Passengers on the Bendigo and Echuca lines are set to benefit from more services after the introduction of a new early morning service between Castlemaine and Bendigo as part of a new V/Line timetable.
Thanks to the Allan Labor Government, from 20 November Bendigo Line passengers will see the introduction of a new Castlemaine service on weekdays that gets passengers to Bendigo before 8am.
Arriving into Bendigo at 7.45am, this service will ensure passengers can meet school bus and train connections, start work at 8am, or have time to grab a coffee before the workday begins.
Kangaroo Flat passengers will also benefit with the new service stopping at the station at 7.39am.
The new service will also free up more space on the first morning train from Southern Cross to Bendigo for Castlemaine and Kangaroo Flat passengers still wanting to use that service.
The new timetable will also deliver the full travel time savings enabled by track upgrades on the Echuca Line as part of the Bendigo and Echuca Line Upgrade, increasing the speed trains can travel between Goornong and Echuca.
Echuca Line passengers will save up to seven minutes on their journeys when the new timetable starts, adding to the savings of up to five minutes introduced in June.
These time savings have been made possible with upgrades to a 60-kilomete section of track between Goornong and Echuca, allowing trains to travel at up to 100 kilometres an hour between Goornong and Echuca.
Timetables and more information will be available from Friday 20 October 2023 at vline.com.au and PTV's journey planner app.
As stated by Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams
"We've invested in the Bendigo and Echuca lines so trains can go faster and better connect these communities with each other and the rest of Victoria."
"The new early morning Castlemaine service is the first of almost 200 extra to be introduced over coming years to get people where they need to go at the times they want to travel."
As stated by Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards
"We listened to the community and promised an extra early morning service to Bendigo for the people of Castlemaine and Kangaroo Flat and that's what we're delivering."
As stated by Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes
"We're seeing significant upgrades to the regional rail network, delivering more services across Victoria and faster journeys between Bendigo and Echuca for locals and visitors."
