State Government outlines what they expect Adelaide’s new bus operators to deliver

A new operator for Adelaide’s bus network would be expected to scrap underperforming services, deliver better services for less money and adapt to new emerging transport options.

• Budget 2018 includes cuts to bus services
• Opposition campaigns against them
• Bus drivers fear job losses
• Route 150 trippers want their service to stay

A new operator for Adelaide’s bus network would be expected to scrap underperforming services, deliver better services for less money and adapt to new emerging transport options.

The State Government will this week release a tender asking interested bus operators what they can do differently to overhaul the network servicing the greater Adelaide area.

Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government Stephan Knoll said the tender was the next step in reforming the state’s public transport network.

“Adelaide’s public transport system is stuck in the 20th century and this new contract is an opportunity to bring 21st technology and service delivery methods to Adelaide to benefit commuters,” Mr Knoll said.

But the Opposition has warned it is not possible to do “more with less”.

It says the State Government’s reforms could lead to drops in quality, cleanliness, security, routes and frequency.

The State Government push comes amid criticism and a concerted Opposition campaign against cuts to bus services across the city.

It is the step before asking companies to tender for the state’s bus contract.

New bus contract operators will be asked to be responsive to innovation, including new emerging modes of transport and reduce the costs of delivering services.

The State Government will release a tender calling for potential bus operators to describe how they can overhaul transport services.

They will also be asked to grow patronage and enable:

SIMPLIFICATION of Adelaide’s metropolitan network

IMPROVED integration of bus services with other public transport modes

MORE frequent and faster services

LESS under-utilised services

GREATER collaboration with customers, stakeholders and local councils

Bus services are run by Torrens Transit and SouthLink, with both contracts expiring on June 2019 after eight years.

Mr Knoll said bus operators would be required to deliver higher levels of customer satisfaction: “At the heart of this tender will be the need to make our public transport network more customer focused.”

Opposition transport spokesman Tom Koutsantonis said Mr Knoll’s aspirations were not possible after the State Government announced $46 million in efficiencies for the public transport system in last year’s State Budget.

“The only thing that will improve services will be reversing the cuts,” Mr Koutsantonis said.

About 1170 bus services are to be axed or shortened as part of the State Government’s bid to claw back about $46 million in efficiencies by 2022.

Reductions to bus routes are set to save the Budget $3.5 million, a fraction of the overall cuts.