The Victorian Government has stepped in to save the iconic Overland train service between Melbourne and Adelaide – providing certainty to regional jobs, tourism and travel for Western Victorians.

Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll announced the Government will enter into a new three-year agreement to fund the historic service – guaranteeing a future for the Overland, which has run between Melbourne and Adelaide since 1887.

The Government’s support will ensure the twice-weekly service – which also stops at Murray Bridge, Bordertown, Nhill, Dimboola, Horsham, Stawell, Ararat and Geelong’s North Shore – will continue to run for the next three years.

The Victorian Government stepped in to save the iconic 828 kilometre route after the future of The Overland was put in jeopardy by the South Australian Liberal Government’s decision to stop funding the service, which is used by 20,000 people each year.

The service first ran as the Adelaide Express in 1887, before becoming the Overland in 1926. It is now operated by Australian tourist experience operator Journey Beyond Rail.