THE fight to keep the Gippsland railway line open to Bairnsdale has paid big dividends with the State Government upgrading the line, and announcing this week that VLocity class trains would be added to the route.

Pity V/Line passenger services stopped running to Leongatha in July 1993.

The VLocity train service to Bairnsdale starts this Sunday; stopping at Trafalgar, Yarragon, Longwarry, Bunyip, Tynong and Nar Nar Goon.

Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams announced on Thursday that the remaining two locomotive-hauled classic fleet services on the Bairnsdale line have now been retired, making way for new modern and efficient VLocity trains.

The State Government invested $31 million to expand the stabling facility at Bairnsdale to house two three-carriage VLocity trains overnight, which has enabled this change.

A new timetable has also been introduced, with the first and last services now stopping at those additional Gippsland stations creating more public transport options for these communities.

“We’re delivering a better train service for Gippsland – with modern and reliable VLocity trains running on all services, and cheaper fares so that passengers can get to where they need to go,” said Labor Member for Eastern Victoria Tom McIntosh.