What have we done?

YOU would have to wonder just what the fastest growing community in Victoria, the Cardinia Shire, has done to deserve the wrath of Premier Daniel Andrews to reduce our fast train service to Melbourne.
Public Transport Victoria would have had to seek the approval of the Minister for Public Transport to make such a drastic alteration to the rail system, at least one would expect that the minister concerned would be consulted.
Of course the minister concerned, the Hon. Jacinta Allen is the Member for Bendigo and Pakenham and environs may not be too familiar to her. I note her interests are basketball, music and gardening, no mention of expertise in public transport. While she has a BA (Hons) from Latrobe University, apart from working in the Labor Party her only real job has been a part-time worker at Coles supermarkets.
Her membership of organisations lists Emily’s List, Marist Bros Brass Band, Latrobe University Bendigo Alumni Association, Bendigo Spirit and Sutton Grange Landcare Group.
So what are her qualifications for making this decision to alter our transport system that has been proposed by Public Transport Victoria?
ALP Eastern Victoria Region MP Harriet Shing described the changes as a “big win” for Gippsland passengers. What the hell does she mean? Gippsland passengers beyond Pakenham already have a comfortable seat and it is those passengers who board at Pakenham who may have to stand up.
I sincerely hope Ben Lewis gets all the support we can muster to fight this ill-conceived alteration to our train service.
Why cannot V/Line add another carriage to their Sprinter trains – that would solve the problem in the blink of an eye.
It is sad to consider Labor Premier John Cain had the foresight to electrify the rail line all the way to Traralgon and as time has gone by it has all been pulled up and now terminates at Pakenham.
Just imagine the flexibility and comfort of travel we could all be experiencing now had that not happened.
Graeme Beasley,
Pakenham.