Riverina XPT Service

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Speakers - Glachan Mr Ian; Photios Mr Michael
Business - Private Members Statements

RIVERINA XPT SERVICE

Mr GLACHAN (Albury) [5.22]: I praise the Minister for Transport and Minister for Roads on behalf of the people of Albury - in fact, I will take it upon myself to speak on behalf of all the people of the Riverina and southern New South Wales - for returning the Riverina XPT service. Some time ago the Victorian government of the day agreed with the New South Wales Government to run XPT services between Sydney and Melbourne. This was seen as a great step forward for rail transport in Australia and a good thing for the people of New South Wales and Victoria. Everyone was very happy about it. New South Wales spent an enormous amount of money building a number of XPT trains with sleeper accommodation to provide these services.

The present Victorian Minister announced with great fanfare a few months ago that the services were soon to begin. Everyone was happy about that. Just a few days ago the Minister announced that Victoria could not afford to finance the running of the daylight XPT service between Sydney and Melbourne and that the service would not go ahead. The Victorian Government was happy for the night service to continue, but not the daylight service. The problem was that 3,000 people had booked ahead to have seats on the daylight service. New South Wales was left with the bookings and no trains. There was a great problem for the people and for CountryLink, particularly as CountryLink is putting a great emphasis on service and is determined to give the customer the best possible service that can be provided. This emphasis has been strengthened by the Minister. CountryLink has worked hard to provide a good service to the customer.

Though all these people were booked on the train the Victorian Government decided that it would not run. It is a shame that that Government did not tell us about that a couple of months ago. If it had, we would not have to cancel the Riverina XPT and cause so many people concern and upset over their travelling arrangements. It was out of our hands. There was a great deal of doubt about how the service would be maintained. Yesterday the XPT, with its sleeper carriages, went through the Riverina - it went through Cootamundra, Wagga Wagga and Albury. There is so much interest in the XPT that 200 or 300 people met the train at Albury station to look at the new carriages and sleeping accommodation. The west Albury public school had its recorder band there to entertain the people and the Lions Club of Lavington provided sausages and coffee for the people waiting for the train. There was a great deal of excitement.

There was doubt about how we would meet the needs of the people who wanted to travel on the trains. I appealed to the Minister, as did the honourable member for Burrinjuck and the honourable member for Wagga Wagga, to give the Riverina its XPT service again so that the needs of the people could be met. I am pleased to say that the Minister made the decision this afternoon. I am delighted to know that the Riverina XPT will run once again, in conjunction with the overnight service between Sydney and Melbourne. The people in my district will have the service that they require. The service is most important for southern New South Wales. I appreciate the efforts of the Minister in restoring the Riverina service, which is so vital to that area. I assure the Minister that everyone in Albury is delighted to have it back.

Mr PHOTIOS (Ermington - Minister for Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs, and Minister Assisting the Minister for Justice) [5.27]: The honourable member for Albury ought to be congratulated by all honourable members on leading for some years now a very strong and determined campaign to make sure that the XPT returned to Albury. Together with the honourable member for Burrinjuck and the honourable member for Wagga Wagga, he has continued that campaign to make sure that we have an improved CountryLink service. All honourable members would welcome his personal intervention and his determined representations made not just to the New South Wales Government but to the Victorian Government to make sure that the XPT returned to Albury in daylight hours.

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In that regard I join with the honourable member in extending the appreciation of the Government to its Victorian colleagues who saw fit to respond to the urgency of this matter. The importance of this need was brought home by the honourable member for Albury and by the community event in Albury in appreciation of the introduction of the XPT service and its reintroduction. With respect to the Victorian cancellation, New South Wales was in no way, shape or form, at any time, interested in cancelling the service. We are particularly pleased that the Victorians were infected by the enthusiasm of our State, in a tough and at times tiring campaign led by the honourable member for Albury, and joined this State in returning the service.

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