Gippsland trains have been replaced by buses nearly two-thirds of the time since the start of 2023.
Analysis of V/Line announcements reveals that buses replaced trains on all or part of the Gippsland line on 416 out of 639 days – 65 per cent – between January 1, 2023 and the end of September this year.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien said the staggering figures were a startling confirmation of what Gippslanders have been experiencing now for years.
“Gippslanders are fed up with the continuing disruption to their already under-performing rail service,” Mr O’Brien said.
“It’s no joke that Gippslanders now check to see if there might be a train replacing their usual bus service.
“We have not just been putting up with an absence of trains for 18 months or so, it has been an ongoing saga for seven or eight years now.
“We all appreciate that arrangements need to be made for works on the line on occasion, but two-thirds of travel days with replacement buses is a joke.
“What makes it worse is that most of the disruptions have occurred due to works in Melbourne, such as level crossing removals, that have inconvenienced Gippslanders but will provide no benefit for us at all.
“Meanwhile, seven years after the Government promised the Gippsland Regional Rail Revival project it is still unfinished, has no completion date, has blown out in cost by $350 million and there has been no improvement in services. Will it ever end and will we ever see additional services past Traralgon?” Mr O’Brien asked.
The data was compiled after the Labor Government refused to answer questions on notice in Parliament about the number of days buses replaced trains. Instead, Mr O’Brien analysed Gippsland VLine X/Twitter notifications to calculate the number of days.
The figures come after the Government refused to add buffet services on VLocity trains on long-haul legs from Bairnsdale and added additional stops to existing services.