Member for Morwell Russell Northe is calling upon the State Government to extend free bus travel for Gippsland commuters, following news that trains won’t be operating on the Gippsland line between the 2nd January and the 13th January 2019.
Currently buses are replacing trains on our network from 1st December to 23rd December which has caused massive disruptions again for Gippsland commuters.
At least the Government saw fit recognise the pain caused to Gippsland commuters by providing free travel for this period in December 2018.
The question is why won’t free travel likewise be provided in January 2019 in which buses will once again replace Gippsland trains?
“This year Gippsland commuters have borne the brunt of constant delays and disruptions to Gippsland V/Line Services, with many missing appointments, being late to work and missing important transport connections” said Mr Northe.
Mr Northe’s office has received numerous complaints throughout the year in relation to the well-publicised issues on the Gippsland Line, with Mr Northe raising these same concerns continually in Parliament throughout the year.
Gippsland commuters have endured more than their fair share of disruptions and replacement services over recent times, with seemingly no end in sight for the guarantee of a solution to these issues.
In fact despite repeated questions, no-one within the Government can tell me what Gippsland services will have reduced travel times and by how much when these and other works on the network have been completed.
“I request that the State Government at the very least provide free travel period to Gippsland commuters in January 2019 as compensation for these continual and ongoing disruptions” Mr Northe said.
Gippsland line Coaches replace Gippsland trains 1 Dec 2018 – 23 Dec 2018 Travel will be free while coaches replace all Traralgon and Bairnsdale trains for the entire journey from Saturday 1 December until Sunday 23 December. Coaches are replacing trains due to works on the Pakenham and Gippsland lines.
Coaches replace Gippsland trains 2 Jan 2019 – 13 Jan 2019 Due to signalling, platform and infrastructure upgrades in the metropolitan area, coaches will replace all Traralgon and Bairnsdale trains for the entire journey from Wednesday 2 January to Sunday 13 January.
