Local MPs have questioned the State Government’s commitment to pay parity between regional and metro public transport in the Parliament.
Commuters on the Seymour Line have had their train line closed and replaced with buses for the last two weeks, with it expected to continue until at least the end of this week. Due to the rail works, commuters in northern growth suburbs like Kilmore and Broadford have been shuffled onto buses every evening.
The impacted passengers on the Seymour line will still be paying full fares for these bus replacements. Meanwhile, commuters on metropolitan train lines receive free travel if moved to busses.
Nationals Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland said this was one of many issues local commuters were currently having with the regional rail network.
“This issue with replacement buses is another in a long line of improvements needed for our V/Line network,” Ms Cleeland said.
“If the government was serious about capping fares for regional Victorians to be the same as a metro service, they would make these replacement buses free like they are for metro commuters.
“On top of ensuring our regional commuters are not at a financial disadvantage when trains are swapped for coaches, we need to ensure that more services are provided to ensure passengers are comfortable.
“Since fares were reduced, we are seeing significantly increased traffic across our regional network – resulting in crowded and uncomfortable services on our trains and coaches.”
Liberal Member for Northern Metropolitan Evan Mulholland shared the same sentiments, saying commuters from his region were being put at a disadvantage.
“When commuters in the inner and middle suburbs are taken off trains and put onto buses in Melbourne, passengers are told by staff that travel is free,” Mr Mulholland said.
“Why are our growth suburb residents just a few kilometres north of the metropolitan network still being charged full fares?
“The Government says that they have capped V/Line prices to be the same as metro fares, so why are suburbs like Wallan and Kilmore paying for replacement buses when the rest of Melbourne does not?”
Mr Mulholland addressed this in Parliament last week, saying this was yet another example of the Labor Government’s neglect of Victoria’s growth suburbs and the regions.
“We welcome upgrades to the Seymour Line, it’s been allowed to decay from under-investment for years under this Government”, Mr Mulholland said.
