Victoria
Coalition promises return of VLine trains to Mildura and Dimboola
The Victorian Liberal Nationals have pledged to restore passenger rail services to Mildura and Dimboola by mid-2029 if elected.
The Victorian Liberal Nationals have promised to return passenger train services to Mildura and Dimboola by mid-2029 as part of a multi-million-dollar regional rail package, according to a wire report.
The state opposition announced the $51.2 million Wimmera Mallee Rail plan, which aims to restore V/Line services to the major regional hubs in northwestern Victoria. Under the proposed policy, passenger trains would run to both locations before the end of the decade, restoring vital public transport links that have been absent for years.
The plan represents a significant funding commitment ahead of the next state election, focusing heavily on upgrading existing regional infrastructure. The Coalition states that the funding would be allocated toward the necessary track and signaling upgrades required to accommodate modern passenger rolling stock on the lines.
While the broad details of the $51.2 million funding package have been outlined, specific technical breakdowns of the infrastructure work have not been fully detailed. It remains unconfirmed what exact passenger capacity the restored lines will initially support, or how frequently services will run each day.
Community advocates in Mildura and Dimboola have long campaigned for the return of passenger rail, pointing to the economic and social benefits of connecting the far northwest of the state directly to Melbourne. Currently, residents in these regions rely primarily on coach services or private vehicles to travel to major metropolitan centres.
The Victorian government has not yet formally responded to the Coalition's funding announcement or detailed its own long-term plans for passenger services on the Wimmera Mallee lines.
Observers will now watch how the state government responds to the proposal and whether the funding commitment gains traction among regional voters.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
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