bendigo line.
Shepparton has missed out because signalling upgrades have not yet been completed.
A government spokesperson told The News on Tuesday that project timeframes would be provided in the coming months.
While the first stage of the Shepparton line upgrade enabled 10 extra weekly services and the second stage enabled modern VLocity trains to run on the line since 2022, the government says the remaining gap has been filled with additional coach services between Shepparton and Seymour.
When works on the third and final stage of the project are complete, nine daily return services between Shepparton and Melbourne will be enabled each weekday, almost doubling the current service levels.
Ms O’Keeffe said it was not good enough.
“We’ve got the premier spruiking new services across the state, while upgrades on the Shepparton line have ground to a halt,” she said.
“The Shepparton line upgrade was supposed to be completed in 2023, and here we are, nearly halfway through 2025, still waiting.”
Ms O’Keeffe said it was “beyond a joke” and the overcrowding on trains was becoming more of a safety issue every day.
“The failure to finish this simple project is responsible for the traffic lights at SAM not being operational, causing chaos for road users and pedestrians,” she said.
“Those lights continue to gather cobwebs because the government is dragging its feet on the Shepparton line upgrade.
Ms O’Keeffe pointed out that the Shepparton Station car park was also “desperately in need of an upgrade” to meet the demand for additional services “if they ever get delivered”.
State Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell echoed Ms O’Keeffe’s frustration.
“Yesterday’s announcement of additional services on other regional rail lines is a cruel reminder that Shepparton has missed out again because the Allan Labor Government still hasn’t completed the signalling work on the Shepparton line,” Ms Lovell said.
“The patience of Shepparton residents has run out.”
On the Bendigo line, six-car trains will run on weekend services.
“We’re putting longer trains on the Bendigo line so more people can visit our beautiful city and enjoy everything it has to offer,” Victorian Premier and Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan said.
The additional cars will be targeted to already busy services, with development under way to confirm the new timetable.
“Longer trains on the Bendigo line will mean families can enjoy better services when they’re heading into the city,” Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards said.
The Seymour line will have an additional peak service in the morning and afternoon.
The timing of those services is yet to be confirmed.
The Gippsland line upgrade is expected to be completed this year, which includes the installation of cabling and trackside signalling equipment along the 70km stretch of rail line.
The Gippsland line upgrade has included upgraded stations, duplicated tracks, a new bridge over the Avon River in Stratford and enabled modern and accessible VLocity trains to travel to Bairnsdale.
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