Regional Rail Revival Pushes Ahead | Adelaide News

0:00Folks in regional Victoria are making some noise about getting passenger trains back on the tracks. We're talking about routes that haven't seen a passenger train in decades, like the connection between Ballarat and Jalong, which is currently just. For freight, there's also a big push to bring back services to places like Mildura and Horsham, which have been left without for years. The talk is that bringing back the Ballarat Jalong line is the most realistic move right now. But some political hopefuls are throwing their support behind reviving the trains to Mildura and Horsham. In fact, the opposition party has said they'll make an announcement about passenger rail to those areas before the upcoming election. You can see why people are frustrated. Imagine needing to travel between two major cities and having to rely solely on your car or a bus that takes hours, or even a train that forces you to. Go through the capital city first. It's a real hassle, especially as these regional centers grow and become more important for jobs and education.

1:00Now, for Mildura, it's the biggest city in the state without a train. The nearest station is a couple of hours away, and you have to catch a bus to get there. People are saying that with airfares being so high and roads in rough shape, a train is the only real option for many, especially for visiting family, or getting to doctor's appointments. The big hurdle for some of these routes, like the Horsham and Mildura, is the track age. The lines were changed for freight, and now they are different with than what the car passenger trains use. Experts say that while bringing back these services is doable, it might mean slower journeys and some upgrades, but the cost is estimated to be in the tens of millions. From your city, powered by AI, this is Adelaide News Today.