Reams of pages in Keolis Downer’s $2.14 billion train contract with the State Government remains redacted

Taxpayers are in the dark over SA’s $2.1bn train deal, the Opposition says, because about 1700 pages of its contract remains hidden.

The Opposition is calling on the State Government to release the full details of Keolis Downer’s privatisation contract. File picture

More than half of a 3000-page contract between the new operator of Adelaide’s train network and the State Government remains secret.

Approximately 1700 pages of the government’s $2.14bn contract with Keolis Downer are fully redacted, with hundreds of other pages partially hidden, analysis by the Opposition reveals.

Among the redactions are Keolis Downer’s key performance indicators.

Important KPIs to which the company will be held, such as the number of fare evasions, “customer incidents”, worker injuries and customer complaints, are blacked out.

The contract also hides what the punishments would be for breaching such KPIs.

Opposition leader Peter Malinauskas said hiding the figures was “inexplicable”. He called on the government to “show us the details”.

“South Australian taxpayers are handing over $2.14bn to this foreign-owned company and have a right to know the performance standards that have been set,” Mr Malinauskas said.

Opposition leader Peter Malinauskas said South Australians have a right to see the full details of the contract.

Transport minister Corey Wingard said similar contracts were also redacted under the former Labor government. Picture: Sue McKay/Getty Images

Transport Minister Corey Wingard said parts of the contract were redacted because they were “commercial in confidence, as they were with similar contracts under the former Labor government”.

“The contract with Keolis Downer is heavily focused on customer service and making sure passengers are being offered the best possible travel experience,” Mr Wingard said.

In November, The Advertiser reported Keolis Downer would receive a cash bonus if it increased patronage and kept customers happy.

The redacted copy of the contract is on the Tenders SA website.

Meanwhile, the National Rail Safety Regulator said Keolis Downer did not yet have the necessary safety accreditation to operate Adelaide’s rail network.

The State Government, however, said the company’s application was “progressing well” and was due to be approved before it took over on January 31.

A Keolis Downer spokesman said an application was submitted in September.

“The accreditation process is proceeding according to an agreed schedule, in close consultation with (the regulator),” he said.

“Given the extensive process … including legislative processing requirements, the time frame is not unusual and accreditations expected just before commencement of operations.”

Mr Malinauskas said it was “extraordinary” the company did not have appropriate accreditation two weeks before the takeover date.