Treasurer Kevin Foley says $2 billion will be invested in the State’s public transport system over the next decade, delivering
Treasurer Kevin Foley says $2 billion will be invested in the State’s public transport system over the next decade, delivering a tramline from the city to West Lakes, Port Adelaide and Semaphore, electrification of the major northern and southern rail lines, scores of additional buses on our busiest routes and a modern ticketing system.
He says the recent State Budget will provide $648.4 million over the next four years for the first stage of the program to rebuild our rail and light-rail transport infrastructure.
That money will be spent on:
- Electrifying the Noarlunga and Outer Harbor rail lines;
- Extending the tramline to the Entertainment Centre;
- Re-sleepering the Gawler line ahead of electrification; and
- New light-rail vehicles.
The State Government has also committed to increase public transport capacity immediately to deal with record patronage numbers with 20 extra buses per year providing up to 9 million extra passenger journeys over the next four years at a cost of $64.4 million.
That is in addition to an existing program to replace more than 130 of the current bus fleet.
Improved bus services, better O-Bahn Interchanges and a review of how O-Bahn buses enter the CBD are also part of the integrated public transport package.
“This budget is providing the vision for a fast, electrified train network for commuters from Gawler, Outer Harbour and Noarlunga – as well as coast-to-coast light rail travel from the Bay through to the Port and Semaphore,” he says.