A TWO year campaign opposing plans for changes at Benalla railway station to accommodate double stacked trains for Inland Rail has been successful.
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And the city's mayor says its campaign against the Australian Rail Track Corporation's original plan to demolish the Mackellar Street bridge and replace it with an even bigger structure should give heart to other communities on the North-East line facing similar battles.
Still to be resolved in talks with the Victorian government is the need for a pedestrian overpass or underpass.
"(The ARTC) wasn't originally going to move from their plan," Cr Danny Claridge said.
"But there has been a huge push from the community and huge push from council and they've basically done a backflip and it's what the community and council want and a great outcome for Benalla.
"You need to have the whole of the community behind you because it is the only chance you will have in the next 50 to 100 years to do something about their station.
"There was virtually no one here in Benalla who wanted the road overpass."
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ARTC's Victoria projects general manager Ed Walker said the decision was a win for the community.
"The response we received was overwhelmingly in favour of the option that involves realigning a portion of current west track to the other side of the station.
"We heard that the community wanted the chance to provide feedback on the modification of the station at Benalla.
"ARTC has considered options that are feasible and met all necessary requirements .
"This includes a second platform as part of any realignment to support anticipated growth in the town and ensure operational requirements are met."
Indi MP Helen Haines Dr Haines said the Benalla outcome should energise Euroa residents to get a similar result on the options for the Anderson Street bridge.
"When I first started meeting with the ARTC two years ago, they told me their road bridge proposal for Benalla was a done deal, and the community proposal would be too expensive and could never happen," Dr Haines said.
"Community pressure worked in Benalla and it can work in Euroa too."
Inland Rail is one of the federal government's flagship projects.
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