Shepparton District Public Transport forgotten, again

Shepparton District has again been forgotten by the Andrews Labor Government, missing out on the Homesafe trial announced yesterday.

Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed said she was disappointed the Homesafe trial, which includes late night V/Line bus services bound for Bendigo, Ballarat, Traralgon and Geelong, does not make mention of the fifth largest region in the state.

It comes after more than 110 Shepparton District residents called for more frequent, fast and direct services at a Public Transport Victoria (PTV) consultation in the city last week.

“It’s very disappointing that yet again Shepparton has not been included in a state-wide public transport initiative,” Ms Sheed said.

“We’ve demonstrated how important investment in rail services is again and again, by travelling to Melbourne en masse to meet with the Minister for Transport and coming together in large numbers again last week to lobby PTV for more services.

“But we’re still being ignored, which has been the case for years under both parties.”

In announcing the trial the Minister for Public Transport said “people who live in the outer suburbs and regional areas shouldn’t have to miss out on Melbourne’s vibrant night life. This trial is about giving them a safe and affordable way to get home.”

But Ms Sheed said that was not the case for Shepparton District residents.

“The last train to Shepparton on a Saturday night departs at 6.32pm, which doesn’t allow people to attend the football, theatre or any of the other great events people living in large regional cities can enjoy, in the knowledge they can catch public transport home into the early hours of the morning,” she said.

“It’s not fair and I again call on the Minister for Public Transport to invest in extra Shepparton District rail services.”

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