Peter Sutton spent his youth in the district around Yarroweyah and Cobram and recalls the ease of commuting by train.
Photo by
Owen Sinclair
Peter Sutton remembers the times when passenger trains were still around.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Born in Yarroweyah and educated at Cobram Secondary College, he fondly recalls later commuting to university from home and back by train as a young man.
But a road accident in 2006 left him with a back condition that now makes travelling by coach and bus, the only public transport available in the Cobram district, a challenge.
He now says the time is ripe to get the ball rolling on re-installing passenger rail to the district.
“I’ve often thought, ‘If I’m finding it hard, there’d be a lot of older people or people with illness or infirmities that would struggle as well’,” he said.
Pitching his idea recently on social media, Mr Sutton stirred fervent discussion in local community pages, with several Facebook users lamenting the loss of passenger rail.
“I know many who would like it back. Feel we have gone backwards,” one user wrote.
Another said they would love a train to Cobram, but added it was just not viable.
“It’s just not practical to run a train for eight or 10 passengers,” they said.
While admitting to the large upfront cost of his idea, Mr Sutton said the idea would pay for itself over time.
“The cost will be defrayed because, long term, you have an asset in place. It’s not as if you rip the tracks up every two years and replace them. They would have a long-term life,” he said.
Mr Sutton said the district’s growing population merited the inclusion of Cobram and Yarrawonga into the Victorian Government’s Regional Rail Revival Strategic Plan.
“Looking at the census, in a five-year period Cobram has increased in size by about 30 per cent, and Yarrawonga appears to have doubled,” he said.
“For tourism, you need to attract people there, and public transport is an element of that.”
At the very least, he would like the government to take the issue seriously and undertake a study to determine its feasibility.
At least 32 years have passed since the last passenger train departed Cobram.
Photo by
Owen Sinclair
The last time a passenger train ran to Cobram was in August 1993.
Since then, much of the former line has been lifted, leaving behind a hump that follows the Murray Valley Hwy to Strathmerton.
The $4 billion Regional Rail Revival Strategic Plan, co-funded by the state and federal governments under Victoria’s Big Build, aims to upgrade every regional passenger rail line in Victoria.
So far, the initiative has completed upgrades on the Bendigo and Echuca Line, while works continue on the Shepparton Line.
Despite the calls for rail to be re-instated, the Department of Transport and Planning confirmed there were currently no plans for an expansion of passenger rail services between Cobram and Yarrawonga.
“We are continuing to improve public transport across regional Victoria, with cheaper fares and more services added across the state,” a department spokesperson said.
“Cobram passengers have access to 62 weekly coach services, while there are 50 weekly coaches available for Yarrawonga passengers.
“The regional fare cap is continuing to benefit regional passengers, with over $150 million saved and more than 57 million trips taken since its introduction on 31 March 2023.”
11°C