The Hon. Annabelle Cleeland, Nationals Member for Euroa, Media Release, 16 February 2026

Nationals Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland has criticised the Allan Labor Government’s so-called “Big Switch”, saying it has failed to deliver for regional Victoria, with overcrowded, unreliable services on the Shepparton and Albury–Seymour lines while Melbourne continues to receive the lion’s share of upgrades.

Ms Cleeland said the new timetable delivers only minor changes for regional passengers, while long-promised rail upgrades for Shepparton remain unfinished.

“The Big Switch has been presented as a major overhaul, but for much of regional Victoria the reality is that the changes are small and the benefits are limited,” Ms Cleeland said.

“Real service improvements were meant to come from completed rail upgrades, not minor timetable adjustments.”

Stage three of the Shepparton railway line upgrade was designed to significantly increase the number of daily return services between Shepparton and Melbourne, with the Victorian Government originally indicating the project would be completed in 2023.

“That deadline has been pushed back multiple times, first to late 2023–24, then to the end of 2025, and the project is still not complete,” Ms Cleeland said.

Ms Cleeland said that while Labor eventually matched the Nationals’ call for cheaper fares, increased services and capacity had not followed.

“We fought hard to make fares more affordable, but cheaper tickets mean very little if people can’t get on the train,” she said.

“Right now, commuters are dealing with packed carriages, missed services and unsafe overcrowding. I’ve heard from locals who can’t find a seat, and even people in wheelchairs who simply can’t fit onboard. That’s not good enough.”

“While regional passengers continue to wait, Melbourne is seeing increased rail capacity and more substantial service improvements.”

Ms Cleeland said regional Victorians deserve more than incremental changes and shifting timelines.

“People in Shepparton and across the Goulburn Valley were promised better, more frequent services. Those outcomes will not be delivered until the infrastructure is finished,” she said.

“Regional rail should not be an afterthought. Completing the Shepparton works and delivering real extra services must be a priority if the Government is serious about fairness for regional Victoria.”

Ms Cleeland said she would continue pressing the Government for clear delivery timelines and genuine improvements for regional rail passengers.