Government to reveal major blowout, delays in Gawler upgrade

Commuters will be put out for much longer after the government reveals a major overrun on the Gawler rail upgrade.

The 120-year-old bridge on High St, Gawler, facing is demolition for the electrification of the Adelaide to Gawler railway line. Picture: Colin James

The budget for South Australia’s major public transport infrastructure project has blown out by $100m and Gawler line passengers will need to spend months more on buses, the State Government will announce tomorrow.

Transport Minister Corey Wingard will also announce that responsibility for the Gawler Rail Electrification Project will not be passed to new train operators Keolis Downer until after the works are complete.

Mr Wingard has attributed the cost increases – from an ­estimated $615m to $715m – to the former government which, he says, failed to plan the project properly.

Transport Minister Corey Wingard. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

“Not only did Labor go to tender with only 5 per cent of the design complete, they also rushed to award the contract for electrification between ­Adelaide and Salisbury prior to the 2018 election,” he said.

“As a result, the Marshall Government has been forced to look at other options to ensure the delivery of the project and mitigate legal claims.”

Opposition transport and infrastructure spokesman Tom Koutsantonis responded: “After almost three years and two transport ministers, the audacity of Mr Wingard to blame Labor is breathtaking.

“It is clear they have only realised there was a blowout recently because it wasn’t ­included in last month’s State Budget.

“This entire saga has been a debacle and the Minister’s ability to manage any project is now under serious question.

“Almost every project Mr Wingard or his predecessor have overseen since 2018 has blown out or delayed or both.”

Mr Wingard said the project was in the middle of a ­complex stage of delivery, with temporary partial and full ­closures of the line required until late 2021 to facilitate works that could not be safely undertaken with trains operating in the corridor.

“To better maintain oversight and the operational impacts of the works, the Rail Commissioner will retain responsibility for the Gawler line for now,” Mr Wingard said.

“This will allow for a simpler, more flexible arrangement for managing closures, testing and commissioning.” Gawler line passengers will also need to use substitute buses for longer than expected.

Originally full closure of the line was expected from Boxing Day to the end of January and then again during the April school holidays.

But to make up for disruption and delays caused by COVID-19 during 2020, the decision has been made to keep the line closed from January until April.

Substitute buses are expected to be running as close to the train timetable as possible.

Originally published as Government to reveal major blowout, delays in Gawler upgrade