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Off The Rails: Gippsland Trains Four Month Shut-DownTravel arrangements for Gippslanders will again be thrown into chaos, with a four month shut-down of train services. By Phillip Davis - 20th April 2006 - Back to News Liberal Member for Gippsland Province Philip Davis said today’s announcement that buses will replace all train services between Bairnsdale and Pakenham for the next four months was yet another incredible inconvenience for those who rely on public transport.
Mr Davis said locals had already given up on the Bracks Government’s ability to provide a reliable train service to Gippsland, with continual disruptions to service and budget blow-outs.
"Gippsland is the worst performing rural line in Victoria, with four out of 10 trains running significantly late. This performance has not improved for the past 18 months," Mr Davis said.
"This latest line shut-down is completely unacceptable, given Gippsland’s ‘farce-rail’ project was scheduled for completion in April 2004.
"The Gippsland line is now two years late, $25 million over budget and we are still in the midst of major rail closures with no real indication of when this work will finally be complete."
Mr Davis also criticised the amount of notice given to commuters on this latest shut-down.
"This announcement has been made just 10 days before the train service is due to cease," Mr Davis said.
Of particular concern is that commuters have been told the line will be closed for ‘around four months’, but a definite time-line has not been given.
"For the sake of Gippsland’s public transport users, I hope this time-line does not blow-out like the rest of this farce-rail project," Mr Davis said.
"Those catching trains in Bairnsdale, Sale, Traralgon and Warragul will be seriously affected by this latest rail shut-down and deserve to know how long this will impact their lives.
"This train saga has gone on long enough – it is time for the Bracks Government to face defeat and admit it cannot manage major projects.
"This farce-rail fiasco has gone beyond ridiculous."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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