Euroa electorate
Annabelle CLEELAND (Euroa) (14:44): My question is for the Minister for Public and Active Transport. What is the timeline for the new VLocity trains on the north-east line between Albury and Melbourne? While some additional weekend services have recently been made permanent, we urgently need more. Passenger numbers have surged across both the north-east and Seymour train lines, and we are still not even back to pre-COVID levels. The number of seats and carriages are declining under the Allan Labor government, along with the punctuality of services and rolling stock. Every day I hear complaints from passengers who cannot reserve a seat and are left standing or even sitting on the floor for long journeys. Trains are sold out well in advance, and too often passengers are forced to rely on crowded replacement buses, if they are lucky to get a seat at all. Despite nearly double the number of passengers on the north-east V/Line services, this government has yet to ensure locals can travel comfortably and safely. For a decade our community has been calling for improved public transport services, and now even experts warn the Allan Labor government has pushed V/Line to breaking point.