News

Public Transport | March 19, 2019

Labor confirms no plan to return passenger rail

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy is bitterly disappointed at Labor’s refusal to return passenger rail to Hamilton and Horsham.

Responding to a question from Ms Kealy in Parliament recently, the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Jacinta Allan advised that the Andrews Labor Government will not be matching the Liberal Nationals pre-election commitment to bring back rail to the region.

“It is extremely disappointing that Labor has now confirmed they will not be returning passenger rail to western Victoria,” Ms Kealy said.

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

“Our region needs and deserves better access to public transport services and that’s why before the election the Liberal Nationals committed to bring back passenger rail, undertaking a rail business case to get the best plan in place and expanding coach connections across our region. 

“Labor’s wilful neglect of public transport services in western Victoria is putting decentralisation plans back by decades, and local people are being treated as second rate citizens. 

“I am once again calling on Daniel Andrews to make good on his commitment to ‘deliver for all Victorians’ by committing to bring back passenger rail services to Hamilton and Horsham and improving local coach connections.”