Regional Victorians told they won’t get free Wi-Fi on V/Line trains

COUNTRY Victorians have been told to keep paying for internet themselves after a $40 million government plan to install free Wi-Fi on trains was scrapped.

Hand holding smartphone with wi-fi connection on the screen in cafe

INNOVATION Minister Philip Dalidakis has dumped the Napthine Government’s $40 million plan to install Wi-Fi on V/Line services due to be installed by the end of this year.

The move came after he revealed the government would upgrade mobile coverage on the Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Seymour and Traralgon lines under an $18 million program but said free internet was not on the cards.

``People nearly always have data provided as part of their plan,’’ he said.

``Why should we provide the Wi-Fi when people already have data?’

``I am interested in delivering a good quality service to our commuters, then I am happy to have the discussion about what they want.’’

Mr Dalidakis said the removal of black spots would begin mid-2016 and he would discuss free Wi-Fi when the mobile service is fully up and running on the network in 2017.

Budget papers show money had already been allocated by the Napthine Government in 2013/14.

The plan to can Wi-Fi has outraged Shadow Assistant Treasurer Gordon Rich-Phillips who demanded to know where the money had gone.

``This is the cost of Daniel Andrews’ decision to waste $1 billion to not build the East West Link,’’ he said.

``Daniel Andrews has not only cut the Country Roads and Bridges Program but now he’s betraying regional Victoria once again by pulling funding on Wi-Fi on V/line trains.

``(The Government) must come clean to regional Victorian commuters on where this money is being redirected to.``

Public Transport Users Association president Tony Morton welcomed the move to fix black spots on the regional network but said he would like to see free Wi-Fi in the future.

``While access to Wi-Fi is something we support, we need to ensure we have the basics,’’ he said.

``We would entirely expect that Wi-Fi be available in the near term but we need to make sure we have mobile coverage at least.’’

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