For the first time since 1993, Mildura's train station will see regular passenger service.

Attorney-General and rail enthusiast model-putrid recieved a rockstar's welcome at Mildura railway station today. After flying in from Sale to Mildura (in a private jet chartered due to the Minister's packed schedule today, that Pitchfork News can confirm was carbon offset tenfold out of the Minister's own pocket), she began her speech to the small but dedicated crowd with simply three words -- "we did it!"

Since the Victorian state government, led by oft-maligned Premier Jeff Kennett, cut the regional city's Vinelander service in 1993, Mildura has been agitating for a return to passenger trains. It is the largest city in Victoria to not be served by any sort of passenger rail, and the feeling of neglect has led in part to the election of two independent MPs to represent Mildura on a state level -- Russell Savage and Ali Cupper -- both of whom made a rail revival a key part of their policy platforms.

The new train service will serve as an extension of the Maryborough line, running from Southern Cross in Melbourne and stopping at Ballarat, Creswick, Clunes, Talbot, and Maryborough, as well as the newly reopened stations of St Arnaud, Donald, Birchip, Woomelang, Ouyen, and Mildura, which will all recieve their first passenger service in 29 years.

While in Briagolong earlier today, model-putrid had been more celebratory of the new opportunities she claimed rail would afford the community, she adopted a noticeably more fiery tone in Mildura today, telling residents "Mildura has been left on the wayside by successive state and federal governments for too long. We don't deserve a second-rate bus or an expensive plane -- we deserve what other cities our size across the state have, and that is a train!"

model-putrid added "I am overjoyed for the Mildura community today. This rail line, which this government has worked hard to achieve, will bring more jobs and growth to Mildura. Residents who need to get to Melbourne now have an easy, convenient, and efficient way to do so, and tourists who want to enjoy our beautiful region now have a fast train to get them here."

She then referenced the CANZIRES agreement negotiated by the government, saying "have you heard of the new CANZIRES agreement that was just announced? We're now able to have millions of people from across the world freely visit Mildura -- straight from Melbourne Airport, to Southern Cross, only a two-seat ride to Mildura station. We can get visitors from Dublin, Toronto, Auckland, Cape Town..." model-putrid then hesitated for a moment, and added "...but not the Boers. We don't want their kind here, folks! But everyone else will be welcome to enjoy the hospitality that Mildura is renowned for!"

Three VLocities have been purchased to run the service between Mildura and Melbourne, and will run a total of nine return services daily to and from the regional city. Purchasing these trains was the bulk of the cost of returning trains to the regional city, making up $41.64 million of the total $55.64 million cost. The remaining $14 million was spent on upgrading stations for passenger service and installing crossing loops so trains could pass each other. The track will eventually be duplicated as part of the government's Regional Rail Revival project, in order to enable frequencies of up to 20 minutes.

Sylvia, a Mildura resident who attended the speech by model-putrid, told Pitchfork News the return of trains was "long overdue". She explained that "I can't handle the six hour drive to Melbourne on my own, so when I've wanted to go, I needed to pay hundreds of dollars. It's an absolute disgrace. But now that the train is back, I'll be able to take it at an affordable price. Muhammad, a local builder, said "my work often needs me to drive long distance. But now, if I need to do a job in say, Ouyen, I can take my tools on the train!"

Ken Oath, author of the Mildura on Transit blog, welcomed the return of the train, but stressed the importance of local bus reform. Oath stated "it's great that the federal government has delivered on funding to bring passenger trains, but now it's time for the state and local governments to step forward and make sure that Mildura residents can properly access the stations. Most bus routes in Mildura only run hourly -- that's just not good enough, and it means most everyone will drive to the new station."

- Alison Brooks, Pitchfork News