Work starts on new Crafers Park n Ride expansion in Adelaide Hills

Work has started on a new and expanded park n ride in the Adelaide Hills for commuters, as Spanish train builders Talgo seek more money from its government.

Work has started on a new Crafers Park ‘n’ Ride in the Adelaide Hills.

The new parking spot for commuters heading down to the city on buses will cost about $6m and provide an extra 85 parking spaces.

It’s located on the other side of the freeway to the current park n ride, which offers only 39 spaces.

Commuters being forced to leave their cars along various Crafers streets has long been a problem in the small town.

The new park ‘n’ ride is being built adjacent the Crafers off-ramp and South-Eastern Freeway on the downtrack side.

The 85 new carparking spaces will include accessible spaces and 35 motorcycle parking spots.

Public transport creates fierce interest in the Hills, with Mount Barker struggling as housing developments swell and more people seek to move the area but work in the city.

About 600 new bus services are beginning to operate in the Hills, including T840 services from Mount Barker, via the Crafers Park ‘n’ Ride, to the city every 15 minutes on weekdays between 9am and 3pm.

Concept Plans for Crafers Park ‘n’ Ride facility.

But some MPs believe the state government was ignoring passenger rail and should reinvigorate rail lines from Mount Barker to the city – a claim Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis said was “fanciful”, saying the state government hadn’t ruled that out.

Meanwhile, the engineer who oversaw the freeway’s construction – Luigi Rossi – says it’s “at capacity” and believed SA must pivot to rail to open up the regions.

A mooted train trial by Spanish locomotive manufacturers is in doubt after Mr Koutsantonis said Talgo appeared to have thought Mount Barker was larger in population, and further from the CBD, and would suitable for their specialised high-speed, intercity locomotives.

The Advertiser understands Talgo is awaiting the green light from the Spanish government and has requested additional funding from them.

Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis and transport department CEO Jon Whelan at the site of the new Crafers Park N Ride, where work has started. Picture: supplied

The park n ride expansion also includes new lighting and CCTV to increase safety and security, along with new shared use paths and landscaping.

The existing Park ‘n’ Ride will continue normal operation during the expansion work, with construction expected to be completed by mid-2024.

Mr Koutsantonis said he was pleased to see work starting on the expansion as the new bus services started in the Hills.

“It shows how serious we are about improving public transport options for Hills communities,” he said.

“There are 39 spaces at Crafers currently, so by adding 85 new spaces we’ll be greatly increasing the capacity of the Park ‘n’ Ride, helping make public transport a more attractive option for Adelaide Hills commuters.”