The Andrews Labor Government is not considering stopping Gippsland trains at Pakenham and making passengers transfer to Metro services.

Member for Eastern Victoria, Harriet Shing, said there were no plans to implement the proposal, put forward in ‘Citizens Juries’ reports as part of consultation by Infrastructure Victoria (IV).

The reports represent the thinking of two citizen juries – they are not recommendations of Government and are not IV’s final report, which is due to be released at the end of year.

Stopping Gippsland trains at Pakenham and making people transfer is not part of the Regional Network Development Plan released in May, which outlines the short, medium and long term priorities for better public transport in Gippsland and across regional Victoria.

The Labor Government is getting on with delivering its massive program of investment to improve Gippsland services, including the Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal Project.

This $1.6 billion project will get rid of nine level crossings on the Pakenham line, improving reliability and creating space for more services on the Gippsland line.

The recent Victorian Budget 2016/17 also provided funding for:

• additional return off-peak services from Melbourne to Traralgon each day
• regional bus service improvements for the Latrobe Valley and upgrades of coach interchanges in Wonthaggi, Leongatha, Anderson, and Koo Wee Rup.
• planning for station and car park improvements at Morwell, Moe and Traralgon stations
• planning for new crossing loops, duplicating the single track section between Bunyip and Longwarry and replacing the Avon River Bridge at Stratford.

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria, Harriet Shing

“We have no plans to stop Gippsland trains at Pakenham and make people transfer.”

“We’re not considering it now and it’s not part of the Regional Network Development Plan we released in May – Victoria’s first ever long-term plan for better public transport in Gippsland and across regional Victoria.”

“Instead, we’re ordering more carriages, improving Gippsland stations and removing nine level crossings between Dandenong and the city to create space for more Metro and Gippsland services.”