A VLocity train at Ararat in 2018.

After 3 months of construction work to reconnect the town to Victoria's broad-gauge rail network, the first regular passenger train to Horsham since V/Line services were withdrawn in 1993 opened today. The service is an extension of the existing Ararat line, but instead of terminating at Ararat, it will continue onto newly upgraded or built stations at Great Western, Stawell, and Murtoa, before terminating at Horsham.

Existing frequencies to Ararat will be maintained as the result of the purchase of a new six-car VLocity and the construction of a crossing loop near Beaufort station. In the long-term, as part of the federal government's Regional Rail Revival project, the Horsham line will be fully duplicated, and residents will enjoy 20 minute frequencies.

Prior to the restoration of passenger services, Horsham recieved only a limited service as part of the Victorian government subsidised Overland train, which operated four services a week. The last budget provided $12 billion for a high-speed connection between Melbourne and Adelaide, though it is understood such a project will be years away from completion.

When reached for comment, Attorney-General model-putrid -- who could not attend any opening event for the Horsham line due to conflicting rail-related commitments stated "a 200 km/h rail link between Melbourne and Adelaide is a vital nation-building project, but it just won't work for Horsham residents on its own -- imagine how early a train would need to leave Adelaide to get to Melbourne at 9am. The Horsham Rail Revival allows for Wimmera residents to get back their link to Melbourne and will enable economic development in Victoria's west."

Aboard the inaugural service to Melbourne, Stawell resident Lindsay told Pitchfork News he was taking his family down to Melbourne for the long weekend. "I'm glad the train reopened today, because otherwise I'd have had to drive for 3 hours into Melbourne. Here on the train, though, I can kick back, spend time with my kids, and stress less." Olive, a young commuter from Murtoa, explained they were using the train to "commute to a new job in Ballarat. I spent the first few weeks driving, but now I'm able to just take the train down. It's really convenient."

Questions have been raised about a potential extension further into the state's west, potentially to Dimboola (the previous terminus of V/Line services), or even as far as Bordertown, as was proposed by controversial politician EdenhopeStan, who died last year following complications with the AstraZeneca Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine.

When reached for comment, model-putrid said it was "certainly an interesting idea, and would need to be considered. Obviously, the Wimmera area is of a lower priority for rail extensions as it's a bit of a shithole, but it's possible that we may make the rail so good in areas people actually want to visit that this project becomes worth considering. I certainly hope that one day the bottom-feeding shit-eaters of Dimboola, Nhill, Kaniva, and Serviceton have access to a V/Line rail service."

- Alison Brooks, Pitchfork News