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Public Transport | April 24, 2018

Liberal Nationals will get Western Victoria moving

An elected Liberal Nationals government will get Western Victoria moving with better train and bus services.

Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh and Member for Lowan Emma Kealy announced today that an elected Liberal Nationals Government will;

• Fund the much-wanted business case to extend V/Line train services to Horsham and Hamilton;
• Add new bus services between Horsham and Hamilton;
• Timetable improvements to help more people get where they want to be, when they want to get there;
• Introduce tourist friendly coach services to Halls Gap and the Grampians, including timetable improvements to provide better connections, more shelters and room for bikes to be carried on the bus to support growing tourist visitation to the Grampians; and
• Ensure a weekday train service arrives in Ararat before 9am.

The business case is the next important step for transforming public transport in Western Victoria.

Better bus services between Hamilton and Horsham, and Halls Gap and the Grampians would include a new weekday coach service from Horsham to Hamilton, via Balmoral and Cavendish, and return. These services will coordinate with regional connections.

Timetable changes on the Ararat line would see a new weekday train that would arrive in Ararat before 9am, giving a more convenient option for people travelling in from Ballarat.

The Liberal Nationals will also negotiate with Great Southern Rail to secure its continued service to the towns of Ararat, Stawell and Horsham.

Comments attributable to Leader of the Opposition, Matthew Guy:

“A government I lead will deliver more bus and train services for Western Victoria. This commitment will ensure Western Victoria is better connected to the rest of the state than ever before.

“While Daniel Andrews is only interested in being the Premier for Melbourne, I will be the Premier for all of Victoria.”

Comments attributable to Leader of The Nationals, Peter Walsh:

“We’re going to get Regional Victoria moving with better train and bus services. Our plans will make sure our communities can get where they want, when they want.

“Western Victoria has been completely neglected by the Andrews Labor Government. Anything west of Ballarat is completely off Daniel Andrews’ radar but the Liberal Nationals will deliver for the people of Western Victoria.

Comments attributable to Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy:

“Western Victoria needs a better deal on rail and bus transport and that’s exactly what I will deliver if we win the next State election in November.

“Our commitment is to fund the vital next-step business case into a rail service for Horsham and Hamilton and we will also boost existing services so that workers, students, visitors and our whole community can easily get where we need to be.