Newly-electrified Gawler line set to open on Sunday June 12

After month after month of delays the newly-electrified Gawler to Adelaide rail line is about to welcome passengers on board – two weeks ahead of schedule.

The newly-electrified Gawler to Adelaide rail line will open this Sunday morning for the first time since it closed almost 18 months ago.

The new line will provide a cleaner, quieter and faster service for the northern suburbs commuters, the government says.

Fourteen stations have been upgraded along the line with new seating, bins, LED lighting, painting and landscaping.

Thirteen existing pedestrian crossings also have been upgraded to “active” crossings to improve pedestrian safety.

Services will operate with both diesel and electric trains until mid-2023, before electric trains will take over entirely.

A test train on the newly-electrified Gawler line. Picture: Brenton Edwards

The $900m project began in 2008 before becoming beset by delays, and in December 2020 it closed, with passengers forced to use substitute buses.

A new opening date of June 30 was given by the previous state government but the Malinauskas government announced on Monday the Gawler line would be welcoming passengers on board two weeks early, at 6.25am on Sunday.

Free buses will continue until then.

Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis said that “frustration is now over”.

He said the opening of the rail line would be a “game-changer for the people of the northern suburbs, who have been catching substitute buses for almost a year and a half”.

“Finally, the train to the north will be back and these extremely patient South Australians can get back to catch the trains.”

Despite eagerness to get northern suburbs residents back into the city, Mr Koutsantonis said there would be no discounts or free periods for travellers.

Gawler mayor Karen Redman said commuters had been “patiently waiting” for the electrification of the line since it was announced in 2008.

“Having been without a direct train service to Adelaide since December, 2020, they will no doubt be both delighted and relieved by the news that electric trains will, after a 17-month hiatus, once again welcome passengers aboard from Sunday,” she said.

Ms Redman said Gawler remained a central hub for people north of Adelaide, not just from Gawler, but from the Barossa Valley, Clare Valley and surrounding regions as well to catch trains into the city, whether it be for work, study or leisure”.

“Having a modern, functioning train service is vital for our region, particularly as our population continues to grow in coming years,” she said.

“We thank the state and federal governments for the significant funding contributions they have made to transform the Gawler line into one that is cleaner, greener, quieter and faster and will provide an improved service for commuters in our region.”

The Greens also welcomed the news but called on the government to focus their attention on reactivating passenger rail connections to the Adelaide Hills.

“Today’s announcement will be welcome news for many commuters,” said Greens transport spokesperson Robert Simms.
“We hope that the state government will now turn its attention to the reactivation of rail to the Adelaide Hills, something desperately needed for those communities.”