The government - the new owner of the Bendigo rail line - will not let a steam

train travel faster than 80kmh on the track.

It is understood V/Line offered SteamRail Victoria the option of travelling at

80kmh, which would have made the trip from Melbourne to Echuca six hours long - too long for visitors to spend much time in Echuca.

SteamRail Victoria was unavailable for comment yesterday, but its website carries a notice of the cancellation.

Why the group was ordered to travel slowly on the Bendigo line - which was upgraded last year for fast rail - was unclear yesterday.

Comments from Transport Minister Lynne Kosky, the director of Public Transport

Safety Victoria Alan Osborne and Nationals member for Rodney including Echuca Paul Weller contradicted each other.

In a press release yesterday, Mr Weller appeared to quote Ms Kosky when he said that under existing Public Transport Safety Victoria policy, trains travelling at 100kmh on the regional fast rail line between Melbourne and Bendigo must have a train protection warning system, which passenger steam trains do not have.

"V/Line has sought permission from Public Transport Safety Victoria to allow steam trains to travel on the line without the (system), but as yet they have not received a response," Mr Weller said.

"The Minister suggested the only other way (if not in one day at 80kmh) to get a steam train to Echuca for the steam rally next weekend would be to `sleep' the train

in Bendigo on the Friday night, and then have it travel to Echuca on the Saturday

morning.

"I have discussed this option with SteamRail Victoria but their opinion is that it would be cost prohibitive for them and for passengers travelling from Melbourne."

Ms Kosky's spokesperson said Mr Weller had confirmed that he did not talk to the minister, but her would continue talks with the Nationals MP and rail enthusiasts in relation to rail line safety requirements.

"The National Party are aware that the government cannot and will not dictate to the Independent Safety Regulator (Public Transport Safety Victoria) in relation to safety requirements," the spokesperson said.

PTSV director Alan Osborne said steam trains were not required to be fitted with

train protection warning systems, which cause the brakes to apply if the train passes a stop signal or if the speed approaching the signal makes it likely the train will pass the signal.

He said steam trains were not part of the regular fast rail passenger system and there were other safety controls in place, such as two operators in the train cab.

Gisborne train enthusiast Graham Harding confirmed steam trains as a matter of

practice regularly had more than two people in the cab.

He is angry the State Government cannot clear the way for a steam train to use the line, even one trip a month.