“The government will assess the feasibility of returning passenger services on the Mildura corridor once the freight upgrade is complete,” the spokesman said.

Contractors are now nearing Mildura with the replacement of decaying wooden sleepers to complete the $73 million rail freight upgrade, seen by the public as the first step in reinstating passenger services.

The passenger service was shut down by the Liberal Government under then Premier Jeff Kennett in 1993 and successive Labor Governments have promised its return, seen by many as a fulfilment of a promise given to former Mildura MP Russell Savage whose vote helped install Bracks in government in 1999.

For more of this story, purchase your copy of Thursday's Sunraysia Daily 30/4/2009.