After more than three years since Stage 3 of the Shepparton Line Upgrade was originally promised to be completed, the people of the Goulburn Valley will finally be able to experience the additional services on the Shepparton Line as promised, nine weekday and five weekend return services.
The Nationals’ Member for Shepparton District, Kim O’Keeffe said this recent announcement made by the Victorian State Government is “well overdue” and that the people of the Goulburn Valley have had to wait far too long to see more services on the line.
“This is something that I have passionately advocated to the government and successive Public Transport Minister’s.
“Our region has had to wait more than three years since the project was originally scheduled to be completed.
“Since this time the line has continued to experience overcrowding and some instances people having to stand for large parts of their journey,” Ms O’Keeffe said.
Ms O’Keeffe emphasised that with the announcement of additional services being put onto the line from Sunday August 23, the government must also activate the traffic lights at the Wyndham, MacIntosh and Hassett Street intersection.
“We have seen just this week, another bad collision take place at this intersection. This is a matter of safety and simply is not good enough that these lights continues to sit idle and not switched on.
“My office and I are regularly contacted by frustrated and fed-up locals who just want answers as to why the lights have remained off now that all capital works have been completed, they must be switched on.
“Our region also needs the much-needed increased public bus transport services and the long overdue bus review. Labor has continued to ignore the desperate need for a review for over 16 years, turning their back on the transport needs of regional communities.
“Only the Nationals will ensure that we get our fair share of investment into regional Victoria.
“The whole Shepparton Line Upgrade would not have been made a reality if it wasn’t for the former Federal Coalition Government contributing $320 million towards this vital and important infrastructure project for our region.
