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New home for Horsham V-Line ticket agency

Issues surrounding public transport in the Wimmera’s major centre have taken another turn with a Horsham V-Line ticketing agency set to operate from the rural city’s library.

Member for Lowan Emma Kealy confirmed the agency development, 11 months after the retirement of Horsham’s long-time Roberts Avenue coach terminal manager Roger Muszkieta.

The move adds another chapter to a long-running community campaign to return domestic passenger-rail services to the Wimmera’s heart.

Many advocates have argued that a return to domestic V-Line passenger rail beyond minimal Overland train services would automatically re-establish a train and bus hub at Horsham Railway Station.



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Ms Kealy, who had raised concerns in State Parliament in October about how long it was taking to establish a Horsham agency, said she was pleased Horsham Library would soon take on the role of V-Line ticketing agent.

“Despite the Minister for Public Transport’s assurance that the service would continue, central Wimmera residents have been unable to pre-buy a bus ticket in person locally for months,” she said.
“I have also continued to be contacted by a large number of seniors wishing to use their Public Transport Victoria-issued free travel vouchers.

“They have reported that V-Line drivers are reluctant to process these vouchers because they don’t have access to the V-Line ticketing program on their coaches.

“Other seniors have been told they must travel to the nearest V-Line ticketing agent in the first instance – almost an hour away in Stawell or Ararat – to have these vouchers processed before they can use a service.

“This situation has created much distress and inequity for local seniors who don’t have the same access to use the travel-
voucher scheme as seniors who live in metropolitan Melbourne or regional cities with a V-Line ticketing agent.”

Ms Kealy said other constituents had also been unable to buy a bus ticket in person since Mr Muszkieta’s retirement, with V-Line drivers processing tickets when time allowed or people needing to buy them online.

“This is simply not possible for some local residents who do not have a computer or the skills required to purchase a ticket online,” she said.

“While it is good news that we finally have a local V-Line ticketing agency again, it is unacceptable that it has taken almost a year for this service to be restored in Horsham, our largest regional centre.

“It is also unfair on some of our local seniors who have missed out on opportunities to use their PTV free travel vouchers.

“Public transport services in the Wimmera and western Victoria are already extremely limited.”

Ms Kealy called on Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll to direct Public Transport Victoria to ensure regional residents had support to take advantage ‘of the few services we have’ and ‘not further disadvantaged by situations like they have experienced over the past year’.

The entire December 8, 2021 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!