Process starts to trial Talgo trains from Mount Barker to Adelaide CBD

During the election, Labor vowed to back a trial of commuter trains from Mount Barker to Adelaide – now it says the process has started.

The new Labor state government has begun a process to trial a passenger train between Adelaide and Mt Barker, keeping an election promise.

Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis said the department was seeking data from Spanish train manufacturer Talgo to run on SA simulators to check they were compatible.

The Advertiser can reveal the company is applying for an EU grant to ship its vehicles to Adelaide for a trial. Sales of trains would be the outcome for the EU investment, which began as an election challenge by Talgo against the former state government’s claim that the journey would take 71 minutes.

Talgo, known for its production and distribution of high-speed trains, claims it can do the run within 45 minutes, making it a viable option for commuters sick of delays on the South-Eastern Freeway.

The 26-minute reduction is based on modelling of Talgo’s rolling stock on the Australian Rail Track Corporation line, but Mr Koutsantonis said he wanted more detail on the $2.5m company-funded proposal.

“What hasn’t been made public so far is that Talgo plan to achieve this trial with an EU grant to bring the trains out to trial on our system,’’ he said.

“As long as there is no cost to the taxpayer I am happy for them to come out and run a trial.

“I am also happy to co-ordinate approval with the Australian Rail Track Corporation, which is run by the Commonwealth.

“This is important because it is an important freight line.”

Under the previous government the Transport Department rejected passenger rail between Adelaide and Mt Barker station, in favour of better bus services.

Mount Barker Council supported the rail option, citing costs of $10m to upgrade a section of unused track between ARTC line and Mount Barker station, which has an existing Park ‘n’ Ride.

A further $25m would be required to purchase new variable-gauge rolling stock.

The Talgo option would give the company a valuable showcase in Australia, from which to promote its technology.

EMU Talgo is a totally flexible and adaptable train that can run at up to 160 km/h and benefits from Talgo’s unique technology. Source: Talgo

Talgo has cutting-edge tilt-train technology that allows trains to safely go faster than conventional rolling stock and can change the gauge of the rolling stock.

“The Transport Department has told me that the first step to progress this is for them to so submit their software, so they can do a desktop analysis on department computer systems,’’ Mr Koutsantonis said.

“It must be shown that their trains will be able to run on our systems, and that you can run a passenger gauge on a freight gauge.”