Harcourt residents have been let down by the Allan Labor Government, as its promise to reopen the Harcourt Railway Station has now been downgraded to a possible bus service
The Nationals’ Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad raised the issue of the Harcourt railway station in Parliament last month, asking the Minister to clarify the situation, amid fears the project had gone off the rails.
The Minister for Transport Infrastructure said that in lieu of reopening the railway station, they are ‘considering new bus routes to service Harcourt to Castlemaine/Bendigo’.
“One of the reasons for not reopening the station was that it is located on a single line section, which would need to be upgraded to allow opposing trains to pass each other.
“Ironically, it was a Labor government that previously scrapped the double rail lines between Bendigo and Melbourne.
“The entire line to Bendigo was originally constructed as double-track.
“As part of Labor’s so-called Regional Fast Rail project, sections of the line were reduced to a single line in 2006. The line is currently double-track to Kyneton, then single-track with crossing loops the rest of the route to Bendigo, Echuca, and Swan Hill.
“This has affected the services north of Kyneton.”
Ms Broad said she had spoken to residents who were keen to see the station reopened following Labor’s promises.
“In August 2018 the Labor Government promised upgrades to the Bendigo-Kyneton rail line and said that the Harcourt railway station would re-open if a Labor Government was re-elected,” Ms Broad said.
“After winning government, in May 2019 the Labor Government issued a media release, stating planning would get underway for the reopening of Harcourt station.
“In 2021 the Regional Rail Revival V/Line project said it included a planning study for the reopening of Harcourt station.”
Ms Broad said the Harcourt railway station was another broken promise from Labor.
“The Commonwealth Games is another instance where Labor’s broken promises leave regional Victorians pushed aside and abandoned. Repeated assurances before the 2022 election and just days prior to the cancellation, that the 2026 Games would be going ahead gave regional Victorians false hope to continue planning for the games.
“Labor can’t manage money and regional Victorians are paying the price.”
Media Contact: Linda Barrow 0484 303 764 linda.barrow@parliament.vic.gov.au
