The Australian Greens have committed to push for $600 million in federal funding to duplicate the Upfield train line so services can run more frequently. With a minority parliament looming, Wills will be a key seat at the upcoming election.
At the moment people living in Brunswick, Coburg, Hadfield and Fawkner have one of the slowest train services in Melbourne, with no more than three trains an hour possible.
The people of Wills are sick of being taken for granted by Labor. They were promised more frequent train services and Labor keeps letting them down.
As the climate crisis deepens, government’s should be making it easier for people to use public transport, yet the workers and families particularly in Coburg, Fawkner and Hatfield are left with slow crowded infrequent and often cancelled services.
We have heard that when the trains are cancelled it can take people living in North Coburg for example an hour and half to get home from work.
Our communities in the North have been underserved and unfunded by Labor for decades from public education to public transport.
The State government’s Metro Tunnel was supposed to allow train services on the Upfield line to run more frequently but the State Labor have now dropped the additional works needed to make this a reality.
The costs of duplicating the Upfield line are estimated to be around $600 million. Without a commitment to funding the duplication, other parties aren’t serious about improving public transport for the people of Wills and those living further north.
This announcement comes on the back of the Greens committing to 50 cent public transport fares like they have in Queensland. 50 cent fares could save a full time worker around $2400 a year.
Nothing changes if nothing changes and I will fight for the people of Wills to have turn up and go train services.