Before he steps foot on a North East train, Federal Transport Minister Darren Chester will talk solutions for better service quality with his Victorian counterpart.
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Mr Chester’s comments on the need for levels of government to “work in partnership” on regional transport come after punctuality of the Albury V/Line service dropped 15 per cent in 2016.
“This month, I will be meeting with my state counterpart Jacinta Allen to discuss ways the federal government can work with the state government to improve service levels,” he said.
“The federal government has committed $134 million in recent years for improvements to the North East line, but there is always more work to be done.”
Mr Chester will ride the North East line after Euroa MLA Steph Ryan engaged the minister about issues including track quality, mudholes and lacking funding.
“I have accepted Steph Ryan’s invitation and will meet with business, community and local councils during the North East Line visit, which will happen as soon as possible once state and federal parliamentary sitting schedules are aligned,” he said.
Indi MP Cathy McGowan welcomed the visit.
“We’ve been talking to him about coming here, so I’m really glad he’s accepting this invitation,” she said.
“However, it’s really important that as well as seeing the condition of the track, he comes with an action plan.
“That needs to work with the Victorian government on new rolling stock and with the Australian Rail Track Corporation on a long-term plan.”
Last month, Victorian Transport Minister Jacinta Allan called on the federal government to hold the ARTC accountable for 78 delays on the North East line in December, of which 87 per cent were due to poor track condition.
Border Rail Action Group spokesman John Dunstan said the solution was both a state and federal responsibility and shouldn’t be a “blame game”.
“The former repeatedly ignored the pleas of BRAG and local government to address the replacement of aged and fragile rolling stock; the latter was unmoved by the monumental failure of the series of track upgrades that began in 2009 and allegedly finished in 2016,” he said.
Ms McGowan hoped Mr Chester’s visit would help governments collaborate better. “The problem has been across so many levels for too long – I hope this means a willingness to work together to solve it,” she said.
