Late trains

By Bridget Cook
RESIDENTS will have to wait about six months longer than expected for Lynbrook Railway Station to be up and running, due to a mistake by the former Labor Government.
The previous State Government forgot to include one vital piece of infrastructure in the construction of the station – electricity to power the trains.
The new station is set to be completed by the end of this year, but won’t be active until about mid 2012 now as the Baillieu Coalition Government installs additional infrastructure to power the trains.
Casey councillor Amanda Stapledon thanked Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Eastern Victoria Region MP Edward O’Donohue and South Eastern Metropolitan Region MP Inga Peulich for notifying the community about the bungled construction this week.
Cr Stapledon said it was a blow to the Lynbrook and Lyndhurst communities that looked forward to their long-awaited station.
“It’s hoped that this issue will be resolved as soon as possible,” she said.
Lynbrook Residents’ Association president Jason Wood agreed.
“The delay of the station is disappointing news for Lynbrook and Lyndhurst,” Mr Wood said.
“It is good that Edward O’Donoghue has provided the information as soon as it came to light though.”
Ms Peulich said the delay would be a great disappointment for local residents.
“However, this unexpected delay will not derail this important project for which I have been pushing for the last five years,” Ms Peulich said.
Mr O’Donohue said local families had been looking forward to the opening of Lynbrook Railway Station for years.
Mr O’Donohue said several of the previous government’s transport projects had suffered significant time and cost overruns.
“Labor also forgot to provide adequate power to Cardinia Road Railway Station in Pakenham,” he said.
“At the end of 2011 we will have two railway stations completed and ready to open, but not enough power for them to be in use.”