Admittedly the price rise, averaging 3.9 per cent across the network, was announced in the Napthine government’s 2013 budget update. But surely a burning sense of shame should have persuaded the current government to waive the rise – or at the very least the non-CPI component of it.

Last year started with the monumental disruption of the wheel-wear crisis, which crippled train services in regional areas.

It proved a major inconvenience to passengers, particularly those who commuted for work, as they had to rely on slower buses to solve their travel needs.

The disruption also cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars as the government offered free travel in an effort to placate users’ bubbling anger.

Bendigo East MP and Transport Minister Jacinta Allan clung to her portfolio as the chaos engulfed her, but V/Line CEO Theo Taifalos was not so fortunate, falling on his sword. The wheel-wear saga dragged on for months but, when it was finally over, the relief was short-lived, with maintenance meaning buses were again employed on the Bendigo line for most of October.

One Bendigo’s biggest attractions is its proximity to Melbourne, and this geographical edge must be utilised effectively if the city is to continue to grow.

Bendigo has the advantage over the state’s capital of cheaper housing, lower crime rates and less congestion, which complements a solid range of essential services.

But the government must be careful not to make it unaffordable for people to use public transport to commute between the two centres.

Under the price rises, which came into effect on January 1, a full fare-paying traveller living in Bendigo but working in Melbourne will pay about $4300 a year simply getting to and from work. It is a significant impost, however, well worth it if the lower cost of living in Bendigo compared to Melbourne is factored in.

But the risk versus reward equation does not add up when the reliability of the service is erratic. Sitting on a bus for an extra two hours a day is not conducive to productivity.

If the cost of public transport is to rise in 2017, then the standard of service must improve, too.

- Ross Tyson, deputy editor