Revealed: Dozens of defects discovered along Adelaide’s O-Bahn bus network, FOI inspection reports reveal
Dozens of defects have been discovered along one of the state’s most popular public transport networks, according to official audits.
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Dozens of defects have been discovered along one of the state’s most popular public transport networks, according to official safety audits.
Transport Department inspection reports, released under Freedom of Information laws, revealed almost 50 flaws with the 12km O-Bahn busway in Adelaide’s northeast.
While the Opposition urged more works to fix the failures, authorities said “low-level” problems posed no passenger risks.
The state government is doubling maintenance spending to $120,000 this year.
During five separate checks last year, inspectors found cracks or damage to kerbs, constructions joints and guide rails, crumbling tracks, broken concrete sleepers, poor drainage, failed repairs, as well as rusted bolts.
Internal reports, filed after checks conducted between May and November, concluded it “desirable” to fix the flaws. None were deemed necessary or urgent.
A track “dip” between Paradise and Modbury interchanges should be “monitored”.
Downer Group inspections also found cracked kerbs and other spalling – deterioration of steel reinforced concrete – “at many locations” around the Modbury Interchange at Tea Tree Plaza.
The Klemzig interchange’s median strip is also separating, logs show.
Both interchanges should be monitored, the safety audits concluded.
Official figures show more than 32,000 passengers catch 192 Adelaide Metro buses each day across 47 routes.
A Transport Department spokeswoman said routine checks are conducted three times every 12 months during maintenance closures while “detailed” inspections occurred every four years. Another check is due next month.
“O-Bahn inspections … noted various minor issues, consistent with historical usage and the nature of the soil along the River Torrens,” she said.
The German-inspired transport system, which opened in March 1986, cost at least $97m to build – worth more than $265m today – after several controversies to build the pioneering track – the only one of its type outside Germany at the time – from Park Tce, Gilberton to Tea Tree Plaza.
There were also union disputes, land-acquisition rows, resident protests and even claims construction was disturbing Aboriginal grave sites although the late Duke of Edinburgh gave it the royal seal of approval in May 1986.
More than 30 new bridges were required on the O-Bahn – short for omnibus-Bahn, which is German for rail – as travel times were slashed by almost half.
A state-of-the-art Mercedes Benz bus fleet with special electronic guidance systems, which could reach speeds of up to 100km/h, were first used on the network then hailed as being an innovative combination of bus and rail technology.
Labor in 2017 built a $160m tunnel, which stretches 670m under the parklands while the Liberal administration in 2020 ruled out a more than $250m extension to Golden Grove.
Both parties have expanded various “park ‘n’ rides”.
A UniSA paper found that it was the world’s longest operational guided busway until 2011, taking passengers 15km from Tea Tree Plaza, via Paradise and Klemzig – roughly following the River Torrens – to the CBD in less than 20 minutes.
There have also numerous mishaps of cars entering the track.
Opposition transport spokesman Vincent Tarzia, whose electorate covers parts of the network, said “little problems can become big … quickly”.
“The O-Bahn is one of South Australia’s greatest infrastructure builds and a transformational public transport option,” he said.
“But it’s clear there are urgent works that must be prioritised to ensure it remains operational and efficient.”
He accused Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis of being responsible for a “shocking $3 billion backlog of road and infrastructure maintenance”.
He said: “With his track record, and very little money in the budget, we have huge concerns if not addressed the O-Bahn could descend to point of rack and ruin.
“At that stage, little money for easy fixes will morph into big money and complicated delays that could see the O-Bahn put out of service.”
But Mr Koutsantonis accused Mr Tarzia of hysteria.
“The O-Bahn track is regularly inspected and the issues he is complaining about are minor matters which were there over the Liberals’ time in government,” he said in a statement.
“They did nothing about them then and now he’s complaining that someone else should.
“Fortunately for my young friend Mr Tarzia and his ‘can’t someone else do it’ mantra, the Labor Government has doubled the O-Bahn maintenance budget for the current financial year.”
He said the former Liberal government outsourced road maintenance that resulted in the backlog blowing out from $750 million to $1.96 billion.
“It was Labor that last invested in our O-Bahn infrastructure with the line’s extension to the CBD and we will continue to ensure the 32,000 passengers who use the line every day are well served.
“South Australians deserve better than an Opposition Transport spokesman who continues to attempt to erode public confidence with wild claims about the state of the network.”
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Originally published as Revealed: Dozens of defects discovered along Adelaide’s O-Bahn bus network, FOI inspection reports reveal
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