New Cross-Border Bus Service from Naracoorte to Horsham

People living in Naracoorte, Apsley, Edenhope, Goroke, and Natimuk will be able to get into Horsham in time to connect with other trains and buses, with the launch of a new trial bus service funded by the Victorian Government.

Launching the trial service in Edenhope today, Member for Western Victoria, Jaala Pulford said the six-month trial will provide a bus service that will link people living near the border to major Victorian regional centres and to Melbourne.

“Accessible transport is vital to everyday life in regional Victoria, and crucial to enhancing community connectedness,” Ms Pulford said.

“Local people said there was a need to be able to attend things like medical appointments in the city and this service is a terrific way of helping them to do that.”

Ms Pulford said the new service complements the existing daily service, with the early departure and late return times intended to allow people to travel to Melbourne and back in one day, avoiding the expense of an overnight stay.

“The service will run every Friday, leaving Naracoorte at 4.30am, arriving at Horsham at 7.00am, she said.

“Stops along the way include Apsley, Edenhope, Goroke, and Natimuk and from Horsham, passengers can then catch connecting services to Bendigo, Geelong, Ballarat and Melbourne.
The return service departs Horsham at 10.08pm and will arrive back in Naracoorte at 12.55am.

The Minister for Community Development, Peter Batchelor said the Victorian Government had committed a further $80 million dollars to support 32 Transport Connections programs across the state.

“The Transport Connections program makes a huge positive impact on communities, because access to local transport is a key factor in people being happy with where they choose to live,” Mr Batchelor said.

“This is a great example of the Victorian Government working with local residents to plan and deliver innovative local solutions that improve transport in their community.

“I encourage local residents to get behind the trial and make it a huge success,” he said.