A petition calling for passenger rail services to stop at Talbot station has been tabled in State Parliament.

On Wednesday, Greens MLC for Western Metropolitan Region, Colleen Hartland presented the 465 signature petition to parliament’s Legislative Council.

Talbot Train Taskforce spokesman, Max Kau, said the fact that there were 465 signatories to the petition, while the township population is just 300, speaks for itself.

“The population of the immediate surrounding area is 1200 and the addresses on the petition are from all around this district so it’s obvious that it’s not just the town residents who want the train to stop here,” he said.

Mr Kau said having the newly reinstated Maryborough to Melbourne passenger rail service stop at Talbot as well as Maryborough and Clunes was vital to growing the region’s tourism and business potential.

He said the Talbot township and surrounding area was rich in untapped tourism potential but this was being retarded as long as the passenger rail service did not stop at Talbot.