Source:-      News: Premiers and Ministers of South Australia
http://www.premier.sa.gov.au/news.php?id=3236&page=1

Treasurer Kevin Foley today announced $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.

Mr Foley says today’s 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 said.

The first trams to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre are expected to be running in 2010.

Electrification of the Belair line has not been included in this package, due to some complex infrastructure issues but will be reviewed after completion of the recently-announced Federal Government study into the future of the adjacent ARTC heavy rail freight line.

“We set an ambitious target in the State Strategic Plan to increase weekday passenger transport use to 10 per cent by 2018 and this will allow us to reach that milestone.”

The main State Budget measures to be delivered over the next four years are:

* $209 million to commence the electrification of the Noarlunga line;
* $83 million to commence the electrification of the Outer Harbor line;
* $162 million for a tramline extension to the Entertainment Centre and subsequent connection to the Outer Harbour line and the purchase of light rail vehicles;
* $116 million for concrete re-sleepering of the Gawler line;
* $64.4 million to acquire 80 additional buses over the next four years;
* $29 million to begin the purchase of a new ticketing system; and
* $14 million for short-term tram capacity options.

Additional money has also been allocated to replace ageing infrastructure on the original Glenelg tramline ($20.3 million), railcar refurbishments ($10.6 million), rail bridge upgrades ($9.2 million), disability compliance improvements ($8 million) and an increase ($5 million) in funding for rail operations.

As part of the major transport package, planning work will begin on tram extensions to West Lakes, Port Adelaide and Semaphore, along with the electrification of the Gawler line.

The 10-year program will deliver 50 new electric trains, 58 converted and refurbished diesel to electric trains, 15 new hybrid tram/trains and additional light rail vehicles.

Public transport projects currently underway include:

* Railcar depot relocation ($154.9 million over three years)
* Noarlunga and Belair re-sleepering ($106.8 million over three years)
* Purchasing 133 replacement buses ($102.2 million over four years)
* South Road Glenelg Tramline Overpass ($26.2 million to be completed in 2009-10)
* TransAdelaide annual upgrade program ($19.1 million over three years)
* Improvements to the rail data communication system ($8.7 million over two years)
* Railcar upgrades ($6.6 million over three years)
* Safe railway pedestrian crossings ($4.6 million over three years)
* Port Adelaide viaduct bridge upgrades ($4.4 million over three years)
* Installations of passenger announcement systems in stations ($1.9 million over two years)
* Public transport annual maintenance program ($1.7 million over three years)
* Upgrades to tramline level crossings ($1.6 million in 2008-09)
* Replacement of rail track points and crossings ($1.5 million over three years)
* Public transport annual environmental infrastructure upgrades ($1.4 million in 08-09)



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