The government has rejected rumours that Sunbury’s V/Line services may be cut again.
Speaking in State Parliament recently, Western Metropolitan MP Bernie Finn called for an ironclad guarantee that V/Line stops at the town would not be cut, amid rumours that commuter services are still under threat.
A spokesman for public transport minister Jacinta Allan told
Star Weekly that Mr Finn and the Liberal opposition “don’t care about public transport and are trying to create controversy where this is none”.
“We have no plans to remove services from Sunbury,” the spokesman said.
“The former Liberal government didn’t start a single major public transport project, order any regional carriages for two years, and ripped $120 million out of V/Line.
“We’ve already delivered more than 80 extra services to Sunbury, ordered 48 new carriages, and increased funding to V/Line.
“We’re also getting on with the Metro tunnel project, which will enable more services and high-capacity trains to Sunbury.”
Overcrowding of the V/Line country services through to Bendigo has been a long-running issue between city and country commuters since the electrification of the line in 2012.
Sunbury commuters campaigned last year against the government’s decision to remove the town as the pick-up point for V/Line trains travelling to and from Melbourne and Bendigo, while their Woodend counterparts lobbied to get Sunbury commuters off V/Line trains travelling to Bendigo from Melbourne.
Sunbury passengers were later told that they were welcome aboard V/Line trains, and stops at Sunbury were reinstated.
Mr Finn told
Star Weekly he believes “rumours” of service cuts surfaced because the reversal of last year’s commuter ban had only been a temporary measure.
“I have asked the minister to provide … an ironclad guarantee that V/Line services will remain servicing the people of Sunbury for the duration of this government,” he said.
“V/Line services have been servicing Sunbury for many a long year, and with [its] electrification … the minister announced that there would be a removal of V/Line services to Sunbury.
“It does concern me now … I hear rumours around the Sunbury township the V/Line services to Sunbury are under threat again.”
