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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-12-02 Daily Xml
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TRAIN TIMETABLES

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (14:55): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy a question about train timetables.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: Members would be aware that for some time I have been raising community concerns about the train services on the Gawler line, particularly since the introduction of the new timetables on 27 April this year. The lack of reliability of the Gawler line trains has been brought to my attention by many constituents, adding to my own personal experiences relating to timeliness and overcrowding.

Indeed, regular train commuter Mr Peter Amey has been recording departure and arrival times, because he is so frustrated with the inability of the TransAdelaide services to match the new scheduling. Mr Amey's records indicate that, over a five-week period, he spent up to an extra hour every week on board his preferred services. Not one of the 50 trips that Mr Amey made during this period arrived at the scheduled time.

I was interested to learn late yesterday that the government has announced that an extra carriage will be added to each of four late afternoon peak services departing Adelaide, while a new morning service will be introduced from Salisbury. I welcome any assistance the additional service and carriages may provide for passengers, but I emphasise that the government needs to do more than tinker at the edges. My questions to the minister are:

1. Will he take account of the fact that most commuters on the Gawler line are forced to use at least one service earlier than should be necessary to ensure that they arrive on time?

2. Will he instruct TransAdelaide to conduct a full review of the Gawler line timetables as a matter of urgency?

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) (14:57): I will refer the honourable member's important questions to the Minister for Transport in another place and bring back a response. However, I have to say that, indeed, this government is not tinkering at the edges when it comes to transport. I cannot let that comment go by. We have committed about $2 billion for the complete upgrading, rebuilding and re-modernising of our public transport system. So, I cannot sit here and let that go unstated.

As I said, the government has committed almost $2 billion to upgrade our public transport system, something of which this government is very proud. In fact, members of the former Liberal government should hang their head in shame for the gross neglect of our public transport system and the very shabby state it was in when we came into government.

Some of the proposals include upgrades, electrification of old lines and new lines being opened. We have built the tramline that members opposite said no-one wanted and no-one would use. We are now being criticised because of the extensive use of this remarkable service, which we are going to extend. Not only will this be a modern new transport system but it will also be part of a broader strategy for South Australia, in terms of our population growth, development and affordable housing. We are looking at transport routes that will transform the whole look of Adelaide and South Australia.

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