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Public Transport | December 06, 2021

New V/Line ticketing agent for Horsham

After months of lobbying, The Nationals Member for Lowan Emma Kealy is pleased to announce that the Horsham Library will be taking on the role of V/Line ticketing agent, with the service commencing soon.

Ms Kealy has continued to push for a new ticketing agent since Horsham’s long-serving V/Line agent and coach terminal Manager Roger Muszkieta retired eleven months ago.

“Despite the Minister for Public Transport’s assurance that the service would continue, Wimmera residents have been unable to buy a bus ticket locally since this time.

Ms Kealy raised the issue in Parliament in October, with the Minister advising that a new agent still had not been appointed.

“I have continued to be contacted by a large number of seniors wishing to use their Public Transport Victoria issued free travel vouchers who report that V/Line drivers are reluctant to process these vouchers as they don’t have access to the V/Line ticketing program on their coach.

“Other seniors have been told they must travel to the nearest V/Line ticketing agent in the first instance – almost an hour away in Stawell or Ararat – to have these vouchers processed before they can use a service.

“This situation has created much distress and inequity for local seniors who don’t have the same access to use the PTV free travel voucher scheme as seniors who live in metropolitan Melbourne or regional cities with a V/Line ticketing agent.”

Ms Kealy said other constituents had also been unable to buy a bus ticket locally since Roger’s retirement, with tickets either being processed by the V/Line driver when time allows or purchased online. which is simply not possible for some local residents who do not have a computer or the skills required to purchase a ticket online.

“While it is good news that we finally have a local V/Line ticketing again, it is unacceptable that it has taken almost a year for this service to be restored in Horsham, our largest regional centre,” Ms Kealy said.

“It is also unfair on some of our local seniors who have missed out on opportunities to use their PTV free travel vouchers.

“Public transport services in the Wimmera and western Victoria are already extremely limited.

“I am calling on the Minister to direct Public Transport Victoria to ensure local residents are supported to take full advantage of the few services we have, are not further disadvantaged by situations like they have experienced over the past year.”