Speaking from Parliament, The Nationals’ Member for Shepparton District, Kim O’Keeffe, has asked the Minister for Public and Active Transport, Gabrielle Williams, to provide a timeline for when Shepparton will receive promised additional train services.
Stage 3 of the Shepparton Line Upgrade was due to be completed in 2023, as announced by the then Minister for Transport Infrastructure and now Premier Jacinta Allan, in 2021. As part of the Upgrade, Shepparton was promised nine return weekday train services to Melbourne.
Now in the second month of 2025, no timeline has been provided on the expected delivery of the services with locals increasingly frustrated by the overcrowded conditions on current services.
“We are more than a year past the expected completion date of the upgrade and this critical infrastructure project is yet to be completed,” Ms O’Keeffe said.
“The Stage 3 Shepparton Line Upgrade included a $320 million investment from the previous federal Coalition Government and should have seen the community provided with nine return weekday services by now.
“The current limited services have also led to significant overcrowding on the Shepparton Line.
“This is having a serious impact on people’s safety and wellbeing when travelling, with many travellers not being able to get a seat.”
Ms O’Keeffe said she had been contacted by many locals concerned about overcrowding. Most recently, a Kialla resident informed Ms O’Keeffe that she had to have surgery as a result of the unsafe and overcrowded conditions on the Shepparton Line.
“I was recently contacted by an 86-year-old woman who had an awful incident on an overcrowded train from Shepparton to Melbourne,” she said.
“The train was so full that she couldn’t get out of the toilet safely with her mobility aid and her finger was crushed in the door.
“She had to go straight to hospital for surgery on her finger.
“The government has clearly failed to invest in the additional carriages needed to meet increased patronage.
“Unsafe overcrowding will continue until we see additional rolling stock and the promised extra services along the Shepparton Line.
“Labor can’t manage money, can’t manage major projects and regional Victorians are paying the price.”