- Published:
- Friday 3 June 2016
The Andrews Labor Government is has released the first ever long-term strategy for better public transport in Bendigo and is getting to work straight away.
Local Member and Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan, briefed Councils and stakeholders from across the Loddon Mallee today on Connecting Regional Victoria – Victoria’s Regional Network Development Plan (RNDP).
The RNDP sets out a blueprint for better train, coach and bus services in Bendigo, and across Victoria. It outlines the series of infrastructure and rolling stock improvements required to deliver commuter-style services to Bendigo, including track upgrades, better signalling and new trains and stabling.
In the long term, the goal of the RNDP is to deliver trains at least every 20 minutes in the peak and every 40 minutes off-peak to Bendigo, and five services, five days a week to Echuca and Swan Hill.
In the short term, passengers will benefit from two extra peak services and the introduction of Bendigo Metro later this month. Bendigo Metro will provide 10 extra weekday services to Epsom Station and an extra evening service to Eaglehawk. All weekday trains between Bendigo and Melbourne will also now stop at Kangaroo Flat.
Four extra off-peak services between Melbourne and Bendigo will also be added early next year, Bendigo and Eaglehawk stations will be upgraded, and car parking will be improved at Gisborne, Kyneton and Woodend.
Improvements to buses and coaches are also part of the plan, with real-time information at stops in Bendigo, better information and shelters in Echuca and Mildura, and investigation of a Mildura Airport shuttle bus.
The RNDP also sets out plans for future improvements to ticketing on regional services, better passenger information, and major improvements to rail freight to support jobs and our regional economy.
The RNDP is the product of one of the largest public consultation programs every carried out in regional Victoria, with nearly 40 workshops held right across the state, gathering more than 15,000 pieces of feedback.
This feedback was critical in the development of the strategy and the recent Victorian Budget 2016/17, which funded more than 170 extra services, 27 new VLocity carriages, and provided nearly $200 million to rebuild V/Line, so it is ready to deliver the huge improvement to public transport set out in the RNDP.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport and Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan
“Bendigo is growing – it needs better public transport now and a long-term plan for the future, and that’s what we’re delivering.”
“Bendigo Metro and more peak services will begin this month and extra off-peak services will begin next year. Our long-term plan is to deliver trains every 20 minutes in the peak, and 40 minutes off-peak for Bendigo.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards
“Connecting Regional Victoria is the first ever long-term strategy for better public transport for Bendigo and regional Victoria, and builds on our $1.3 billion investment in regional public transport in the recent State Budget.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas
“The plan delivers more trains and more car spaces and better quality parking at key stations like Gisborne, Kyneton and Woodend straight away.”