House of Assembly Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2) 52 2 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Gawler Rail Line GAWLER RAIL LINE Mr PICCOLO House of Assembly Light GAWLER RAIL LINE Mr PICCOLO (Light) (14:19): My question is to the Minister for Transport Services. Can the minister inform the house about the reopening of the Gawler line? The Hon. C.C. FOX House of Assembly Bright Minister for Transport Services GAWLER RAIL LINE The Hon. C.C. FOX (Bright—Minister for Transport Services) (14:19): I thank the member for this question. The state government has been electrifying our rail network as part of a $2.6 billion investment in public transport over 10 years. In preparation for that electrification, obviously we needed to shut some lines. Stage 2 of the Gawler line track upgrade began some six months ago and it has now been finished. A fortnight ago I informed the house that passenger train services would resume in two stages and, as a result, the Gawler line opened on Sunday 18 March. The entire line is about to open between Adelaide Railway Station and Gawler Central—and I am sure the member for Light will be very pleased about this because it is his own personal line, as far as I can tell; he spends most of his life on it—this Saturday afternoon on a limited basis and entirely from Sunday onwards. The opening of this line represents a great deal of hard work and a great deal of patience from the local community. During the line closure, the department used the opportunity to upgrade a number of stations, including the construction of two new stations at Elizabeth and Munno Para. Chidda, Evanston, Elizabeth South and Gawler stations were upgraded with new platform services, improved lighting, passenger information and easier access for customers. I know that there was a great deal of inconvenience for commuters during this time. I apologise to them and thank them for their patience. I am very pleased that this line is reopening.