Adelaide’s least-used bus routes revealed in transport department figures, and could be removed
TRANSPORT Department figures have revealed the least used of Adelaide’s bus routes, which could face the axe in State Budget cuts.
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ANALYSIS of Transport Department figures has revealed the least used bus routes which could face the axe in State Government budget cuts.
Treasurer Rob Lucas this week announced plans to cut $1.1 million from the annual budget by cutting bus routes and adjusting others.
Routes to be axed will be named within weeks, but patronage figures regularly released by the department show 19 attract very few passengers.
Several of these routes are in the Adelaide Hills, and Hills Mayor Bill Spragg said the area had been battling cuts to bus services for some time.
“We have struggled to get and keep bus services and some years ago we had to pay for a trial to try and increases use,’’ he said.
“They (state governments) argue that if you don’t get enough passengers on the bus it is not worthwhile, but are they providing a service or not?
“They may be running some routes at a loss but they are also running some with a surplus, and that should subsidise the others.’’
The Advertiser understands the Transport Department has for some time been lobbying the former and current governments to make cuts to routes which were not used.
Former Transport Minister and now Opposition Spokesman Tom Koutsantonis confirmed the list produced by The Advertiser analysis was similar to a list the department presented to the former government.
“These bus route cuts were all previously rejected by the (Labor) government,’’ he said.
“They put up these recommendations and the government says yes or no, it is up to the Minister to be the Minister and say ‘no’.’’
Transport Minister Stephan Knoll said while some route cuts would be made, some changes included duplication in routes such as where train and tram services were available.
“The new State Government will drive efficiencies in our public transport system and routes with low patronage or which are duplicated will be discontinued,’’ he said.
“We will invest more in areas where more capacity is needed as we’ve already done through the Gawler line electrification project and Flinders Link.
“We’re seeking to protect South Australian taxpayers, given some services operate at a significant cost to the taxpayer.”
COTA SA head Jane Mussared said for the sake of older passengers, it was important that people be consulted, rather than a review of services based only on departmental patronage records.
“We would urge the Government to engage in conversations with users, particularly older users who rely heavily on public transport as they opt not to drive themselves,’’ she said.
Routes with the least passengers
600S After Midnight Saturday PM - Sunday AM Marion Centre Interchange to City
HL1 Hahndorf to Mt Barker Township Loop
N10 After Midnight Saturday PM - Sunday AM Marion Centre Interchange to City
HL2 Hahndorf to Mt Barker Township Loop Friday only
725A Noarlunga Centre Interchange to Old Reynella Interchange
866R Stirling to Crafers
839R Mount Barker West Clockwise Loop Service
721L Noarlunga Centre Interchange to Lonsdale Depot
557S Paradise Interchange to St Agnes
745C Colonnades Centre Interchange to Seaford Centre
747B Colonnades Centre Interchange to Seaford Rise
415H Salisbury Interchange to Salisbury Heights
371 West Lakes Centre Interchange Clockwise Loop
852L Langhorne Creek to Cornerstone College
J7M West Lakes Centre Interchange / Marion Centre Interchange to Camden.
452W Munno Para Centre Interchange to Elizabeth West
752 McLaren Flat to McLaren Vale
451A Munno Para to Andrews Farm
591A Golden Grove Interchange to Greenwith
* Source: The Advertiser analysis of Transport Department patronage figures.