With new added opportunity comes the challenge to actively engage and benefit from it.
Council has lobbied over many years firstly for the restoration of passenger train services to our Shire and then on addictions and enhancements. This included the addition of passenger services to Talbot and an additional weekday service.
Council’s recent priority has been on achieving weekend services coming into Maryborough in the morning and returning in the afternoon on both days. That offers substantial upside to recovering tourism, hospitality and retail industries as well as offering residents added travel opportunities. It was a thrill when the Victorian Government delivered this in the current Budget with commencement planning underway.
Future advocacy includes added weekday services, extension of the service to Dunolly, better ticketing access and introduction of the Myki system, the economic benefits of a Vline crew changeover depot in Maryborough and other regional enhancements.
We all have an opportunity to use both the existing services, where patronage has been dented by Covid, and these added services more fully.
We can invite friends and relatives to visit and use the train, possibly utilising a hire car on arrival. What a wonderful weekend away for them.
In addition why not plan evenings or weekends catching up with the family or friends in Melbourne or elsewhere using the train? Community organisations might plan travel trips to key events.
The possibilities are endless. Let’s make sure we use the wonderful passenger rail opportunities we have. They are the envy of many.
