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Train Anniversary A Huge Success: IngramThe Independent Member for Gippsland East, Craig Ingram, says Saturday’s celebrations to mark the five-year anniversary of the return of passenger rail to the Stratford/Bairnsdale line were a huge success. By Craig Ingram - 5th May 2009 - Back to News "An estimated 500 people gathered to welcome the special train as it travelled through Stratford and arrived at Bairnsdale station on Saturday morning," Mr Ingram said.
"Numbers were in excess of what we were expecting, but display just how passionately Gippsland East residents feel about the return of their train five years on.
"Projections indicate a 107 per cent increase in patronage between Sale and Bairnsdale compared to 2004/2005, which demonstrates that residents have embraced the service.
"I thank all those who contributed to make this day such a success, especially members of the original Save Our Train Action Group that were so active in the original campaign to have the service restored.
"It was definitely a day of celebration and a positive demonstration of what a community can achieve," Mr Ingram concluded.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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