Regional Rail

In reply to the Hon. R.A. SIMMS ().16 May 2024).

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries): The Minister for Infrastructure and Transport advises that any request for project funding to the Australian government must be supported by evidence of the project benefits.

The state frequently works with the rail industry through rail infrastructure managers such as the Australian Rail Track Corporation, Aurizon and Bowmans Rail.

Aurizon and Viterra have submitted a business case to the Australian government for the reactivation of the rail-based export grain supply chain on Eyre Peninsula.

On 25 October 2023, the Hon. Tom Koutsantonis MP, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport provided a letter of support for the project to the Hon. Catherine King MP, federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government following country cabinet and discussion with local councils. The Department for Infrastructure and Transport (the department) will now deliver a business case for the Eyre Peninsula export grain supply chain for $200 000 which will be 25 per cent funded by local government, to inform advice to the Australian government on investment priorities.

As part of its election commitments, the South Australian government committed a total of $1.4 million to Great Southern Rail from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2026, to support the operation of the Overland passenger train between Adelaide and Melbourne. A condition of the funding is that services stop at Bordertown and Murray Bridge.

The department is investigating the feasibility of providing a rail passenger service to Mount Barker using the existing rail corridor and will be considering rail options in a business case for mass transit between the CBD and Mount Barker.

In addition, the 2024-2025 state budget included $10 million in partnership with the Australian government to plan for outer metro and regional passenger rail service extensions.

This will inform potential future rail bids as part of the future budget process.