Greater Shepparton residents will soon benefit from more reliable and comfortable train journeys thanks to the announcement that VLocity trains will start travelling to and from Shepparton for the first time this month.
VLocity trains have been a major infrastructure priority for the region for many years, with Greater Shepparton City Council advocating to the Victorian Government for several years for their implementation along the Shepparton Line.
From Sunday 23 October, all services on the Shepparton Line will now be modern VLocity trains. A new timetable will also take effect on this day and will include changes to arrival and departure times and additional stops at Heathcote Junction, Tallarook and Donnybrook.
Platform extensions to accommodate the longer VLocity trains have been completed at Nagambie, Murchison East and Mooroopna stations, as well as safety, accessibility and amenity upgrades for station users. Another 14 level crossing upgrades on the line were completed while coaches replaced trains last month, while works were undertaken on the new stabling facility north of Shepparton to house VLocity trains.
VLocity trains are the newest and fastest train in the V/Line fleet and have improved features including mobile signal boosters for better phone coverage and better accessibility for people with prams or mobility aids.
Mayor, Councillor Shane Sali said the news was a welcome addition for Greater Shepparton, saying it enables residents to have better accessibility to travel to and from the region.
"We have been calling for the addition of VLocity trains to the Shepparton Line for many years now and we are extremely pleased to see they will now start travelling to and from Shepparton," he said.
"These trains are more modern, faster and have better accessibility for people. We now look forward to Stage 3 of the Shepparton Line Upgrade being completed which includes nine weekday return services from Shepparton to Melbourne and enables these VLocity trains to travel at faster speeds reducing travel times."
