Transport department proposes ‘transition arrangement’ when Keolis Downer takes over Adelaide rail network

Keolis Downer won’t have enough staff to maintain service levels when it takes over Adelaide’s train network, documents reveal.

An internal memo supplied the Opposition shows Keolis Downer will not have enough staff to operate Adelaide’s rail network next month. File picture

Private operator Keolis Downer will not have enough staff members to maintain current service levels when it takes over Adelaide’s train network next month, an internal memo says.

The transport department confirmed some Adelaide Metro drivers may be forced to operate trains beyond the takeover date of January 31, while staying on the government payroll.

An internal “fact sheet” sent to Rail Commissioner employees this week – and supplied to The Advertiser by the Opposition – reveals “some critical roles” will remain vacant when the private operator is due to take over the network.

The memo proposes a “transitional workforce arrangement” that would see government train drivers, passenger service assistants, signal maintenance fitters and network controllers helping Keolis Downer operate the network until the company can find enough of their own staff.

This process could take up to 18 months – but the arrangements would be reviewed every three months.

The memo says workers with critical roles must be part of the proposed “transitional workforce”.

“Due to the anticipated numbers of new employees that will be employed by Keolis Downer, without current knowledge and experience in the Adelaide Metropolitan Passenger Rail Network, a number of senior managers, supervisors and technical experts will be assigned duties to directly support the transition arrangements,” it says.

Keolis Downer CEO David Frank at the Adelaide Railway Station in October, 2020. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

A Keolis Downer spokesman said the company “won’t be making any comment”.

Transport minister Corey Wingard remained “confident they’ll deliver better services for the people of South Australia”.

“Keolis Downer had a huge response to an external recruitment drive and are currently working through more than 1000 applications,” he said.

The transport department said the number and composition of Rail Commissioner employees assisting Keolis Downer would depend on how many workers accept jobs with the private operator by the end of December 31.

“In order to ensure a seamless transition for the South Australian travelling public, some of the Rail Commissioner’s employees who remain on the government payroll will initially assist Keolis Downer, providing operational stability and appropriate knowledge transfer,” a spokesperson said.

Opposition transport spokesman Tom Koutsantonis said: “All the state resources being piled into making this dodgy privatisation work could have instead been used to improve our trains services”.

“Instead, Premier Steven Marshall is throwing millions of dollars of government resources at this foreign owned private company.”

In a separate memo obtained by the Opposition, rail commissioner Tony Braxton-Smith said after December 31, workers will need to follow the same process as any new external job applicant if they want to join Keolis Downer.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union SA secretary Darren Phillips was furious the transfer payments would be coming to an end.

Rail, Train and Bus Union SA secretary Darren Phillips.

“Workers are still unclear about the terms under which they could choose to stay in State Government employment,” he said.

“For example, there is confusion over the amount of time workers can spend on the ‘redeployment list’, as the State Government is appealing a recent Fair Work Commission decision on this issue.”

Opposition leader Peter Malinauskas said a whistleblower revealed Keolis Downer had hired no more than 10 passenger service assistants from Adelaide Metro. Approximately 85 assistants are required to maintain current service levels.

“People who are elderly and disabled are able to rely on passenger service assistants. All of that is potentially being compromised through this privatisation,” Mr Malinauskas said.

Mr Braxton-Smith’s memo shows almost 150 Rail Commissioner employees have signed up with Keolis Downer.

The company would not tell The Advertiser how many of these workers are trained drivers.

Keolis Downer needs 170 drivers to operate the rail network.

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