Train stops to change

Paul Dunlop
COMMUTERS taking a stand against a revamp of rail services to rural towns have won a rethink on peak hour plans.
Train users between Longwarry and Nar Nar Goon are likely to get an extra stop at Garfield or possibly Nar Nar Goon stations during the evening rush hour run.
A meeting at Bunyip last week saw residents angry at proposed changes to local VLine services express their views to state MPs Ian Maxfield and Matt Viney.
VLine and Department of Infrastructure officials and Labor candidate for Bass John Anderson were also at the meeting, called to thrash out solutions to timetable problems for commuters relying on trains to get home from work in Melbourne.
As previously reported in the Gazette, residents are angry at proposed changes to train services along the Gippsland line.
Mr Viney, Chelsea Province MP and Parliamentary Secretary for Innovation and Industry, and Narracan MP Mr Maxfield called the meeting on behalf of Transport Minister Peter Batchelor.
Mr Viney said the meeting was to review potential options with the train service in a bid to ease concerns of local commuters.
The MPs will take recommendations from the meeting back to Mr Batchelor.
VLine has said the changes are part of significant improvements and upgrades along the line.
But residents have strongly opposed plans to cut seven local stops from VLine’s daily peak hour service out of the city.
Cardinia Shire councillor Bill Pearson said the meeting did not come up with a definite outcome but commuters welcomed the MPs’ advice that changes could be made.
Up to 60 people attended the meeting, held at the Bunyip Hall.
Cr Pearson said residents were eagerly awaiting the Minister’s response to their calls for change.