North-east rail snub sparks outrage

By Contributed

Apr 25, 2025

Better Benalla Rail president Suzie Pearce said the lobby group was disappointed the north-east line was not included in plans for a Melbourne airport rail link. Photo by Contributed

When Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan were at Sunshine Station promoting the jointly funded airport rail link project, members of Better Benalla Rail were perplexed.

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President Suzie Pearce said the Regional Rail Development project would benefit Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo passengers but not passengers from north-east Victoria.

“Promotion of this billion-dollar rail infrastructure project at election time is no surprise because Federal Minister (for infrastructure, transport, regional development and local government) Catherine King is the MP for Ballarat and Premier Allan is the State MP for Bendigo,” Ms Pearce said.

“Better Benalla Rail sought the inclusion of the north-east line in the airport rail link when meeting with Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes when the project was first proposed in 2022.

“Our representations to Federal Member for Indi Helen Haines resulted in her contacting Minister King, seeking assurances that passengers from Albury, Wodonga, Chiltern, Wangaratta, Benalla, Violet Town, Euroa, Avenal and Seymour would not be discriminated against.

“The north-east line is a central passenger and freight element of the interstate rail network and includes the XPT service from Sydney.

“We believe the north-east of Victoria deserves the same standard of service as any other part of the country network and must be included in the rail link project.”