Horsham Rural City Council Mayor Robyn Gulline has called on the Victorian Government to match an opposition election commitment to examine the return of passenger rail to the Wimmera.
Member for Lowan Emma Kealy on Thursday announced that, if elected, a Nationals and Liberals Government would fund a business case for returning trains to Horsham and Hamilton.
HRCC has long advocated for passenger trains to service Horsham, which is one of the state's 10 regional cities.
Cr Gulline said the return of passenger rail to the Wimmera, in conjunction with better rail services to and from Ararat, was essential to the ongoing growth of the region's economy and for the wellbeing of our communities which rely on public transport for access to medical services and education.
"The first step in this process is a government funded business case and we welcome the commitment from the opposition, and call on the Andrews Government to provide bipartisan support," Cr Gulline said.
"Our community keeps telling us that it is a major priority for the region and we will keep advocating for a business case to finally happen," she said.
Cr Gulline said re-instating regular passenger rail services to Horsham would mean less car movements up and down the Western Highway and contribute to meeting the state's carbon emission reduction targets.
"Horsham is a regional centre, and access to regular and appropriate public transport is a key component in attracting people to regional centres," she said.
V/Line passenger trains haven't serviced Horsham since 1993.
Interstate holiday train The Overland stops in the Wimmera four times a week – twice as it travels towards Adelaide and twice heading to Melbourne — but it entirely bypasses Ballarat, where Wimmera residents traditionally go for medical appointments and other services not available anywhere else in the region.
