House of Assembly: Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Contents

RAIL, STANDARD GAUGE

167 Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (31 July 2007). When will funding be allocated to standardise the remaining broad gauge rail lines in South Australia to allow connection to the national standard gauge rail lines to facilitate interstate export opportunities and assist economic growth in South Australia?

The Hon. P.F. CONLON (Elder—Minister for Transport, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Energy): I provide the following information:

$10 million has been allocated in 2007-08 to assist with the standardisation and upgrade of the railway lines in the South East of South Australia. All future upgrades of TransAdelaide's assets will include gauge standardisation to be included in the design, where it is practically achievable. Currently all concrete sleepers and level crossing upgrades (for example, the recent upgrade of the level crossing over Port Road for the Grange line) are gauge convertible, or allow standard gauge operation.