Petition to reinstate rail services to Gippsland: Travis Mitchell launches campaign

A campaign to reinstate passenger trains to Koo Wee Rup has gained “amazing” traction. See how the politicians feel.

A Bass Coast man has launched a petition to reinstate rail services to Koo Wee Rup, 29 years after it was discontinued.

Travis Mitchell started the petition to “advocate for availability and accessibility for locals through better public transport”.

Koo Wee Rup station, on the South Gippsland line, closed in July 1993.

Between 1999 and 2008 there was constant speculation that the railway line from Cranbourne to Leongatha would re-open, as promised by the then Victorian state government.

However, in May 2008, a scoping study carried out on behalf of the government found the costs of returning services high, at $72 million. Therefore, plans to reopen the line were halted, and the government pledged to spend $14.2 million on improved V/Line coach services in the South Gippsland region instead.

But Mr Mitchell said buses were not the answer instead they were a “band-aid fix”.

A Bass Coast man has launched a petition to reinstate rail services to Koo Wee Rup, 29 years after it was discontinued.

“They (buses) aren’t accessible especially for people with disabilities and the elderly,” he said.

Bass state Labor MP Jordan Crungale welcomed the petition and acknowledged the need for better public transport options for Gippsland and Bass Coast.

“Build it (the railway) to Clyde and plan to Koo Wee Rup is something I have long advocated for consideration. I welcome the petition of course as a great way community gets their voice heard in the parliament,” she said.

Bass Liberal candidate Aaron Brown also supported the petition.

“Regular commuters that live in these areas would greatly benefit from such infrastructure and I would love to see them have it,” he said.

But he said it would be long-term project because of the high cost.

“There would be parts of the track that would need replacement and different things built,” he said.

“But they spend so much money on metro rails. In one place they put an entire length of temporary track and then ripped it down again.”

Independent candidate Jeni Jobe also threw her support behind the cause and said the only barrier to preventing the return of the rail was “political will”.

A Bass Coast man has launched a petition to reinstate rail services to Koo Wee Rup, 29 years after it was discontinued.

“The only reason any of the political parties are talking about rail is because of the upcoming state election. In two party system battle for government, regional commuters get ignored,” she said.

The benefits of reinstating the rail according to Mr Mitchell far outweigh the “perceived” barriers.

“You have the standout benefits like employment, education, appointments and medical and it would greatly benefit families living in the area with teenagers wanting to get into the city,” he said.

Ms Jobe also agreed there would be many benefits to having the rail make a comp back.

“Reduced transport costs for business and households, get the 500+ double trailer trucks off the roads. Less congestion, reduced emissions and safer roads with road surfaces that would last much longer and be less draining on the public purse. Particularly if rail went further than Koo Wee Rup,” she said.

Mr Mitchell said he gives “no merit” to the opposition citing “noise pollution” as a reason not to have it reinstated.

“I can’t see the merit there. There are no properties really close to the line and trains are pretty quiet these days anyway,” he said.

The petition will be tabled in parliament and needs to be signed by September 13.

Sign it here.