Wednesday, 13 May 2026

 Wendy LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (17:42): I rise to speak on the 2026–27 budget, which raises the funding for rail services across Victoria. On page 88 of budget paper 3 it says:

Funding is provided for train services across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, including … nine weekday return services for the Shepparton Line.

I am pleased to finally see some funding in this budget for additional train services between Shepparton and Melbourne. But let us be clear: these extra services are three years overdue now and will probably be four years or more overdue before they are finally delivered, because there is no timeline for the delivery of them. In 2021 the then Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan promised that by 2023 there would be nine return weekday services between Shepparton and Melbourne and additional services have also been promised to bring the number of weekend services to five, but none of these have been delivered in 2026. Labor has continually delayed and delayed this project and even now has not given a clear timeline for the commencement of the full delivery of the promised service uplift. Page 83 shows that funding for this line item, which covers the Shepparton services as well as other rail services, provides just over $20 million a year for the next four years. However, on page 155 of the budget, in budget paper 4, it says that stage 3 of the Shepparton line upgrade has a financial completion date of quarter 4, 2027–28, with a footnote stating that:

The TEI has decreased by $5.408 million due to budgeted amounts being reclassified as operating instead of capital expenditure …

These changing figures and completion dates are causing confusion for Shepparton residents, who deserve clarity from the government about when the services they deserve will actually start. It is vital that train services are expanded for Shepparton residents and other commuters along the line as soon as possible, and I have written to the minister to demand a timeline on when these urgently needed additional services will actually begin running

I note that the government’s policy of free travel on public transport in general for the months of April and May has caused a significant surge in patronage, placing already crowded V/Line services under further pressure. There has been severe overcrowding occurring on the Bendigo line trains, which has prevented locals who rely on those services from boarding and in some cases has left mothers with prams and small children stranded on the platform. Commuters also report that V/Line staff have announced over the speaker that people in wheelchairs would not be able to board packed trains, as there was no room for them. This issue is particularly acute in smaller towns that are missed by express services or have shorter platforms that only allow boarding in the front three carriages instead of all six carriages. Being unable to board a train could mean missed appointments or travel connections, with significant knock-on effects for those who are left stranded on the platform. If the government decides to make train travel free or reduce the price, it must take responsibility for the anticipated increase in demand. I have written to the minister asking for the government to put more carriages on popular services.

Another rail line I want to talk about is the Wodonga rail line, which is suffering severe overcrowding on the trains. This is due to the government’s cap on fares for regional travel and free travel as well. The free travel policy has compounded this problem, making the overcrowding worse, and taking away the need for a ticket – which the government has done; you cannot book a ticket – has prevented people from being able to book a seat on the train, leaving them unsure if they will be able to sit down for their 3-hour journey. Steve Martin, the Liberal candidate for Benambra, tells me he has heard from many Wodonga locals about the stress of not knowing whether they or their family members will actually be able to get a seat when travelling to and from Melbourne. The government has completely mismanaged the free travel policy for regional rail services, and we need the booking system back now for Wodonga for those who are unwell or older and need assurance that they can travel safely and in comfort.

The final disappointment in this budget is that there is no funding for the Wollert rail extension. Extending the Mernda rail line from Lalor to Wollert is essential within the next 10 years, as Whittlesea council expects the local population to almost triple, with the number of people in Epping North and Wollert going from 35,000 in 2019 to 95,000 in 2041. These missed deadlines have caused delays on this rail line, and people need to know when these services will be delivered.