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City-Centric Labor Snubs Latrobe Valley Commuters with a New Line For MelbourneThe promsie of a new tunnel through Melbourne suburbs while failing to match The Nationals’ plan for the much-needed dedicated line for Gippsland trains. By Portal Admin - 16th September 2018 - Back to News Daniel Andrews’ suburban rail announcement is a slap in the face for Latrobe Valley commuters.
The Nationals candidate for Morwell Sheridan Bond says Daniel Andrews and his city-centric Labor mates have again shown their contempt for the Valley, promising a new tunnel through Melbourne suburbs while failing to match The Nationals’ plan for the much-needed dedicated line for Gippsland trains.
"The Premier for Melbourne and his Transport Minister have completely dismissed The Nationals’ plan for better services to and from Gippsland," Ms Bond said.
"We have put up with cancelled and delayed trains, rickety old carriages with toilets that don’t work, and overcrowded replacement buses.
"A new, dedicated rail line for regional trains through Melbourne’s south east metropolitan system would make services faster and more reliable for Gippsland passengers.
"The Andrews Labor Government was embarrassed by our plan and rejected it, but now Daniel Andrews is splashing $300 million on an unfunded plan for a 90km tunnel from Cranbourne to Werribee for Melbourne people.
"What about the Valley’s commuters and our needs today?
"Even if a suburban tunnel loop is built by 2050, it does absolutely nothing to address today’s very real problem of Gippsland trains getting stuck and delayed behind metro trains as they travel through the south east suburbs. A dedicate Gippsland line is critical, we can’t wait any longer."
Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Regional Victoria and Decentralisation Peter Walsh said Daniel Andrews is ignoring the needs of regional passengers again.
"Regional Victoria needs a modern regional rail network if we are going to properly decentralize our population but this city-centric Labor Government can’t see past Melbourne and communities like the Latrobe Valley are missing out.
"Only the Liberal Nationals have a plan to boost rail services across the whole state, not just Melbourne.
"While Daniel Andrews spends millions on ideas for Melbourne, the Liberal Nationals are planning for line upgrades, new trains and more so that regional passengers have better, faster and reliable rail services as soon as possible."
In addition to the commitment to complete a business case for a dedicated Gippsland line into Melbourne, The Nationals in government will invest $633 million to purchase 96 new VLocitystyle trains that will replace the ageing, unreliable fleet currently used for services through to Bairnsdale on the Gippsland line.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: support@gippsland.com
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