- Published:
- Friday 31 August 2018
Locals in towns in and around Bendigo will have access to train services, with a re-elected Andrews Labor Government to build three new train stations and begin planning to upgrade the Bendigo line to deliver trains every 40 minutes to Melbourne.
Bendigo is one of Victoria’s fastest growing regional cities and locals need more trains and more reliable services. The Andrews Labor Government has already delivered extra trains and more seats, with an additional 38 services per week on the Bendigo line and extra carriages to give more passengers a seat.
Central Victorians will also be big winners from Labor’s new Suburban Rail Loop – an underground rail network that will circle Melbourne and connect to every major regional train line. The project will mean Bendigo line passengers won’t have to travel through Melbourne to access world-class education and health services, with Melburnians also set to have easier access to all Bendigo and the Macedon Ranges has to offer. Regional rail users from Central Victoria will also be one stop away from Melbourne Airport via a regional super hub in Sunshine.
Only Labor will deliver Australia’s biggest public transport project and only Labor will deliver stage three of the Bendigo Metro project, including three new train stations and planning to upgrade the Bendigo line.
The $49.6 million project is the next stage of Bendigo Metro, a key election commitment delivered by the Labor Government and will include new train stations at Goornong, Raywood and Huntly. The single platform stations will have car parking and covered waiting areas with seating.
The Bendigo line splits at Bendigo to continue to Swan Hill via Eaglehawk Station or to Echuca via Epsom Station. The new Huntly and Goornong stations will be built on the existing line to Echuca and the new Raywood Station will be on the existing line to Swan Hill, giving locals access to these existing train services.
Work on the new Goornong Station will start next year and finish by 2021. Construction of the new Raywood Station will start in 2020 and finish by 2022, followed by construction of the Huntly Station starting in 2022 and finishing by 2023. The whole project will create up to 150 jobs.
A re-elected Labor Government will also start planning to reopen Harcourt Station and upgrade track on the Bendigo line between Bendigo and Kyneton to allow trains every 40 minutes during off peak times.
Quote attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews
“We said we’d deliver more services for Bendigo and we have – we built the new Bendigo hospital and only Labor will build new train stations at Goornong, Huntly and Raywood to give locals train services for the first time.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan
“The Liberals cut V/Line funding and didn’t invest in any new major regional public transport projects – given the chance they’ll cut again. Only Labor will build a first-class rail network for locals in Bendigo and Central Victoria.”
Quote attributable to Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards
“More people are commuting between Bendigo, Kyneton and Melbourne and only Labor will do the planning work needed to upgrade the Bendigo line to give them trains every 40 minutes across the day.”
Quote attributable to Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas
“As Bendigo grows, more people are travelling there for work, healthcare or education. Upgrading the Bendigo line will make it quicker and easier to get there, and only Labor will deliver vital planning work to make it happen.”