Samples of introductory letters sent to all current sitting members and known Candidates for the Victorian Government 2014 elections. Ripon and Mildura Electorates. Sent April/ July/August. 2014. Accompanied by a copy of Noel Laidlaws Proposal.
Candidate Ripon Electorate or
Candidate Mildura Electorate
State of Victoria
25th April 2014 NorthWest Rail Alliance Inc.
Dear .........,
I am writing to you re our aim of returning the Mildura Passenger Trains back onto the Mildura (Yelta) rail line between Melbourne and Mildura via Ballarat.
In a recently published report, Noel Laidlaw, an engineer and active transport advocate has released a report in which he has costed the upgrading and restoration of the current track and the necessary works associated with the reintroduction of a six train per week service between Mildura and Melbourne.
Whilst it may be felt that a limited service is not the best long term option, we are of the view that this would be a good start for government to examine the level of support and patronage to the “New Vinelander” and hopefully be able to supply a much more comprehensive service in the future.
We are a newly formed Incorporated organization which originated from a Facebook group of over 1000 with a sister page of over 3000 likes. Previously known as “Bring Trains Back To Mildura Line”.
It is made up of concerned citizens from Mildura and the various communities along the line and also from Melbourne. We believe that all of our communities would benefit from this, even limited, train service.
I commend you to have a read of Mr. Laidlaw’s report. It is well researched and comprehensively addresses the many issues associated with the return of the passenger train.
However, we need your support in this matter. It is very important to the communities along the line that you and the Labor Party strongly consider this issue leading to the forthcoming State elections, and to realize the fact that this is a step forward in providing the various communities on the Mildura rail corridor decent public transport to Melbourne.
With the aging population of many of our towns and cities, we feel that the need for passenger rail services that will serve our population in being able to travel in some comfort to and from Melbourne for medical, personal and family reasons is becoming increasingly important. Our bus service is not suitable for many passengers, whatever their age and many are unable to drive these distances.
I ask you to have a look at this report which I have enclosed, and offer yours and your Party’s support to our Organisation in this battle to have returned what was promised by the previous governing Labor Party.
I can be contacted on:-
Phone 03 XXXXXXXXXXXX
Email XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Postal Address XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Thanking you in anticipation
Yours Sincerely
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Web Site http://www.bringbackthetrainstomildura.com/index.html
Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/pages/NorthWest-Rail-Alliance/395815503815550
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NorthWest Rail Alliance
Lobbying for the return of Passenger Rail Services on the Mildura Rail Line
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Candidate for Ripon
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
12th July 2014
Dear XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX,
As you are a candidate for the upcoming State Elections in November I am writing to you in regards to our groups aim to have Mildura Passenger Trains returned to the Mildura rail line between Melbourne and Mildura via Ballarat.
We are a newly formed Incorporated organisation called NorthWest Rail Alliance, which originated from a Facebook group with over 1000 members with a sister page of over 3100 likes, (previously known as “Bring Trains Back To Mildura Line”).
The group is comprised of likeminded citizens from Mildura and the various communities along the rail line all the way to Melbourne. We believe that all of our communities would benefit from the return of passenger rail.
In a previously published report, (Sunraysia Daily on 17th October 2013) Noel Laidlaw, an engineer and active transport advocate released a proposal in which he had costed the upgrading and restoration of the current track and the necessary works associated with the reintroduction of a six train per week service between Mildura and Melbourne.
Whilst it may be felt that a limited service is not the best long term option, we are of the view that this would be a good start for government to examine the level of support and patronage to the “New Vinelander” and hopefully be able to supply a much more comprehensive service in the future.
I commend you to read a copy of Mr. Laidlaw’s proposal. It is well researched and comprehensively addresses the many issues associated with the return of the passenger train.
We need your support in this matter. It is very important to the communities along the line that you strongly consider this issue in the lead up to and including the forthcoming State election and for you to understand that the return of passenger rail is a step forward in providing the various communities on the Mildura rail corridor an acceptable level of public transport to Melbourne.
With an aging population in many of our towns and cities, the need for passenger rail services that will serve our population in being able to travel in some comfort to and from Melbourne for medical, personal and family reasons is becoming increasingly important. The bus services are not suitable for many passengers due to age and disability and many are unable to drive these distances. The proposed budgetary changes to the fuel excise will compound the issue by adding to the cost of fuel for country travellers.
We seek your support in fighting for the return of passenger rail between Maryborough and Mildura. Previous State Governments repeatedly promised to return the services between 1999 and 2010 following the initial withdrawal of services in 1993.
Please find enclosed the proposal for the return of passenger rail for your consideration.
We welcome feedback and comments and would be very pleased to discuss our proposal with you.
Please do not hesitate to contact either myself Patricia Osborne or our President Christian Mitchell and we look forward to working with you as a candidate.
Thanking you in anticipation
Yours Sincerely
Secretary
Mrs XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Phone 03 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Email XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Postal Address XXXXXXXXXXXXX
President
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Phone XXXXXXXXXXX
Email XXXXXXXXXXX
Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/pages/NorthWest-Rail-Alliance/395815503815550
Web Site http://www.bringbackthetrainstomildura.com/index.html
Lobbying for the return of Passenger Rail Services on the Mildura Rail Line
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Candidate for Ripon
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
12th July 2014
Dear XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX,
As you are a candidate for the upcoming State Elections in November I am writing to you in regards to our groups aim to have Mildura Passenger Trains returned to the Mildura rail line between Melbourne and Mildura via Ballarat.
We are a newly formed Incorporated organisation called NorthWest Rail Alliance, which originated from a Facebook group with over 1000 members with a sister page of over 3100 likes, (previously known as “Bring Trains Back To Mildura Line”).
The group is comprised of likeminded citizens from Mildura and the various communities along the rail line all the way to Melbourne. We believe that all of our communities would benefit from the return of passenger rail.
In a previously published report, (Sunraysia Daily on 17th October 2013) Noel Laidlaw, an engineer and active transport advocate released a proposal in which he had costed the upgrading and restoration of the current track and the necessary works associated with the reintroduction of a six train per week service between Mildura and Melbourne.
Whilst it may be felt that a limited service is not the best long term option, we are of the view that this would be a good start for government to examine the level of support and patronage to the “New Vinelander” and hopefully be able to supply a much more comprehensive service in the future.
I commend you to read a copy of Mr. Laidlaw’s proposal. It is well researched and comprehensively addresses the many issues associated with the return of the passenger train.
We need your support in this matter. It is very important to the communities along the line that you strongly consider this issue in the lead up to and including the forthcoming State election and for you to understand that the return of passenger rail is a step forward in providing the various communities on the Mildura rail corridor an acceptable level of public transport to Melbourne.
With an aging population in many of our towns and cities, the need for passenger rail services that will serve our population in being able to travel in some comfort to and from Melbourne for medical, personal and family reasons is becoming increasingly important. The bus services are not suitable for many passengers due to age and disability and many are unable to drive these distances. The proposed budgetary changes to the fuel excise will compound the issue by adding to the cost of fuel for country travellers.
We seek your support in fighting for the return of passenger rail between Maryborough and Mildura. Previous State Governments repeatedly promised to return the services between 1999 and 2010 following the initial withdrawal of services in 1993.
Please find enclosed the proposal for the return of passenger rail for your consideration.
We welcome feedback and comments and would be very pleased to discuss our proposal with you.
Please do not hesitate to contact either myself Patricia Osborne or our President Christian Mitchell and we look forward to working with you as a candidate.
Thanking you in anticipation
Yours Sincerely
Secretary
Mrs XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Phone 03 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Email XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Postal Address XXXXXXXXXXXXX
President
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Phone XXXXXXXXXXX
Email XXXXXXXXXXX
Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/pages/NorthWest-Rail-Alliance/395815503815550
Web Site http://www.bringbackthetrainstomildura.com/index.html