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Gippsland MPs criticise line upgrade, highlighting service gaps and ongoing disruptions on east of Traralgon

The Gippsland Line Upgrade ends amid ongoing disruptions, with Nationals MPs criticising no new services east of Traralgon and calling for improved connectivity and infrastructure investments.

By news@gippsland - 23rd May 2025 - Back to News

With the end of the Gippsland Line Upgrade finally in sight, The Nationals Gippsland MPs are left wondering what the project has achieved for Gippslanders east of Traralgon. The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O'Brien said after years of disruptions and unreliable services there has been little to no improvement for passengers east of Traralgon.

Danny O'Brien says years of disruptions have delivered few improvements for passengers east of Traralgon, with more delays ahead

Frustration over upgrades

Mr O'Brien said, "As Gippslanders face a further six weeks of coach replacements on the Traralgon and Bairnsdale between June 14 and August 13 it's hard to find anything to celebrate in this line upgrade for those who live in the east."

"My repeated calls for new services to Sale have fallen on deaf ears and we have even lost our buffet service. After years of service interruptions and poor reliability it is extremely disappointing to see no new services delivered beyond Traralgon," Mr O'Brien said.

Call for connectivity

The Nationals Member for East Gippsland, Tim Bull says it is particularly upsetting for those in Bairnsdale and surrounds who are desperate for an additional morning service. "I am continuing to call for at least one additional morning service, ideally departing Bairnsdale around 9:20 and connecting into the existing Sale V/Line service."

"This is a common-sense short-term improvement that would dramatically improve connectivity for our region. Also the return service from Southern Cross at 3:24pm, which currently terminates in Sale, could easily be extended through to Bairnsdale. And that would give Bairnsdale six weekday options to choose frome," Mr Bull said.

Rail upgrade disappointment

Mr Bull said what he would have really liked to have seen included in the Gippsland Line Upgrade is the infrastructure to allow more services in the future which means passing opportunities from line duplication in some areas.

"The Allan Labor government has really dropped the ball and missed an opportunity to improve access to Melbourne for Gippsland East. Right now, we've got a glaring gap in the timetable. There's no train or coach service between 6:14am and 12:54pm," he said.

Mr O'Brien said while Labor is patting itself on the back for finally finishing up a rail project that has run over time and over budget, Gippslanders are left frustrated by the loss of a buffet service and no additional services. "It is clear the Allan Labor government can't manage money and can't manage rail and it is Gippslanders who continue to pay the price."

Pictures from V/Line Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com