OH what a tangled web we weave! Those who continually criticise the rail service for lack of amenities have never advanced the cause of public transport and really do have a cheek to expect the immediate.

Nobody can deny the need for a very good public transport system in these days of high fuel costs and high-speed trains.

But where were these so-called concerned citizens in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s when the Liberal members of Bendigo, along with Henry Bolte, Dick Hamer and Jeff Kennett, were ripping the heart out of public rail transport in this region? I can remember that Bendigo was the centre of rail transport which fed Cohuna, Korong-Vale, Echuca and Swan Hill by passenger services, with functioning workshops and freight sheds that employed 1000 staff.

The argument put up by Liberals then was cost of providing this service to the community - a community that quickly forgot about public transport in favour of roads (door-to-door service and cheap fuel).

Now that this State Government has built a fast-train concept into its imagination and fuel costs are skyrocketing, there is a cry from citizens who did nothing to protect the public transport system for greater resources to be spent on their needs.

Lest we forget!

BILL COLLIER,

Golden Square