Extra Ballarat Train Services – Ministerial Response
Scroll down for the Minister’s response, or click here to discover more about how we’re working for Wendouree.
Original constituency question from Juliana Addison MP to Parliament –
My constituency question is for the Minister for Public and Active Transport and is regarding train services on the Ballarat line. How is the Allan Labor government increasing the frequency of train services to Ballarat?
Access to frequent and affordable train services to and from Ballarat is so important to my community. I know firsthand that more people from across the Wendouree electorate are choosing to take public transport than ever before thanks to our cheaper fares policy – my teenagers caught the train on the weekend.
The introduction of fair regional fares for V/Line has delivered huge savings and cost relief for commuters, students, daytrippers and families. Almost 40 million train and coach trips have been taken on the V/Line network and more than $120 million has been saved by passengers since the fare cap was introduced in March 2023.
I look forward to hearing from the minister and sharing the response with my community in Wendouree.
Response from the Hon. Gabrielle Williams MP, Minister for Public and Active Transport (16 April 2025) –
I thank the Member for Wendouree for her question, and for her continued advocacy and support for her community.
The 2023-24 State Budget provided funding for almost 200 extra weekend services on major regional train lines, with upgrades already implemented of the Geelong line.
As part of this initiative, Ballarat line passengers have benefited from 33 extra weekend services, with trains operating every 40 minutes on weekends from 13 April. In addition, eight new weekend services have been added to the Ararat line, including a late-night service from Melbourne to Ararat.
These new services build on the Government’s implementation of fairer fares for regional Victoria, with the daily metropolitan fare cap now applying across regional Victoria meaning it costs no more than $11.00 on weekdays and $7.60 on weekends to travel anywhere in Victoria, with concession fares set at half the regular fare.