REGIONAL RAIL SERVICE

164 The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (24 September 2008). Can the Minister for Transport advise:

1. Have any feasibility studies been conducted into allowing regional passenger rail services within South Australia?

2. If so, will the minister release any such reports?

3. If not, what is preventing the minister from restoring regional rail services as found in other states?

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): The Minister for Transport has advised:

1.&2. There have been no feasibility reports completed into regional rail passenger services.

3. In outer metropolitan and regional South Australia, the Government funds or coordinates a range of regular passenger transport services, such as those in the Fleurieu Peninsula, the Adelaide Hills, Gawler and the Barossa Valley.

These services include:

Regular Route Services (Country Bus) Services

Provincial City Services (local intra-town services that operate in Port Pirie, Whyalla, Port Augusta, Port Lincoln, Murray Bridge and Mount Gambier)

Community Passenger Networks (to assist people who are transport disadvantaged to access transport services)

Integrated Transport Services (which provide regular passenger services between smaller towns into major regional cities and are designed to link with Regular Route Services in major centres to enable passengers to travel to Adelaide)

Special Medical-related Services (providing access to Adelaide for medical appointments, on a daily basis and are available for people unable to access general passenger transport services); and

Dial-a-Ride services (they provide a door-to-door service, available for travel within a defined city or township).