The Victorian Government says it will invest in more than $1 million of rail upgrades on the Echuca train line over the next year.
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Eight bridges between Bendigo and Echuca will be upgraded from timber to concrete at a cost of $730,000, while a further $400,000 will be spent on upgrading bridge decks and undertaking trackworks on the line to Deniliquin NSW, used by SunRice for containerised rice.
Member for Swan Hill, Minister Peter Walsh, made the announcement this morning ahead of boarding one of Steamrail Victoria's shuttle trains at Echuca Railway Station with Member for Rodney, Paul Weller.
Steamrail Victoria is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Melbourne to Echuca rail line this weekend with a number of shuttle journeys.
Mr Walsh said it was great to see Echuca’s rail line recognised as an integral part of the city's history.
"The coming of the railway led to huge benefits for woolgrowers in the 1860s," he said.
"As with today's rice exports, the railway lowered transport costs."
Mr Walsh said 20,000 passengers a year caught V/Line Echuca line trains.