The South Australian Government has committed funding to a range of rail and road projects to further grow the states infrastructure in this years budget.
The government has committed $10.8 million over five years to commence operations of the Port Dock railway line to provide a 30-minute service on weekdays and weekends, and bus connectivity to the new Port Dock bus and rail interchange, supporting the delivery of the state government’s election commitment.
The project will re-establish the spur line and construct a new train station and bus interchange. The 1 kilometre spur line will link Port Adelaide’s commercial centre and residential precinct to the Adelaide CBD.
It will provide rail services for those who already call the area home and the many more set to live, work and visit Port Adelaide. It will also serve as an important destination station for the Port’s tourist attractions.
The government has committed funding to expanding the reach of the states rail network to the north and the south.
$10 million over three years will go towards planning for transport network improvements to support Adelaide’s northern growth areas.
Another $10 million over two years will be set aside for planning for outer metropolitan and regional passenger rail service extensions.
The ABC has reported that the planning works will examine upgrades to the southern end of the train line, including taking the Seaford line towards Aldinga.
The government has already secured a 60-metre-wide corridor of land from Quinliven Road to Aldinga Beach Road for the extension of that line.
In Adelaide’s north, the study will look at where the Gawler line could be extended to the Barossa, using the existing rail corridor.
ABC News has also been told the planning works could also investigate what would be required to extend services to Mount Barker.
Decarbonisation is a major focus for the rail fleet. The government has committed $2 million to deliver planning studies to identify solutions to support transition to a zero-emissions public transport rail fleet.
Adelaides Metro is currently electrified along three lines – Seaford, Flinders and Gawler – with the rest of the train lines operated by Diesel locomotives.
In 2021 it was announced that 45 of the state’s 70 diesel rail cars were be upgraded with hybrid energy storage and recovery systems, as part of a $10 million 2021-22 State Budget initiative. It is aimed at reducing the fleet’s fuel consumption, noise, vibration and diesel emissions.
After the successful testing period of its first hybrid-diesel train, Adelaide Metro are now in the process of converting to a fleet of 50 hybrid diesel trains. These trains are already running on the Outer Harbor, Grange, and Belair lines. You’ll recognise them by their distinctive bright green colour.
Each railcar is fitted with an energy storage and recovery system that recovers excess energy when the train brakes and stores it in a battery for later use. The stored energy will also be used to supply power for lighting and air-conditioning at the Adelaide Railway Station train platform, reducing noise, emissions, and air pollution.
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