RAIL STOCK

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (51:21): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for State/Local Government Relations, representing the Minister for Transport, a question about the maintenance of South Australia's rail stock.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: In a recent reply to a question on notice, I was advised that the state government intends to purchase four additional trams. Although Flexity trams are mentioned, other statements made in the reply were that whatever trams can be purchased will be bought (assuming their suitability for our infrastructure), including 15 dual voltage tram-trains and 50 electric railcars.

Given that the minister has taken the unusual step of providing Adelaide with a part-diesel (on the Belair line, for example) and a part-electric train network, this means that by about 2010 our public transport system will have, on my count, a vast number of different types of rail stock all in operation at the same time. A few examples are: a number of 3000 series and possibly 2000 series diesel railcars operating on the Belair and Gawler train lines until they are upgraded; 50 electric railcars operating on the Noarlunga and Port Adelaide lines; 15 dual voltage trams; a number of already existing Flexity trams operating on the line to Glenelg; some old H class trams that will still be in operation (although few of them); and an unspecified type of additional light rail vehicles. On top of this, we also have the O-Bahn fleet. My questions to the minister are:

1. Given that other cities make do with two types of rail stock (that is, all cities in Australia, as I understand it)—a standard type of train and a standard type of tram—why does Adelaide need seven different types of rail vehicles?

2. Does not having such a large number of quite different forms of physical stock simply add to the cost of maintenance, repairs and administration unnecessarily?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy) (15:23): I am happy to refer those questions to the appropriate minister in another place and bring back a response.