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Public Transport | December 12, 2018

Kealy works to save The Overland

A call by The Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy to save The Overland rail service has worked.

Following an announcement by Great Southern Rail stating that The Overland will cease operation at the end of this year, Ms Kealy called on the Andrews Labor Government to make this project a priority and to provide a firm commitment for the return of passenger rail services to Horsham and Hamilton.

“Unfortunately Labor’s decision to extend The Overland Rail service for just 12 months took far too long and doesn’t provide enough security for local people, particularly when there are a number of local jobs which rely on our only rail service continuing in the long term,” Ms Kealy said.

The Overland runs twice a week between Adelaide and Melbourne, carrying about 17,000 passengers a year. The service stops in Murray Bridge, Bordertown, Nhill, Dimboola, Horsham, Stawell, Ararat and Geelong.

“The Overland is the only passenger rail service connecting our region to Melbourne and Adelaide.

“While it’s better than nothing, this announcement by Labor doesn’t go far enough, with no commitment to return passenger rail to Horsham and Hamilton and further expand public transport services across the region”, Ms Kealy said. 

“What we need is a firm commitment to return regular passenger rail services to Horsham and Hamilton.

“I have been working hard for the return of passenger rail services and the significant benefits it will provide for western Victoria.

“The return of passenger rail services to Horsham and Hamilton was a major commitment made by The Nationals during the election campaign and was emphatically supported by Lowan voters.

“It is now more important than ever that Daniel Andrews makes good on his commitment to ‘deliver for all Victorians’ by bringing back passenger rail services to western Victoria,” she said.