Adelaide’s trains are returning to public hands with trams to follow. Photo: Adelaide Metro/Twitter (X).
The South Australian government has taken full control of Adelaide’s train services in a reversal of a four-year privatisation of the network.
And the government says trams services will follow suit later this year. No break fees will have to be paid.
Adelaide Metro posted on social media that there will be no changes to the current timetables.
SA Premier Peter Malinauskas says the nationalisation is “a remarkable achievement” that that will benefit residents and visitors.
“We were very clear when the former Marshall (government) abandoned its pledge for no privatisation that, if elected, a Labor Government would bring these services back into public ownership,” he says.
“Today we honour that promise.”
Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis says the public wants essential services to be operated and owned by the government.
“The reality is, when you privatise a service, you pay for the private operator’s profit margin that’s built into the price for services.
“Taxpayer money should be re-invested to improve services. That is exactly what we’re doing,” he says.
Rail, Tram and Bus Union SA secretary Darren Phillips welcomed the news.
“Public transport is a vital service that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, eases road congestion and enhances the liveability of our city.
“This transition marks a new era for South Australia’s transport system – one that prioritises people over profits,” he says.
CHANGES
The government says 31 more passenger service assistants will be employed on trains and trams, especially after 7pm, as they undo previous cuts to numbers.
The government is already upgrading amenities at railway stations.
Over a dozen station upgrades, from Gawler Central to Woodlands Park, have been completed while improvements to Alberton, Clarence Park and Marino stations will be completed by 2026, government says.
Adelaide Metro says the Marino station will get a $2m upgrade which includes new CCTV cameras, emergency helpline and tactile ground indicators.
Both Metro and government say a full complement of drivers, controllers, supervisors and shift managers accepted employment offers with government well ahead of schedule.
