MOBILE phone reception will be improved along the Bendigo-Melbourne train line in an effort to eliminate black spots where commuters’ calls and internet connections drop out.
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Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade Philip Dalidakis said the improvements would come as part of an $18 million project to fix connectivity issues along regional train lines.
Free Wi-Fi, however, is not on the agenda for now.
“With more than 2.61 million passenger trips per year made between Melbourne and Bendigo, improved mobile coverage will mean regional commuters can use their mobile and smart devices,” he said.
Reception dropouts occur at regular intervals along the Bendigo-Melbourne line, including around Kyneton and Woodend. Improvements would also mean people living in areas along the train lines would have better reception at home.
Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards said the plan would allow commuters to be more productive during their journeys.
“This project will allow commuters to use their travel time more effectively and access the same services that are afforded to metropolitan commuters,” she said.
But Gordon Rich-Phillips, opposition Treasury spokesman, said the previous government had already set aside a total of $40 million for better connectivity on trains, a program that included installing free Wi-Fi on certain services.
“Jacinta Allan has shelved plans for Wi-Fi on regional trains despite it being budgeted for, under the former coalition government,” Mr Rich-Phillips said.
Premier Daniel Andrews was “betraying regional Victoria once again by pulling funding on Wi-Fi on V/Line trains”, Mr Rich-Phillips added.
“Daniel Andrews and Jacinta Allan must come clean to regional Victorian commuters on where this money is being redirected to.”
But Mr Dalidakis said the previous government had only issued a press release about the Wi-Fi plan, and its promise of free internet would have reached only 75 per cent of commuters.
The state government, he added, was focused on bridging the gap between regional and metropolitan areas and its project would ensure everybody had the same connectivity when travelling on trains.
The government said in January it was “investigating” Wi-Fi options.
