General News
15 February, 2026
Halls Gap bus service at a crossroads
Fewer than 10 passenger trips a day were taken on V/Line coach services to and from Halls Gap over the past year, new figures show — a level of use that raises questions about the long-term viability of public transport to the Grampians township.
Data supplied by the Department of Transport and Planning shows that during January there were just over 400 passenger trips on Halls Gap coach services.
Over a 12-month period to February 1, there were around 3,600 trips in total — an average of fewer than 10 trips per day.
Those figures suggest that, at present, public transport is being used by only a small handful of residents, workers and visitors travelling to and from Halls Gap.
It is against that backdrop that local accommodation operator Tim Walsh has been campaigning for changes to the Stawell-to-Halls Gap coach route, arguing that low patronage should be a reason to rethink the service rather than quietly accept its decline.
Mr Walsh has proposed rerouting the coach to include stops at Lake Fyans, Pomonal and key tourism precincts along the Grampians corridor, rather than running directly between Stawell and Halls Gap. He believes a broader route would make the service more practical for workers and visitors without cars, and encourage greater use.
In response to questions from the Stawell Times-News, a Department of Transport and Planning spokesperson said authorities were monitoring demand and community interest.
“We regularly monitor demand and where we can improve the coverage of our services across the network, including in Halls Gap,” the spokesperson said.
“We are aware of community interest in extending coach services in the Halls Gap area and this will be considered as part of our statewide network planning.”
The department confirmed V/Line services already make a number of stops within Halls Gap, including the Information Centre, the local recreation reserve and nearby caravan parks. Daily coach services connect Halls Gap with Melbourne via Ararat and Ballarat.
When reviewing existing routes or planning new services, the Department of Transport and Planning said it considers several factors, including the likely number of users, the suitability of the road network for bus operations, the need for a direct and easily understood network, and connectivity with other public transport services.
While the patronage figures do not point to strong existing demand, supporters of an expanded route argue that is precisely the issue. Without changes — and without greater community use — the case for retaining and improving the service could become harder to make over time.
For Mr Walsh, the challenge is not only to add stops, but to encourage locals and visitors alike to see the bus as a viable option before it risks becoming a service that decision-makers may question altogether.