In 2015 the Labor State Government promised to fix the mobile black spots on V/Line Trains.
Nationals Member for Northern Victoria, Gaelle Broad raised the issue in Parliament, because eight years later, commuters are still waiting.
“If you’ve travelled between Bendigo and Melbourne by train, you will know the connection regularly drops out.
In 2014 the Liberals and Nationals allocated $40 million to fix the mobile blackspots and provide free Wi-Fi on V/Line trains, but Labor scrapped the plan when they won Government and allocated less than half the funding to the project.
In November 2015, Daniel Andrews said ‘If you hate your phone dropping out on V/Line trains, don’t worry we’re onto it. Today we’ve launched our $18 million Regional Connectivity Project that will fix mobile blackspots along the five busiest regional rail corridors.’
Since then, Jacinta Allan has been the Minister for Public Transport, Deputy Premier and is now the Premier of Victoria.
““It’s been eight years, and the Premier has failed to deliver on what they promised,” Ms Broad said.
“This is just another example of Labor’s track record, a Government that wastes money and can’t manage projects.”
“What is the Premier and Member for Bendigo East doing to deliver on the promise they made eight years ago, to fix mobile blackspots on regional rail services including Bendigo?” said Ms Broad.
“Local business leaders want improvements across the region because 30 minutes out of Bendigo you cannot get coverage.
“As more people move to the regions and commute to work, the Premier needs to deliver on what she promised eight years ago, and fix the mobile black spots on V/Line trains.”
Media Contact: Linda Barrow 0484 303 764 linda.barrow@parliament.vic.gov.au
