FEEDBACK from up to 370 North East train and bus travellers has been collated to inform the Regional Network Development Plan. Public Transport Victoria visited Wangaratta last month to hear feedback on ideas, issues, opportunities and priorities for regional Victoria. Some 21 per cent of the 370 people to give feedback were from Wangaratta with 48 per cent from Shepparton, 14 per cent Wodonga, nine per cent Benalla, and eight per cent from Seymour. Key topics of discussion at Wangaratta were improving geographic reach to smaller regional towns as well as upgrading trains and tracks to improve the comfort and reliability of the rail service on the North East line. Wangaratta commuters have had to put up with unreliable services for years, with cancellations, speed restrictions and unpunctual trains and buses. The development plan will help inform the State Government prior to its delivery of its 2016-17 budget. Other issues and suggestions came out of all the Hume workshops and online surveys as well. People raised the concept of running shuttle trains between Seymour and places like Shepparton and Albury/Wodonga as a way to improve the service. Many people identified the need for greater and more frequent connection between regional cities and towns, not just to Melbourne. Participants also identified the need for timetabling that allowed people in their area to access the services or events they wanted in Melbourne, without having to use their car. This was commonly pointed out as being important for the elderly or the ill, who may not be able to drive but still need to access medical specialist in Melbourne. A frequently raised matter was the timetabling of service that didnt allow for passengers to visit Melbourne, take part in an activity and then return the same day. Frequently mentioned events were sporting events or theatre shows that ran late, or sporting events or appointments that started early. Additionally, respondents commonly raised concerns with timetabling in relation to their work or study services need to star earlier and finish later. Respondents commonly raised the idea that towns and communities that are well connected provide more opportunities, important to avoid social isolation. There was a focus on improving east-west connectivity across the region to connect with smaller towns as well as big regional centres like Bendigo. Jaclyn Symes (MLC, Northern Victoria), who co-chairs the Regional Transport Advisory Group, thanked the 400 people who took part in the Hume workshops, contributing their passion and ideas for better public transport in Northern Victoria. The extensive feedback received through these forums will be central to the development of the Regional Network Development Plan Victorias long-term strategy for better public transport in regional areas, she said.