FROM Sunday, July 27, a statewide public transport timetable change will deliver almost 4000 extra train, tram and bus services every week.
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What does this mean for those using the Albury to Melbourne line?
Nothing.
No extra services, no faster travel times, just more of the same changes to departure and arrival times.
Don’t blame the V/Line staff, the Albury-Melbourne line is last on the government’s priority list.
Well below the Melbourne metro area, Geelong, Bendigo, and Ballarat, who get almost 4000 new services.
Don’t believe the recent claims the reliability of the Albury to Melbourne train service has improved.
Six months ago the travel times were lengthened to ensure slow trains are counted as “on time”.
As this train service is regularly cancelled and replaced with buses, a 4¼ hour bus journey doesn’t count as being late because it’s on a bus not train.
Back in 2007 it was a 3¼ hour train journey.
Taiwan has a fast train that travels 220 kilometres in 50 minutes, runs frequently and fares are similar.
This week Wodonga to Melbourne train passengers couldn’t even buy a hot coffee because the machine had broken.
We have derailments, the oldest regional trains in the state, speed restrictions, mud-holes, graffiti and the member of Benambra, Bill Tilley, who, after four years, seems incapable of fixing a cattle class service.
— JOHN McLEISH,
Wodonga
