Brimbank council’s calls for changes to Bendigo line train timetables and an airport rail link continue to fall on deaf ears.
Council chairman John Watson said stopping Bendigo line trains at Sunshine was a priority.
“At this stage, Bendigo trains don’t stop at Sunshine. We will be advocating that Bendigo services should include stops there.”
A Public Transport Victoria spokesman declined to say if a change was likely this year, but he said removing the Main Road level crossing at St Albans would improve the safety and reliability of Bendigo trains.
“Since 31 December, additional Metro trains have been extended to Sunbury where customers can interchange to a metropolitan train service to Sunshine,” the spokesman said.
“Or customers can travel to Footscray station on a Bendigo train then change to a Sunbury or Watergardens service to travel to Sunshine.
“Stopping at these three stations allows customers to transfer to metropolitan train services while minimising the travel time for customers travelling longer distances.”
A Melbourne Airport rail link through Sunshine is another priority of the council.
In its submission to a “refreshed” Plan Melbourne, the council said such a link would underpin Sunshine’s emergence as a national employment cluster.
“The future construction of a Melbourne Airport rail link through Sunshine will be a significant economic driver,” the submission stated.
“Council will be seeking to recognise the regional role of the Watergardens activity centre. There is significant potential for the centre to develop across the 50-hectare site, with capacity for retail, offices, services, residential and community uses.”
