Border Rail Action Group says the pressing issue is no longer the track, which has received a boost of an extra $135 million in funding, but the line’s aging train fleet.

Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan this week committed to putting in an order for new, redesigned V/Locity trains once the Australian Rail Track Corporation had finished work on the track.

BRAG chairman Bill Traill said that will be too long to wait.

“Given the original  $100 million staged track spend planned over three years, it is important to reflect on the further lead time required complete a total of $235 million – at the very least it represents a delay of four to five years,” he said. 

“A wait of at least five years, as implied by the Victorian government’s present position is unacceptable.

“Until there is commitment in the form of budget provision for new rolling stock from the Victorian government, North East corridor travellers’ needs will not be resolved.”

The timeframe for works is in the hands of the ARTC.

Politicians from multiple parties and levels of government have been celebrating this week since the announcement of extra federal government funding.

Wodonga and Benalla councils both paid tribute to the efforts of their cities, in conjunction with Albury and Wangaratta, as part of a working group with BRAG.

Despite Ms Allan accusing Victorian Coalition MPs of not pushing for more federal funding, Ovens Valley MP Tim McCurdy said the money was the result of work between state and federal National members.

“This is an example of the success the Nationals have in working for the best interests of regional and rural Victoria,” he said.

But Mr Traill said the primary issue was the critical need for new rolling stock and asked the “self congratulations from the polity” be tempered.

“The plethora of cancellations experienced by travellers are overwhelmingly caused by the debased fleet and the locomotives in particular,” he said.

“Whilst the need for track upgrade is not denied, it should be noted that NSW’s XPT is regularly achieving 130km/h on our corridor.

“Only a complete fleet replacement will remedy the atrocious V/Line performance of recent times.”