Bendigo: Rail petition started

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Rail petition started

Rail petition started

A PETITION calling for more trains to stop at Kangaroo Flat Railway Station was launched yesterday by the Golden Square branch of the Liberal Party.

The branch wants all 223 trains each week to stop at the station, which has not been in full operation for some time after being damaged by vandals.

Trains between Bendigo and Melbourne presently stop at the derelict station 14 times each week.

Opposition public transport minister Terry Mulder said Kangaroo Flat, Lockwood and other local residents were disadvantaged by the lack of trains stopping at the station.

"Under Labor, Kangaroo Flat residents are travelling more slowly, by being forced to park at Bendigo station, paying more in petrol to get there and receiving a poor, infrequent rail service at Kangaroo Flat station.?? Mr Mulder questioned why Malmsbury?s 587 residents had a V/Line service that stopped 12 times each day at its station, compared to Kangaroo Flat?s population of more than 8400.Bendigo West MP Bob Cameron said that given the popularity of Labor?s rail upgrade, more people were interested in using a Kangaroo Flat stop.

"I have an agreement with V/Line that I will do a survey in the Kangaroo Flat and Golden Square areas early this year to help determine the level of interest for using the Kangaroo Flat station if there were more stops there.

"It was agreed I would then give that information to V/Line as part of its timetable considerations.?? Mr Cameron said he expected the survey to start in late February to early March.

A spokeswoman for Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said the Brumby Government was investing in improvements to the station and car park.

"In relation to the station, workers are on site today," she said.

Alterations to existing rooms to construct new public toilet facilities, the construction of a new booking office, kitchenette, and staff toilet, and the reinstatement of the main station building entrance were all scheduled, she said.