RAA wants underground rail loop to tackle dire SA public transport use and drive cars off roads

A leading motoring body wants the SA government to build an underground city rail loop to tackle dire public transport use and curb cars off the road.

RAA CEO Nick Reade at the Adelaide Railway Station, wants to see a new underground city rail loop built to attract more South Australians to public transport. Picture Mark Brake

A comprehensive RAA report into fixing SA’s public transport network is backing growing calls for a bold new underground city rail loop and cheaper fares.

The new loop would take the heat off Adelaide Railway Station where train tracks are at capacity and help tackle the state having the lowest rate of public transport use on mainland Australia.

RAA chief executive officer Nick Reade said recent data showed SA recorded only 46 bus or train trips per person annually compared to 84 in Melbourne and more than 100 in Sydney, leading to more cars on roads.

He said the RAA submission to the 30-year transport plan being developed by the state’s Transport and Infrastructure Department also called for rail lines to be extended to reach the housing explosion happening in the northern and southern suburbs.

The state’s peak motoring body backed the government’s decision to preserve land for future rail line extensions to new housing hotspots stretching to Aldinga in the south plus Riverlea and Concordia in the north.

“If we’re serious about delivering a public transport network that more and more people want to use in the long-term – then we need serious investment,” Mr Reade said.

Adelaide train. Picture NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier

The report recognised network capacity constraints at the Adelaide train station would block moves to expand passenger rail services.

“It is therefore critical the state government investigates options to improve capacity at the Adelaide train station, including the option of a city rail loop,” it said.

In the short term, the RAA wanted a new, more flexible metroCARD fare introduced so users could buy 10 trips at a reduced rate to use over 28 days.

It also wanted the metroCARD boundary to be extended to Murray Bridge.

The government’s record on improving public transport was criticised with the report finding the RAA’s submission to the Select Committee on Public and Active Transport in 2022 highlighted low patronage, outdated ticketing systems, limited regional access and public concerns around safety, frequency and reliability.

“These themes remain central today,” it said.

An underground city rail loop was backed by Committee for Adelaide chief executive officer Sam Dighton. Picture Matt Turner.

Committee for Adelaide chief executive Sam Dighton also backed building an underground city railway loop saying “it should be firmly on the table” and it was “great to see” the option listed in the 20-Year State Infrastructure Strategy.

“We have the largest tunnelling project in Australia happening right here in Adelaide – the final stage of the North-South Corridor – let’s make use of those skills, resources and equipment while we have them,” Mr Dighton said.

While Transport and Infrastructure Minister Tom Koutsantonis said the government always gave “feedback due consideration” he also said the government had slashed the cost of a metroCARD 28-day student pass from $28.60 to $10, saving families $242 per year, per child.

Free public transport for seniors card holders saved older South Australians more than $20 million in fares since 2022.

“With passengers telling us security is the biggest issue influencing patronage, we have also announced major boosts to the security presence across the network, with more staff and additional AI camera technology,” Mr Koutsantonis said.

Originally published as RAA wants underground rail loop to tackle dire SA public transport use and drive cars off roads