The Liberal-National Coalition has also pledged to introduce “tourist friendly coach services to Halls Gap and the Grampians, including timetable improvements to provide better connections, more shelters and room for bikes to be carried on the bus to support growing tourist visitation to the Grampians”.

Liberal leader Matthew Guy and Nationals leader Peter Walsh have pledged to “ensure a weekday train service arrives in Ararat before 9am”.

“A government I lead will deliver more bus and train services for Western Victoria. This commitment will ensure Western Victoria is better connected to the rest of the state than ever before,” Mr Guy said.

The Coalition’s pledge was to deliver “timetable changes on the Ararat line would see a new weekday train that would arrive in Ararat before 9am, giving a more convenient option for people travelling in from Ballarat”.

The state government introduced new weekday passenger rail services to Ararat in August, with first arrivals at 10.39am and first departures at 6.18am.

Mr Walsh accused the state government of ignoring western Victoria’s passenger rail potential.

“We’re going to get Regional Victoria moving with better train and bus services. Our plans will make sure our communities can get where they want, when they want.

“Western Victoria has been completely neglected by the Andrews Labor Government. Anything west of Ballarat is completely off Daniel Andrews’ radar but the Liberal Nationals will deliver for the people of Western Victoria.

The Coalition would “negotiate with Great Southern Rail to secure its continued service to the towns of Ararat, Stawell and Horsham”.

Victoria will go to the polls on November 24.