V/LINE fares across Victoria will be halved and train replacement bus services free of charge for at least four years if there is a change of government at the State election on November 26.

In announcing the promise yesterday, leader of the Liberal Party, Matthew Guy, said the Opposition’s Long-Term Economic Plan would ease hip-pocket pressures and reward hard-working families across regional Victoria, for at least four years.

 He said the policy recognised that Victorians living outside of metropolitan Melbourne had been ignored by Daniel Andrews for nearly a decade.

 South West Coast MP, Roma Britnell, said that the services in regional Victoria had been appalling for too long.

“(This policy) is about recognising the importance of the cost of living for families at the moment,” she said.

“We are committed to regional Victoria and helping people to get around and making areas like Western Victoria more accessible.

“The Andrews Government have shown incredible disdain for regional Victorians.

“If you’re in the city and using your myki to travel, you will get a text message to advise you that your service is running late.

“In regional Victoria, there is no reason why this can’t be offered to country travellers.

“The scheduling is terrible - they’re always running late, and it is leaving country travellers stranded for hours often without any options to buy food or a coffee.

“Basically, we want to make the system better.”

Under the plan, a daily commuter travelling from Geelong to Melbourne would save $1762 a year, Ballarat to Melbourne $2074 a year, and Bendigo to Melbourne $2408 a year.

This commitment is in addition to the Opposition’s $2 flat fares for local train, tram, and bus travel aiming to help ease road congestion and encourage more sustainable transport choices, which includes local buses in regional Victoria.

“For regional Victorians, public transport costs can run into thousands a year,” Mr Guy said.

“Our plan will cut this in half and allows households to put those savings into what really matters.”

Public Transport shadow minister, Danny O’Brien, said halving V/Line fares was a real solution to reward and support regional Victorian families.

“By halving V/Line fares, our plan will keep more money in regional Victorians’ pockets.”

 “Travel costs shouldn’t be a barrier to going about everyday life and under the Liberals and Nationals’ plan, regional Victorians will get the cheap, easy commute they deserve, at the same time stimulating tourism in regional Victoria.”

 “We also know and share the frustration of regional Victorians who turn up expecting a train, only to be greeted all too frequently under Labor by a bus.

“When this occurs, we’ll make that travel free.”