Victoria's new public transport minister has left the door open to supporting more frequent Overland services.
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On Tuesday, Ben Carroll announced the Overland would receive $11.4 million to continue until June 2023, $3.8 million a year.
Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions, the train's private operator, has announced it will run services again from September 14.
Mr Carroll said the government would work with to look at how to maximise the Overland's success in Ararat, Stawell, Horsham, Dimboola and Nhill.
"They have committed to working closely with us, their top priority is to take bookings next month if they can," he said.
"We would work with them (if they wanted to run the service more frequently), and we would see that as incredible potential. We would support an increase in services certainly, because we would then know more people are hitting those regional towns."
The Overland has transported an average of 17,000 passengers in its last three years of operation.
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Mr Carroll said the state government would promote the Overland as a tourist attraction, and that his government department would work with those covering Regional Victoria and Tourism in this regard.
"We believe while we are coming through the pandemic, regional tourism will take off," he said. "Country Victoria, including the Silo Art Trail in the Wimmera region, was making a real presence before the pandemic, and we believe the Overland service will compliment some of the great work going on on the ground.
"Businesses interested in consulting about the opportunities should work with my office and that of (Regional Development Minister) Jaclyn Symes."
Nine days into the job after a cabinet reshuffle prompted by the demise of former Local Government Minister Adem Somyurek, Mr Carroll said messages calling for the saving of the Overland clogged his inbox after taking over the public transport portfolio from Melissa Horne.
He did not say whether the government would consider supporting more regular passenger rail services to the Wimmera, as Member for Lowan Emma Kealy called for in the wake of Tuesday's announcement.
"We will work with the local communities to ensure we do understand fully their current situation and the travelling needs and preferences they have," he said.
In a statement, Journey Beyond Chief Operating Officer Luke Walker said it was a significant day.
"The Overland has been bringing people between Adelaide and Melbourne for more than 130 years and it is a significant part of Australia's rail history. It brings us great joy to know that it will also play a part in the future of Australian rail," he said.
"We welcome the move to a three-year approach as it will give renewed security of tenure and time review and potentially improve our operating model and service capabilities."
In relation to the September 14 restart date, Mr Walker said: "It also links well with The Ghan and the Indian Pacific with The Overland from Melbourne arriving into Adelaide on a Saturday ahead of The Ghan's Sunday departure. The Overland's second arrival into Adelaide is a Tuesday, giving guests a two-night overlay before joining the Indian Pacific across the Nullarbor to Perth."