Mildura passenger trains: Victorian Government spruiks bus services

Mildura is mainland Australia’s largest city without a passenger train to its state capital. But calls are growing for change.

Mildura does not have a train service to Melbourne.

Towns along the Mildura rail line have been offered little hope the Victorian Government might consider restoring passenger train services.

Trains between Melbourne and Mildura were axed 27 years ago under Jeff Kennett.

It has left Mildura as the largest city in mainland Australia not to have a passenger train to its capital city within a short drive.

Member for Mildura Ali Cupper has argued COVID-19 border restrictions, which blocked off her constituents from their nearest capital in Adelaide, exposed poor connectivity with Melbourne.

But despite last week’s budget containing $2bn for Geelong fast rail and $660m for country lines, the government hasn’t indicated its position on Mildura trains.

The Mildura News put five questions to Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan.

A three-line response from a government spokesperson was received, spruiking the bus offerings from Mildura.

“V/Line operates more than 50 coach services a week to or from Mildura which connect to Ballarat and Bendigo train lines as well as further connections to Albury or Geelong,” the spokesperson said.

The statement then criticised the Kennett Government for cutting passenger services and called on the current Federal Government to deliver funding for the stalled Murray Basin Rail Project.

Ms Cupper, an independent, said while it was correct the Coalition axed the train in 1993, other abandoned regional services had since been restored.

“We are still waiting,” she said.

Ms Cupper said coach services were a poor substitute for a modern, comfortable passenger train.

“The reason we are not happy with a bus service is the same reason Bendigo wouldn’t be happy with it, the same reason Bairnsdale wouldn’t be happy with it, the same reason Shepparton wouldn’t be happy with it.

“It’s not as efficient or as comfortable – it’s a second-rate option and my electorate is not a second-rate electorate.”

To avoid the project being dismissed as too expensive, Ms Cupper has proposed a “tourist train” be put on the line using existing rolling stock.

It would take passengers to Maryborough, where they can connect with Melbourne services.

With tourists as the target market, Ms Cupper said there would be less focus on train speed when the service launched.

Patronage numbers could also be used to make the case for expanded services.

“Our COVID recovery is going to be long and slow, but one of the key parts to our recovery is getting tourism back,” she said.

“If we have a tourist train, that can bring tourists here who will then spend money not just in Mildura, but Sea Lake, Ouyen, some of those Mallee Track towns.”

Advocacy group NorthWest Rail Alliance says people avoid moving to country towns facing population challenges when they find out there isn’t a train.

Mildura Rural City Council has adopted the return of the train as one of its four Mildura Future Ready projects, an effort to secure funding from the other tiers of government.

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Contact reporter Michael DiFabrizio

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