From March 31 until the end of April, trains, trams and buses — metropolitan and V/Line — will be free for everyone.
State Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell says the move will increase pressure on the already overcrowded V/Line train services between Shepparton and Melbourne, “highlighting the need for the government to deliver the nine weekday return services they promised on the Shepparton line”.
The promise was made by then Transport Minister Jacinta Allan in 2021, that rail users would be able to access the extra services by 2023; however, the required track and signal upgrades were two years late.
The government claimed the work would be completed by December 14 last year, yet no additional services have been announced, nor have the so far inoperative Wyndham St traffic lights at the Shepparton Art Museum been switched on.
“Overcrowding on Shepparton train services is a frequent problem and passengers often tell me they had to stand or sit on the carriage floor for significant portions of their trip between Melbourne and Shepparton,” Ms Lovell said.
“Free travel will only add to this overcrowding.”
As well as the nine promised return weekday services (an increase from five per day), the line was also supposed to see five weekend return services through to Shepparton.
To add further insult to the injury of broken promises, a new rail timetable implemented in early February included dozens of extra rail services on other regional lines, but none at all on the Shepparton line.
State Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe said the government’s decision to make public transport free across Victoria should benefit all Victorians, but instead it showed disregard for the current transport issues regionally, including a lack of appropriate bus services.
“We have parts of our electorate with minimal or no bus services at all,” Ms O’Keeffe said.
“This has been an ongoing issue and something myself, the local bus companies, the local council and the community have been calling for the minister to address.
“If you want to get a train you can't get a bus to get to the station because there are very few services.”
Ms O’Keeffe said there was no better time than within the current fuel crisis for the government to provide increased bus services to meet community needs, seeing as it had been more than 16 years since a bus review had been carried out.
She said the government had failed to acknowledge that a metro-focused response ignored the disproportionate impact the fuel crisis was having on rural and regional areas.
“Cost of living is already pushing people to the limit, and we know people are cutting back on food and struggling to pay their bills and to keep a roof over their head — they simply do not have the money for an increase in petrol,” Ms O’Keeffe said.
“In rural and regional Victoria, every increase at the pump is passed on — in groceries, transport costs and basic daily living.
“Free public transport should support all Victorians.”
City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali said council was continuing to advocate to the government for the increased number of V/Line services.
“With fuel costs effectively doubling, it’s become a daily need for those commuting to Melbourne,” Cr Sali said.
“Greater Shepparton is a major regional city.
“When we have to continue to advocate for services that should have been delivered, frustration is a polite way of putting it (how we feel).”
Cr Sali said the community had expectations and was not requesting anything that hadn’t been promised already.
“We are asking for something that should have been done,” he said.
