TEN councils across western Victoria are calling on the major parties to support the return of “vital” passenger rail services.
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The blok of rail alliance mayors from cities including Portland, Hamilton, Ararat and Horsham want cash poured into a study to find ways to reboot the rail network.
Glenelg Shire mayor Robert Halliday said Portland to Melbourne commuters faced long travel times on coach services.
“To commute to Melbourne you have to get up at 4am in the morning. You can go there and back in the day but it’s very hard,” Cr Halliday said.
“Council is pushing very hard and looking at every avenue to open south-west Victoria up. The council is very passionate about this.”
Councils in the Wimmera say the future of small country towns could again rely on rail bringing people into the remote regions.
The rail alliance has made application for a feasibility study but is yet to hear back from the government.
It’s hoped rail freight corridors between Portland, Hamilton, Ararat and Horsham will be able to take passenger “sprinter” carriages that would connect through to Ballarat.
“The rail tracks are there, it is now a matter of using the existing infrastructure to provide this vital service to our communities,” Southern Grampians Shire mayor Albert Calvano said.
