A council along the train corridors north of Bendigo is maintaining a campaign for improved rail services as the state government undertakes $10 million in track works .

While the government calls the upgrade along the Bendigo-Echuca line as “critical maintenance works” there is no word on whether the improvements will bring speedier and more frequent services for residents along the northern corridor.

Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan said the works included replacing 34,000 timber sleepers with more durable concrete ones.

A thousand sleepers a day will be replaced along the rail line, to keep services safe and reliable for passengers in Northern Victoria, the minister said. 

However, Campaspe Shire mayor Leigh Wilson said that while maintenance was a welcome necessity more had to be done to improve train services for residents in regional areas, plus increased use of rail freight facilities.

“We have 14,000 people in Echuca, 3000 in Rochester and about 1000 in Elmore all feeding into Bendigo. Government is building Bendigo as a rural hub and they want us to get there, then how?

“On the southern side of Bendigo you have more people coming into the city than heading to Melbourne, which also shows how important it is to have better services into the city.”

There are two one-way services a day along the line, taking 80 minutes for a 92-km trip. Trains travel at a top speed of 75km/hr.

Public Transport Users Association spokesperson Paul Westcott said while he remained optimistic of services improving, it was unlikely unless all level crossings on the line were upgraded.

“In response to the Trawalla accident (in 2006) it was deemed the Echuca line was not suitable to V/Locity trains that V/Line uses, so unless there are active protection booms at level crossings we probably won’t see the services residents along the line deserve,” Mr Wastcott said.

Cr Wilson said 71.4 per cent of respondents to Railing Ahead community survey undertaken by six Murray River councils, including, Swan Hill, Campaspe Shire, Loddon, Gannawarra and Greater Bendigo reported demand for speedier and more services. 

“The current level of passenger rail services in Campaspe fall well short of meeting the needs and expectations of local people and visitors to the region," Cr Wilson said. “We have people using the rail line to head into Bendigo for education, doctor’s appointments, business and shopping … so we need more than one service a day to suit various demands.

“These six councils have also been lobbying for freight upgrades along two major lines - into Echuca-Moama and beyond and up to Mildura. We see the benefits of having effective freight rail and better consumer services. For us it is a no-brainer.”

Upgrades will be made at level crossings at Wakeman Rd, Bagshot, Holmes Rd in Goornong and Ellicert Rd, Echuca.