Covid blamed as Adelaide bus routes cut amid driver shortage

A bus shortage threatens to add unwanted headaches to the start of the school year – and the government says Covid is the main culprit. See if your route has been hit.

A bus driver shortage will force hundreds of buses off Adelaide routes as school returns on Monday, with parents urged to check timetables.

Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis doubled down on claims this morning that Covid-19 is a major contributing factor to the city’s bus driver shortage.

“We’ve got a thousand drivers in the state, they’re the ones, I am told through bus companies, who are generally at high risk (of contracting Covid-19) because of the volume of people they’re in contact with daily,” Mr Koutsantonis told ABC Radio Adelaide on Wednesday morning.

The transport minister previously told The Advertiser “Covid-19 continues to impact public transport services, particularly when the recruitment of new drivers is already a challenge.”

Torrens Transit, which operates around 80 per cent of Adelaide services, was locked in talks with the Transport Workers Union on Tuesday night and will meet with the state government later this week to try to resolve the problem.

More than 250 trips on 106 routes will be offline until at least the end of February, disrupting the start of school and the work commute.

Mr Koutsantonis intervened on Tuesday, urging Torrens Transport to settle a long-running industrial dispute with drivers, seen as one barrier to the recruitment problem caused by Covid-19 labour shortages.

Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Tom Koutsantonis. Picture: Brenton Edwards

“This is not a local problem – it is having a similar impact nationally and across the world,’’ he said.

“However, it underlines the need to bolster driver recruitment – and to that end we urge Torrens Transit to do everything it can to resolve its dispute with its drivers’ union without further delay.”

Opposition Transport Minister Vincent Tarzia said the failure to solve the problem over school holidays was “outrageous” and would hamper the commute for many to work and to school.

“This is an outrageous development that will cause chaos next week when school returns and people, including children, realise their bus is a no-show,” he said.

“Any reduction in public transport services needs to be communicated thoroughly to South Australians.”

Mr Koutsantonis warned Torrens Transport would not meet a January 30 deadline for services — suspended since November — to be back to normal for the start of the school year.

“We are hopeful that we can reach a full restoration of services by the end of next month.”

December and January were to give Torrens Transit time to embark on a recruitment drive – quietly announced in a website post — but Adelaide Metro had expected the problem would be solved at the “end of January 2023”.

Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Vincent Tarzia. Picture: Morgan Sette

RAA Senior Traffic Engineer Matthew Vertudaches said the matter was for all parties to resolve but the timing as people returned to work and school was a problem.

“Tens of thousands of South Australians rely on public transport every day, which helps save them money, is better for the environment and eases congestion on our roads – benefiting all road users,’’ he said.

“Commuters should also look at mobility apps, like RAA Go, that brings together a range of transport options in one app to help people plan their journey.”

Transport Workers Union and Torrens Transit officials went to ground yesterday as a meeting rolled into the night, the union refusing to comment because the company was acting “in good faith” over ongoing industrial discussions about “terms and conditions”.

The Advertiser understands the company was short by more than 100 drivers when the recruitment drive began in November.

Transport Department officials will also soon meet with Torrens Transit to push for a resolution.

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Dedicated school bus services will not be affected from Monday and a Torrens Transit spokeswoman said many industries were affected by shortages, not just transport.

“Recruitment shortages are currently a national issue and widespread across many industries,’’ the spokeswoman said.

“We continually work alongside government partners to ensure scheduled routes best reflect the demand from the community with the resources available.”

Some schools have dedicated services in which only students, teachers, parents or carers can travel.

Routes that are suspended run east-west, north-south, to and from the outer north and Outer North East.

A spokesman for Adelaide Metro said latest timetable information for parents was available at www.adelaidemetro.com.au or by calling the Adelaide Metro InfoLine on 1300 311 108.

“Any timetable changes are updated daily to provide commuters with advance notice and certainty when planning their journey,’’ the spokesman said.

A bus on Currie Street in the city. Picture: Dean Martin

The Adelaide Metro spokesman said driver availability was an ongoing problem because of Covid-19 restrictions.

“Adelaide Metro will meet with the operator Torrens Transit in coming days to discuss arrangements for the planned reinstatement of the regular bus timetable,” he said.

“Subject to driver availability Adelaide Metro would hope to reinstate the regular bus timetable during February 2023.

“Driver recruitment is an ongoing process and priority for Adelaide Metro.”