Tuesday, 28 July 2026

 Wendy LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (14:10): Five years ago, in 2021, Jacinta Allan promised that by 2023 Shepparton would receive nine weekday and five weekend return rail services, but the promised additional services are now three years overdue and there is still no confirmation of when they will start. Shepparton residents rely on their rail services for connectivity to Melbourne, including for work and medical appointments and getting to the footy and other events. However, under the Allan Labor government, they have been suffering severely overcrowded trains, with some passengers having to stand for long parts of a journey that can take up to 3 hours. On Saturday night there were reports of a crowd of about 500 crushed into a three-carriage service to Seymour. The pictures show how unpleasant that trip must have been for those standing and even for those who had a seat, because people would have been leaning over them. On Sunday 19 July once again it was standing room only, with commuters posting to social media that there were no seats at all available from Melbourne to Shepparton. The long delay in delivering the nine weekday and five weekend return services is totally unacceptable, and Shepparton residents have run out of patience with the endless excuses from this incompetent Labor government, which clearly cannot manage rail services. When asked by the Shepparton News when the additional services would be delivered, Treasurer Jaclyn Symes was unable to provide a timeline. Unlike Melburnians who are enjoying their Metro and West Gate tunnels, there is no light at the end of the tunnel for Shepparton residents.