THE Coalition has promised an extra train service for the Warrnambool line if re-elected on November 29.
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The new service would run to Melbourne six days a week, from Sunday to Friday. It would mean four rail services would run Monday to Friday and three services would run on Sundays.
Three return services would continue to operate on Saturdays.
The news will be welcomed by south-west councils who have been campaigning for the new service for years.
The announcement was part of a $178 million package announced on Tuesday morning in Ararat, promising an extra 79 long haul V/Line rail services across the state.
Minister for Transport and Member for Polwarth Terry Mulder said the Coalition would also refurbish and bring a previously withdrawn train back into operation to ensure that V/Line had more spare rolling stock.
Mr Mulder said that a re-elected Victorian Coalition Government would also investigate providing improved air-conditioning to V/Line's N set carriages that were the mainstay of the long distance trains.
"We will make a decision on this within a year of being re-elected," Mr Mulder said.
Premier and Member for South West Coast Denis Napthine said the government wanted to double V/Line's long distance train patronage within 20 years.
"This is the biggest single boost to V/Line's long distance trains in the past 30 years." he said.