Additional performances are being held in Bendigo to spread the reach of this year's festival in response to the coronavirus pandemic and the special coaches would make it easy for Castlemaine locals and festival goers to travel to and from the shows.
V/Line will provide coaches between Castlemaine Station and the Ulumbarra Theatre on Saturday for One Fell Swoop Circus' two performances of By a Thread.
On Saturday and Sunday coaches will run between Castlemaine Station and the Capital's Bendigo Bank Theatre where the Inventi Ensemble is performing various shows including the Planets, Kids Planets and Pied Piper Promenade.
The additional services are being provided as part of V/Line's role as Major Transport Partner of the biennial festival which runs from 19 March to 4 April and features performance, music, literature, visual arts and film events helping connect people within the regional community.
Passengers travelling to or from other festival shows on normal V/Line train and coach services can also receive 10 per cent off ticket prices to most performances using promotion code VLINE10 when booking tickets.
Festival-goers who hold Victorian Seniors and Carers cards can also take advantage of free travel on the V/Line network from Sunday 21 March to Sunday 28 March 2021 as part of the Victorian Seniors Festival.
Special coach timetables for the opening weekend are available on the Castlemaine State Festival page on the V/Line website. Passengers don't need to book to travel on special coaches but will need to show the driver a copy of their show ticket prior to boarding.
As stated by Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll
"The Castlemaine State Festival brings together thousands of people from across Victoria and we're working hard to provide safe, clean, comfortable public transport services to help people get there."
As stated by Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards
"I'm excited to see the strength of the regional performing arts scene through the growth of the festival and we're proud to support its expansion to include the Bendigo community."
''With events taking place across Castlemaine and Bendigo venues, we encourage festival-goers to explore Central Victoria and the many festival activities on offer - and what better way to do this than travelling across the countryside by the V/Line train."
