By Laura Michell
More than one million passengers have used the Mernda rail line in the nine months since the extension opened.
The $600 million extension of train line from South Morang to Mernda was opened last August, creating new stations at Hawkstowe, Middle Gorge and Mernda.
The extension returned passenger trains to Mernda for the first time in 60 years.
Public Transport Minister Melissa Horne visited Mernda station earlier this week to announce that the line had welcomed its millionth passenger.
Ms Horne said close to 2600 passengers used Mernda station each day, while Hawkstowe and Middle Gorge stations are used by about 1000 passengers daily.
She said the rail extension had resulted in 5000 car trips being diverted from local roads in the past nine months.
Mernda passengers travelling to the city have access to 982 services each week.
Ms Horne said patronage on the Mernda line has risen by almost 50 per cent since the three new stations opened.
“Last year we brought passenger trains back to Mernda for the first time in 60 years- one million trips in nine months show this was the right thing to do,” she said.
