The callout to councils was part of a wide-ranging motion aimed at improving the trouble-plagued Albury-Melbourne line which has suffered with trackwork repairs for the past six years.

About 70 people attended the group's first meeting at Wodonga's Elgins Hotel.

Albury and Wodonga councils were called upon to help bankroll the group's campaign with an expectation other councils along the railway line will also help.

Group convenor and Albury's V/Line community reference group member Bill Traill highlighted more than 50 problems he was aware of through feedback. 

At the top of the list was repairing the track from Albury to Melbourne, followed by new rolling stock.

The meeting voted unanimously in favour of a motion by Ron Dennis, the chairman of a rail committee in the 1990s.

“Over five years we achieved the new line bypassing Wodonga ... because we didn’t include too many parties in our deliberation, we went ahead and did what we thought was right,” he said.

Mr Dennis’ motion resolved Farrer MP Sussan Ley and Indi MP Cathy McGowan arrange a meeting with the federal minister for infrastructure and a representative of Border Rail Action Group to achieve three things.

First, to commit the rest of the $134 million allocated in December 2011 to the ballast rehabilitation program to be spent exclusively on the Albury to Southern Cross line.

Second, for the entire track to reach a standard enabling consistent speeds of 130km/h.

Third, for this to be by December 2015, with completion defined as no speed restrictions.

“Nothing is insurmountable with will, persistence and the support of political representatives we will get there,” Mr Traill said.

Wodonga, Indigo and Corowa councils were represented, while Benambra Labor candidate Jennifer Podesta and Greens candidates for Northern Victoria Jenny O’Connor and Benambra Dick Wellard also attended.

Ms Ley and Benambra MP Bill Tilley sent representatives and Ms McGowan was an apology.