Northern Victoria Region
Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (12:49): (1773) My question is to the Minister for Transport Infrastructure and Minister for Public and Active Transport. The Bendigo Advertiser has reported that, according to a leading rail expert, Bendigo’s train services are unlikely to improve for at least a decade and will inevitably get slower after Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel opens later this year. Rail Futures Institute president and former V/Line chief operating officer John Hearsch said the tunnel would increase services along the Sunbury line, which would have a domino effect on Bendigo trains because they share the same tracks. The paper also reported that Bendigo already has one of the worst rates of service cancellations in Victoria. According to Mr Hearsch, the only thing that would free up the Bendigo trains would be dedicated V/Line tracks. I ask the Minister for Transport Infrastructure to respond to these concerns and clarify what impacts the Metro Tunnel will have on V/Line train services in Northern Victoria, including the Bendigo and Seymour lines, once it opens.