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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-11-23 Daily Xml
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NATIONAL RAIL DAY

Mrs GERAGHTY (Torrens) (14:59): My question—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Torrens, we will wait until they have finished the discussion across the floor.

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Torrens.

Mrs GERAGHTY: Thank you. Can the Minister for Transport Services inform the house about the inaugural National Rail Day, please?

The Hon. C.C. FOX (Bright—Minister for Transport Services) (14:59): I am pleased to announce that yesterday was the inaugural National Rail Day, which celebrates the past, present and exciting future of the rail industry. In South Australia, we actually have a lot to celebrate and to look forward to, including our $2 billion investment over 10 years into our public transport system, the pillar of which is the electrification of our metropolitan passenger rail network.

As transport services minister, one of my aims is to encourage more people to use public transport and National Rail Day provided me with that opportunity. Early yesterday morning, I went down to the Adelaide Railway Station, and I don't want to say that I harassed but I gave a number of commuters quite a lot of cards saying 'thank you'—thank you for using these services, thank you for trusting us as, indeed, we try to reward you with the best possible rail services we can. By choosing to travel on trains instead of driving, rail customers are making a big difference. Train travel is more sustainable, it makes our roads safer and our air cleaner. As a frequent train user, I can actually say that it is faster for me to take a train from my home into the city than it is to drive.

A recent study—'The true value of rail', conducted by Deloitte Access Economics—found that one passenger train can take 525 cars off the road, making our roads less congested. In one year, one passenger train reduces carbon emissions by the same amount as planting 320 hectares of trees. It also saves more than 420 litres of fuel. By catching a train, the commuters help make Australian roads eight times safer.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.C. FOX: This is definitely—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.C. FOX: I'm sorry.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for MacKillop, behave yourself or take a bus somewhere. Minister.

The Hon. C.C. FOX: Let me reiterate that final point: by catching a train, the commuters help Australian roads be eight times safer and that is definitely something to celebrate.

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