SA Government-paid train drivers to be made to drive for Keolis Downer, despite not taking up positions with the new rail operator

Adelaide’s new private rail operator doesn’t have enough drivers – but now those who refused to work for it will be forced to do so.

Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Train drivers that have not signed up with the new operators will be forced to drive regardless, Treasurer Rob Lucas has confirmed.

Mr Lucas, filling in for Corey Wingard as Transport Minister, has confirmed that 83 train drivers have accepted an offer of employment with the private provider.

A deadline to accept a formal offer closed at midnight last night.

The number is up on predictions, previously made by union and the Opposition.

However, it still leaves new operator Keolis Downer well short of the drivers it needs to operate Adelaide passenger rail services.

The numbers of train drivers needed has been estimated as high as 174.

Mr Lucas said 57 train drivers, who had not accepted positions with Keolis Downer, would be made to drive for the company for up to 18 months to help make up the shortfall.

Opposition transport spokesman Tom Koutsantonis on Friday morning labelled the announcement as a debacle as he questioned why the process was still going ahead despite Keolis Downer being unable to get enough drivers.

Mr Lucas said the approach was similar to that taken by the former Labor Government when it privatised the Lands Titles Office in 2017 and made available an extra 61 government employees to the private provider for up to two years.

“In fact, Mr Koutsantonis described his privatisation as ‘an absolutely outstanding result for the state’ and promised South Australians ‘will not notice any difference to the service following the transfer’,” Mr Lucas said.

“In contrast, the Marshall Government still owns all the rail assets, including tracks, trains and stations and will continue to have control of fare price, revenue and standards for service levels.”

Mr Lucas said the Government would be reimbursed by Keolis Downer the cost of using the additional drivers – who remain employed by the government – but he would not disclose the cost.

The Advertiser revealed last month Department for Infrastructure and Transport Chief Executive Tony Braxton-Smith, in his role as Rail Commissioner and with the support of Mr Lucas, is fighting a Fair Work Commission ruling about drivers that refused to join Keolis Downer.

Rail workers could have sat in a public sector “waiting lounge” for years before leaving with hefty redundancy payments as a result of a recent court ruling.

However, today’s announcement means that they will be put to work on the trains, with state government payments, but for Keolis Downer.

Mr Koutsantonis said: “This is just confirmation that this entire privatisation is a debacle.”

“We have a company being paid $2.1 billion and it can’t even recruit the drivers needed and it is going to have to be supplemented by train drivers from the state government.”

“Why are we doing this at all?

“We are less than 30 days from when it was supposed to be starting and they cannot operate.

“It is a debacle and why we are going to return it to public hands.”