The Transport Minister has stated that the line will use the existing line to Sunshine and branch off from there, and that Sunshine station will undergo a major revamp that will improve regional services to Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo.

One hopes that this will happen because the Bendigo through to Swan Hill and Echuca line commuters are not getting good services.

Train services will never improve until the government and Transport Minister reinstate the double line between Bendigo and Southern Cross that they pulled out, and complete the so-called designated line between Sunbury and Sunshine.

This was supposed to segregate regional services from metropolitan service, but Bendigo services still share a line between Sunbury and Sunshine before the designated line takes effect.

All this money being spent and talking about improving regional services, yet there doesn't appear to be any talk about returning the passenger service to the people on the Mildura line.

Our politicians spruik about how good they are and what they are doing improving public transport, but just think back 30 to 40 years ago.

We ran three services each way between Bendigo and Melbourne as well as some freight trains on double tracks.

Now we are trying to run 20 services each way between Bendigo and Melbourne on a single track and the rare freight trains that run are during the night after all passenger services.

Governments employ costly consultants and bureaucrats that have come out of universities with a piece of paper saying they are qualified to give advice and opinions on infrastructure without any practical experience or knowledge.

That’s why we have so many problems that cost the taxpayer big dollars. Authorities will not talk to people from the various industries that understand what goes on and what works and doesn't work.

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I was particularly impressed by the response of Mark Brayshaw, to the incident in which his son, Andrew, received a sickening punch delivered by Andrew Gaff  in an off the ball incident in a recent AFL match.

With no hint of wishing to seek  retribution, he accepted an apology from Andrew Gaff and his family for the incident whilst expressing concern for the welfare of the West Coast Eagles midfielder.

Andrew Gaff appears to be a decent young person who had an unblemished on-field record, a ball player and the action was totally out of character. Naturally he would have felt terrible for a moment of madness and no doubt would be ever remorseful for his actions.

Great response shown by all parties under difficult circumstances.​

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