The Nationals’ Member for Shepparton District, Kim O’Keeffe has called on the Allan Labor Government and the Minister for Public and Active Transport, Gabrielle Williams to provide answers as to why the newly release Shepparton Line timetable does not include any new services as part of the government’s broader Metro Tunnel “Big Switch”.
Taking effect from February 1 2026, the new Shepparton Line timetable will see the retainment of the current five daily services from Shepparton to Melbourne, along with the three services on Saturdays and Sundays.
Ms O’Keeffe said that the Goulburn Valley has been waiting far too long for the much-needed increasing daily services on the Shepparton Line.
“It is simply not good enough that the Shepparton Line Upgrade continues to be delayed and the promised nine return daily services remains to be unseen.
“The people of the Goulburn Valley are sick and tired of the Allan Labor Government’s constant delays of this important infrastructure project for the region.
“This is a project that was announced back in 2021 by the then Minister for Transport Infrastructure who is now the Premier, with an original completion date of 2023.
“However, we find ourselves today well and truly into 2026 with no completion date in sight, approaching more than three years since it was originally meant to be completed.”
The new released timetable by V/Line and the Allan Labor Government comes at a time when overcrowding continues to be a significant issue on the line.
“My office is inundated with people sharing their stories whilst travelling on the line, where some even have had to stand for parts of their journey.
“We need to ensure that people can travel safely on public transport and that they have a seat whilst travelling. But we also need to have adequate transport provisions for our growing region.
“I will continue to advocate for the transport needs of our region.
“What we have here is a government that continues to delay this project by denying the region with adequate and reliable public transport services, whether that be train or bus.
“Labor can’t manage projects, can’t manage regional public transport services and regional Victorians are paying the price.”
