Ararat bus bid

THIS map shows the route the proposed bus could take from Hamilton, stopping at Dunkeld and Glenthompson and meeting up with services to Ararat – this would typically get passengers to and from Melbourne in about four hours through Ballarat and augment the current early and late V/Line bus services. With rising fuel costs, alternatives to taking a car for journeys to major towns are becoming more attractive.

By Mark Rabich

October 20, 2023 | 4:00 PM

WITH her ongoing campaign to see passenger rail return to Hamilton and Portland, Southern Grampians Shire councillor, Katrina Rainsford, has proposed an interim solution geared to offer proof-of-concept and is looking for community support.

Dr Rainsford said she has personally noticed the increased use of Ararat passenger rail services (which she has also used regularly) since the capping of daily ticket fees to $10 and also noted a concession of $5 a day was “an attractive alternative to another tank of fuel, dodging potholes and paying for car parking in Melbourne”.