Free rides as new Adelaide to Gawler train line opens but motorists warned to be carefuI

After a year and a half of no Adelaide-Gawler train service, the electrified rail line is now open, with freebies on offer – but motorists are warned to be on their guard at level crossings.

Motorists have been warned to obey the road rules at level crossings as the electrified Gawler rail line reopened on Sunday for the first time since December 2020.

The RAA said drivers in the northern suburbs needed to pay attention to crossings that will be activated.

Its senior manager for safety and infrastructure, Charles Mountain, said drivers and pedestrians needed to realise that trains cannot stop as quickly as cars and taking risks in front of trains could be catastrophic.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE ON THE NEWLY-OPENED GAWLER LINE, IN THE COMMENTS BOX BELOW

“While congestion and time delays at level crossings can be frustrating, motorists need to remain patient and wait for the warning lights to stop flashing before they cross the tracks,” he said.

Services are now running on the newly electrified Gawler rail line and travel on the line is FREE all day today.

Find the latest timetable information at https://t.co/yZTmd3SFUZpic.twitter.com/X3lkxQFCGJ

— AdelaideMetroSA (@AdelaideMetroSA) June 11, 2022

The first train was due to leave the Gawler Central station bound for Adelaide at 6.25am.

Light MP Tony Piccolo was among those set to be on board.

A special market will be held at Gawler Central, with stalls set to open from 10am.

Passengers will ride for free on the Adelaide to Gawler line to celebrate its $900m electrification.

Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis said the free offer will cover all trips on Sunday June 12, when electric-powered trains will operate between the two destinations for the first time.

Mr Koutsantonis said the government wanted to thank commuters for their patience during the troubled project – first announced in 2008.

The most recent delays resulted in free bus trips from Gawler to Adelaide.

“After a year and a half of not having a train service, we want people to discover the amenity and convenience of electric rail to and from the northern suburbs,” Mr Koutsantonis said on Friday.

“That is why tickets will be free for the Gawler line on Sunday.”

Train driver Mark Gregory at Gawler Central station. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Mr Koutsantonis said the government was “excited” to finally open the line for people in Adelaide’s northern suburbs and surrounding districts.

“We want to ensure we get as many people as possible back to catching the train,” he said. “From Tuesday, the timetable will be back to its usual schedule and we hope to see plenty of commuters using this new service.”

The electrification of the Adelaide to Gawler line originally was announced by former Labor premier Mike Rann in 2008, with the existing track removed in preparation.

Installation of metal towers to support electric cables was well advanced until the project came to an abrupt halt in 2013 when former Liberal prime minister Tony Abbott withdrew funding.

It was revived in 2018 when former Liberal premier Steven Marshall announced the first stage from Adelaide to Salisbury, with an extension to Gawler after federal funding was restored.

Train driver Mark Gregory testing the newly electrified Gawler line. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Preliminary work started in November 2019, before the line was shut down in December 2020 to allow the installation of overhead towers and wiring.

Further delays and cost blowouts then hit the project during the pandemic, with completion again delayed.

The 42km line will be serviced by a mixture of diesel and electric trains until mid-2023, before electric trains will take over entirely.

It first opened in 1859, connecting the city to the state’s first country town – designed by Colonel William Light.