It’s good news that passengers will not have to swap trains for buses while fast-tracking of the $134 million project fixes the mudhole problems that have plagued the line since the corporation embarked upon work to replace wooden sleepers with concrete ones.

Corporation chief John Fullerton defends the method used to switch over the sleepers, arguing poor ballast and near record rain meant the larger and heavier concrete sleepers sank more readily than their predecessors.

There would be those who would argue that situation, particularly the condition of the ballast and the effect of the heavier sleepers, ought to have been taken into account in the initial project.

But most Border residents will be more keen to see the program fast-tracked, completion of rectification works, the lifting of speed restrictions on the line and a smoother and more reliable train ride between Albury and Melbourne, with the reinstatement of a third rail service.

In fact, we can’t wait for the day when we’re able to report exactly that.