Torrens Junction Upgrade

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton) (14:19): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Could the minister update the house on the progress of the Torrens Junction Upgrade Project?

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (14:19): I thank the member for Colton for his question. I know that he is interested in this project and I suspect you may be as well, Mr Speaker, given the benefits the project will deliver to people in your electorate.

The SPEAKER: Yes.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: I am pleased to announce that, with the federal and state government commitment to the Torrens Junction project, tomorrow the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure will be calling an expressions of interest process for the delivery of the upgrade project. This project, which is part of the Torrens and Goodwood junctions upgrade projects, will deliver significant benefits for the national rail freight network as well as benefits for traffic flows for Adelaide motorists on a number of major arterial roads.

As many members would be aware, the first part of this project has already been delivered. The Goodwood Junction Upgrade Project was delivered towards the second half of 2013, and it delivered a grade separation between the passenger and freight rail lines at the south of the city. As many would be aware, currently the rail freight line at the north of the city crosses over the passenger rail lines which causes the necessity for the freight trains to give way to the passenger trains. This slows down freight quite considerably and it leads to significant delays on part of the inner city ring route at Park Terrace.

Along with the first part of the project which delivered the grade separation at the Goodwood Junction, of course other parts of the rail network were also improved, including the delivery of the brand new Adelaide Showground Station which was delivered in 2014 and caters to over 100,000 passengers each year, particularly during the Royal Adelaide Show. On the Torrens Junction element of the upgrade project, this $247 million project will mean a rail underpass is created at Park Terrace outside the current Bowden redevelopment.

The separation of the interstate freight train movements from the passenger rail movements will mean a significant increase in productivity for the rail freight network. As I mentioned earlier, currently those freight trains are required to give way to the passenger trains, and their not having to suffer this conflict and give way in that same way will mean that the freight movements will move quicker, but it will also mean that the length of the freight trains can also be increased from 1,500 metres to 1,800 metres. This is nearly a 20 per cent increase in freight capacity for the freight network.

Further, removing this rail crossing from Park Terrace will mean a significant reduction in delays for 50,000 vehicles using Park Terrace, not just when the Outer Harbor passenger train movements cause the boom gates to come down. But of course, as those of us who live in the north-western suburbs would also be aware, there are significant delays experienced at the Torrens Road rail crossing. When the freight trains are forced to give way to these passenger trains, they have to slow almost to walking pace which delays them coming through that Torrens Road junction. At times, it can take in excess of six minutes while these boom gates are down, delaying up to 25,000 vehicles on Torrens Road each day.

I am pleased to say that the project is not just about rail freight and improvements for motorists; it is also about delivering a new pedestrian cycling overpass at Goodwood to complete the popular Mike Turtur Bikeway, as well as level crossing safety improvements at Leader Street.