Answers to Questions

OAKLANDS-NOARLUNGA SUBSTITUTE BUS SERVICE

In reply to the Hon. K.L. VINCENT (8 March 2011) (First Session).

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation): The Minister for Transport Services has received this advice:

1. Between 6 February 2011 and 23 July 2011, 303 substitute bus services operated between the Noarlunga and Oaklands interchanges each weekday, and 124 per day on weekends and public holidays with the first and last services departing Noarlunga and Oaklands as follows:

Monday to Friday

Weekends and Public Holidays

2. To meet the existing requirements for the normal Adelaide Metro bus services during morning and afternoon peak periods, the fleet of regular buses were fully utilised. The buses used as substitute buses to support the upgrade of the Noarlunga line were previously withdrawn from regular service routes as they reached the statutory age limit for public passenger vehicles (25 years). While they have reached the age limit required under the Passenger Transport Act 1994 and Passenger Transport Regulations 2009, these vehicles are regularly maintained and inspected and are therefore safe to continue operating public transport services subject to a restricted age limit extension. This bus substitute fleet was used exclusively to provide a service to passengers as rail lines were upgraded under the Rail Revitalisation Program.

In off peak periods (before 7.00am and between 9.00am and 3.00pm) some regular buses that are fully accessible were used on substitute routes when available. Accessible buses were used after 6.00pm and on weekends.

3. The substitute bus service operated under instructions that no passenger would be left behind because of accessibility issues. As with normal Adelaide Metro bus services, passengers were encouraged to contact the service provider, SouthLink, to enable arrangements for their requirements to be met. Where an accessible bus for that particular substitute bus service was not available, an access cab could be arranged at no charge.