General News
30 March, 2023
Fare cuts boon for travellers
CHEAPER V/Line fares are poised to bring a windfall of visitors to townships across the region. Christine Bremner and her family are among those looking forward to the savings, which come into effect today, and which will see daily travel costs...
CHEAPER V/Line fares are poised to bring a windfall of visitors to townships across the region.
Christine Bremner and her family are among those looking forward to the savings, which come into effect today, and which will see daily travel costs anywhere in the state capped at $9.20.
“I always tell my friends to visit these beautiful towns,” she said.
Ms Bremner visits her daughter’s family in Horsham at least four times a year from Gippsland, and is delighted with the savings she will make.
She said the fare cuts would motivate people from all over Victoria to visit their families and friends.
“This is a great service and soon it will be more economical for everyone. It will boost tourism and local businesses in the area,” Ms Bremner said.
“As a senior citizen, I’m still paying concession price for these trips to Horsham.
“Around $19 for the round trip would be very cheap compared to the $52 which I’m paying at the moment.”
“It will be helpful for everyone financially and will encourage people to visit their loved ones more often.”
Horsham Rural City Council Mayor Robyn Gulline welcomed the state government initiative, which will see one-way fares as high as $46 from some regional areas fall by more than 80 per cent.
“We welcome any measures that make it easier for people to use public transport to access services in the city,” she said.
While Horsham is likely to enjoy the greatest increase in visitors to the region, so too will its neighbouring towns.
Dimboola Town Committee president Kaylene Pietsch said cheaper V/Line fares would attract more people to her town: "It will inject some benefit to the small local businesses."
Cr Gulline also reiterated the call for the return of regular passenger rail travel to the region.
“We know that the Wimmera is a very long way behind most other regional cities in the state when it comes to public transport,” she said.
“The current coach service is not meeting the needs or wants of the entire Wimmera region.
“The return of passenger rail to Horsham, in conjunction with better rail services to and from Ararat, is essential to the ongoing growth of the region’s economy and the wellbeing of our communities which rely on public transport for access to medical services and education."