In response to Ms Maxwell's question of February 2019, Public Transport Minister Melissa Horne wrote: "There has been a significant improvement in performance on the north-east corridor due to additional investment by the Victorian Government.”
Ms Maxwell expressed concern for the continued safety of passengers and staff as a result of accidents, near-misses and derailments and suggested the government should consider putting all rail services on hold until safety could be fully guaranteed.
XPT line warping to be addressed by ARTC
Ms Maxwell said she conceded halting rail services would be a massive inconvenience to passengers, but that the federal and state governments could no longer neglect the line and, without immediate intervention, it was only a matter of time before another accident and potentially more fatalities.
“Rail issues in the north east have plagued our region for a decade and it’s time the political handballing stopped,” Ms Maxwell said.
“I will continue to ask questions and hold the state government to account until there is sufficient investment to bring the line up to the standard afforded to other regions.
Steph Ryan supports SOS Campaign and calls for NE line issues to be resolved
“Our region is fed up with the constant inconvenience and poor performance, year after year, and it is now even jeopardising the safety of workers and passengers.”
The government said it would provide Ms Maxwell with a written response, which she hoped would include evidence of genuine collaboration with the ARTC and Federal Government to resolve the rail issues that had plagued the line for a decade.
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