A CROWD of hundreds inspected the new Wodonga train station at its official opening on Saturday, giving the new building an overwhelming thumbs up.
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More than 400 enjoyed cake fashioned into a V/Line train, a shuttle service between Albury and Wodonga and the official cutting of the ribbon by member for Benambra Bill Tilley, Wodonga mayor Mark Byatt and Minister for Transport Terry Mulder.
Dorothy Worland from West Wodonga said the new station was “lovely”.
“It’s sad to see the old one close down but the new one is really nice and modern,” she said.
Wendy Starr gave the facade a thumbs down.
“It’s not much to look at outside but inside I like.”
Regular train traveller Rohan Ardern, from Wodonga, said the real test would come with the return of full services.
“I like what I see here today but for the thing to be judged a complete success it’s going to have to be over and above what we had before this time, effort and money was expended,” Mr Ardern said.
Christopher King joined the service at Benalla and said it was a special ride.
“It’s a part of history, trains being back on this line again,” Mr King said.
“All the way from Benalla to here in certain areas people were taking photos and waving.
“It was actually one of the smoothest rides I think I’ve ever had on here.”
Train buff Dan Hancock had travelled alongside the service all the way from Melbourne.
“I saw this thing out of Melbourne at 7am,” the 21-year-old said.
“My Pa used to be a shunter around Tottenham in Melbourne and he introduced me to trains.”