Cuts for bus trips that only carry the driver, and some with fewer than five passengers

Thirty bus routes will have 110 trips cut, some of them dubbed “ghost buses” by the State Government because the only person on board is the driver.

A near-empty bus on one of Adelaide’s least used routes. Photo Calum Robertson

• Scroll to the bottom of this story for a list of affected services

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More than 30 Adelaide bus routes will have 110 trips slashed, some of the scheduled runs dubbed “ghost buses” by the State Government because the only person on board is the driver.

Buses which closely follow train lines are among the 32 routes to have service cut. While there will be fewer trips on the affected routes, no routes will be cancelled altogether.

The cuts are the beginning of funding cuts to public transport, announced in this year’s State Budget, of $14.8 million per year by 2019/20.

The cuts, to be announced on Thursday, will save $3.5 million annually over the next four years, and Transport Minister Stephan Knoll said further savings would be identified by bus companies themselves when they tendered to renew contacts in coming years.

“The State Government has a responsibility to provide services that represent best value for South Australian taxpayers,’’ he said.

“Why should the taxpayers of South Australia pay for a service that no one is using?

“Taxpayers are paying for ghost buses to run with no one on them.’’

Taxpayers are paying for ghost buses to run with no one on them.’’ Picture: AAP / Emma Brasier

Bus companies are currently contracted to run 9800 trips per day, making the 110 axed around one per cent of daily services.

Mr Knoll said of the routes to have scheduled runs cut, all averaged less than five passengers per trip.

The Advertiser revealed in September some passengers on low-patroned services were effectively being subsidised by more than $90 per trip.

Mr Knoll said scheduled runs with no passengers were costing taxpayers “an exorbitant amount of money’’.

“For example, the outbound service on the 734 route at 11:40pm on Saturday had an average of zero passengers in the whole month of August and cost the taxpayer money to run,’’ he said.

In one case of a duplicated service, the bus route 150 follows closely the Outer Harbor line but takes 36 minutes longer during peak hour inbound, and some runs will be cut.

The changes will take effect from January 27, with final timetables to be released mid January.

The vast majority are the first and last services of the day which are the most poorly patronised, and some general details of how each route will change are available at the bottom of this story.

In one change, nudists will no longer be able to travel from Maslin Beach on Monday to Friday at 5.12am.

Mr Knoll said the savings would go into public transport initiatives announced previously by the government.

“The estimated full year savings are $3.5 million, with the remainder of the savings target identified in the State Budget to be realised through other initiatives including potential new bus services contracts over the coming years,’’ he said.

“We’re investing $33.5 million in four new Park ‘n’ Rides at Paradise, Golden Grove, Klemzig and Tea Tree Plaza.

“The Marshall Government also secured $220 million in Federal Government funding to complete the electrification of the Gawler line to provide a better, faster and more reliable service, and is delivering the Flinders Link and Port Adelaide spur rail extensions.

“We’re also establishing the South Australian Public Transport Authority (SAPTA) that will inform the development of a comprehensive public transport strategy that is customer focused, more reliable, accessible and better suits the needs of South Australians.’’

Mr Knoll said other savings of the total $14.8 million yearly will be made through previous announcements about school holiday and festive season timetables and the review of the Adelaide Oval express.

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