Infrastructure SA report backs rapid transit bus service but not rail between Mt Barker and Adelaide

An independent study has put the brakes on calls for a passenger rail service for the Hills, saying it “won’t meet consumer needs”. Here’s what’s been suggested instead.

Passenger rail will not meet consumer needs with money better spent in expanding existing bus services, an independent Hills transport study has found.

Infrastructure SA today released its Mount Barker Mass Transit Study, in which it backed the State Government’s push for a rapid bus service but not passenger rail.

This is despite months of lobbying by both the Mt Barker and Adelaide Hills Councils, Kavel MP Dan Cregan and the SA Transport Action Group.

“Although a rail service could be re-established in the Hills, the existing train line would not achieve travel times competitive with current bus services or cars, despite claims to the contrary,” the report states.

“The small proportion of passengers who commute to the CBD will be required to use private vehicles to travel to stations at trip origin, interchange to a broad gauge service to reach ARS, then travel from North Terrace to their final destination, each element adding to the overall journey time.”

Travel by rail would take over 70 minutes from Mt Barker to the city, according to the study.

This compares to 39 minutes via a rapid transit bus.

Kavel MP Dan Cregan said he rejected the report’s findings on passenger rail.

“I reject the finding that rail is not viable,” he said.

“An alternative study has found modern railcars with higher power-to-weight ratios can do the trip to Mount Barker in as little as 45 minutes with $70M in track improvements.

“The government walked away from Globelink and I don’t want them walking away from this latest study, too.

“After Globelink and plans to cut Hills bus routes, my community has limited confidence in public transport announcements from the government.”

SA Transport Action Group chair John Hill said the report did not provide any real comparison between passenger rail and buses.

He also questioned the validity of commuting times presented in the report.

“The purported 71 minutes is slower than the seven stop timetable of 50 years ago using 1960s underpowered railcars,” he said.

“We say just trial a current hybridised 3000 class railcar to demonstrate this.”

Mt Barker District Council mayor Ann Ferguson said she was concerned, but not surprised, by the study’s findings.

“The fact remains that after 12 years, no Government has been willing to develop let alone implement a viable short or long-term transport plan for Hills residents,” she said.

“Our community is growing so rapidly and it is imperative that essential services and

infrastructure are in place which rightly requires Government leadership and support.

“It is time for the Government to step up to the plate and commit to delivering actions

to resolve these essential needs for our community.”

While the study questioned the validity of rail, it did recommend and increase of park’n’ride facilities and bringing forward the completion of Heysen Boulevard in Mt Barker.

It also suggested targeted investment to improve efficiency and bus prioritisation on Glen Osmond Rd and further investment in managing motorway initiatives to better respond to incidents on the freeway and enable rapid contraflow.

Supplied Editorial Kavel MP Dan Cregan next to train line in Mt Barker. Picture: Supplied

Infrastructure SA also recommends that the Department for Infrastructure and Transport undertake the necessary studies to identify the longer-term corridor solution.

These should consider all transport modes and users, including freight, and should consider staging solutions so benefits can be realised earlier.

Infrastructure SA Chief Executive, Jeremy Conway said an efficient public transport service was “more about the corridor than the mode”.

“Improved bus services will be better matched to the needs of residents in the highly dispersed, low-density hills townships who tend to travel to a wide range of work and other destinations,” he said.

“With an efficient corridor, a Hills (rapid bus service), similar to the O-Bahn in Adelaide’s north east, could reduce travel time from Mount Barker to under 40 minutes.”

The State Government is currently considering the recommendations of the report.