The stop, located about two kilometres on the Dimboola side of Pink Lake, includes parking and toilet facilities. 

This stop has been operating for a number of years and is manned by volunteers from Lions, Dimboola Hospital and Allambi Hostel organisations.

The present building was erected by Dimboola Lions in 1998.

Travellers are encouraged to take a break, call in and say ‘hello’ and enjoy a free tea or coffee.

Margaret Menzel, volunteer, Dimboola

FOLLOWING Nhill’s Australia Day celebrations service this year at Goldsworthy Park, Nhill RSL Sub Branch president Henry Berry and secretary Rhys Webb will be presenting RSL life member Merv Schneider and treasurer with a prestigious award from RSL Victoria.

The Nhill RSL Sub Branch hopes all members of the community can attend and support Merv while he recieves this award. 

Rhys Webb, secretary, Nhill RSL Sub Branch 

I WAS surprised to see an article regarding supposed complaints of the V-Line service from Ararat to Melbourne. 

As a regular traveller on that service, I have always found it to be excellent. 

I have never seen “passengers being forced to sit on the filthy ground” and on arrival in Ararat, the connecting buses have always been waiting for the train passengers.

We are fortunate to recently have had an increase in services available. I have always found the V-Line staff very helpful and  professional. 

I found a certain irony that the Member for Lowan Emma Kealy has found interest in regional public transport. 

When regional public transport was dismantled during the Kennett era, including closure of the passenger rail services, the National Party remained very silent. 

Pat McAloon, Ararat 

THE Murray Basin Rail project is a $440 million investment by both the state and federal governments to standardise the network across Western Victoria and increase axle loading to 21-tonne capacity.

With the first two stages of the project being completed, the Rail Freight Alliance welcomes the imminent reopening of the Mildura and Ararat lines.

The project is a game changer for Western Victoria and it is important that we get it right. 

The alliance has long advocated for a rail freight system that facilitates open access and allowing competition between operators and all Victorian ports. If we get the infrastructure right, rail operators will invest.

The alliance executive will meet MP Jacinta Allan next month to discuss the project as there are two final pieces of the network that need to be resolved.

The Maroona to Portland section needs to be included as part of this upgrade as currently it is disadvantaged due to a lower axle loading, and the section of track between Maryborough and Ballarat needs to be resolved to allow efficient access for passenger and freight pathways. 

Great work has been done to date, and not to address the needs of these sections of the line would be a travesty.

As the Victorian freight task continues to grow, we need an efficient and reliable transport system. 

The alliance continues the campaign for rail investment and believes the Murray Basin Rail Project is not only a sound invest for the regions; it is a sound investment for Victoria.

Glenn Milne, chairman, Rail Freight Alliance