Public transport services will be on a go-slow next week but passengers will be able to travel to and from Christmas Day events for free

BUS timetables will be slashed and one trainline closed altogether as public transport next week operates on go-slow time. But free Christmas Day travel is the carrot.

Roadworks on North Terrace during the extension of the tram line. The works will resume from January 1 to 15. Picture: AAP / Russell Millard

PUBLIC transport services have been slashed next week despite three normal working days after Boxing Day.

Billed as a “special summer holiday timetable”, the three days after public holidays of Christmas and Boxing Day on Monday and Tuesday will be extended to slash weekday bus services on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

The Transport Department insists the changes are the same as previous years and Christmas Day free rides have been offered as compensation for the closures.

As planned, the Outer Harbor and Grange rail lines will remain temporarily closed until January 15, 2018, as previously announced.

But the Belair line will be closed next week as part of the slowdown. The department says it is also doing “essential maintenance”.

Meanwhile, the city’s busiest intersection will be shut down for two weeks from the New Year while work continues on the $80 million tram line extension. The North Tce and King William St intersection will be inaccessible for cars, public transport and pedestrians from 10pm on January 1 to 6am on January 15 because of the works.

Adelaide Metro has also advised passengers that a number of buses will be required to detour in the city during the works. Tram services will continue to operate between Glenelg and Victoria Square, with a substitute bus service operating between Victoria Square and the Entertainment Centre for the duration of the works.

Stage four of the tram works is due to be completed before stage two of the Tour Down Under early next year.

Details of affected routes and alternate stops are on the Adelaide Metro website.

When asked how the bus changes next week compared to last year’s changes, a Transport Department spokeswoman said: “Unfortunately, with limited staff around today due to the Christmas break, we aren’t able to check this detail for you’’.

Last year’s Christmas shutdown did not go down well with passengers. An online poll by The Advertiser found that 23.98 per cent (451 votes) believed it was needed, but 68.47 per cent (1288 votes) did not and 7.55 per cent (142 votes) were not sure.

Opposition transport spokesman David Pisoni said many people would be working normally in the latter half of next week and would rely on public transport. “These reduced services will inconvenience the thousands of people who still have to get to work over this period and rely on public transport,’’ he said.

“It’s also an inconvenience for South Australians and tourists who want to travel into the city for shopping or go to our beaches to enjoy the summer weather.”