The 2008/09 State Budget provides the biggest single investment ever by a State Government in our public transport system. Over a ten year period, $2.6 billion will be invested to transform Adelaides network into a vibrant, state of the art and sustainable system, providing faster, cleaner, more frequent and efficient services for commuters.

Rail Revitalisation forms the centrepiece of this $2.6 billion investment and will transform the metropolitan passenger rail network by delivering a number of rail initiatives including:

• concrete resleepering of the metropolitan passenger rail network using sleepers suitable for gauge conversion in the future
• electrification of the Noarlunga (including Tonsley), Outer Harbor, Grange and Gawler lines
• gauge standardisation of the rail network
• interchange, station and Park n Ride infrastructure upgrades.

Other elements of the Public Transport Blueprint include:

• extension of the tramline to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre
• construction of new light rail links to West Lakes, Semaphore and Port Adelaide
• conversion of 58 existing diesel rail cars to electric
• procurement of new electric rail cars, trams and tram-train (dual-voltage) vehicles
• introduction of a new integrated ticketing system
• procurement of new buses, improved services as well as investigating bus priority options in the city and suburbs. 

Revitalisation of the rail network is an extremely large and complex project, which requires a significant amount of detailed planning with many factors to consider such as:

• developing and assessing options to minimise the disruption to commuters and the surrounding community
• analysing options for alternative passenger services during construction
• managing the staging of construction works
• the complicated technical and engineering aspects.

The 2008/09 budget announcement for revitalisation of the public transport network follows the release of the Strategic Infrastructure Plan for South Australia in 2005.  This plan provided a long term, state-wide framework for the planning and delivery of infrastructure by the government and the private sector.

In this plan, increasing the use of public transport was identified as one of four priorities for the development of transport infrastructure, and Rail Revitalisation is a key part of achieving this goal.

For further information about the Strategic Infrastructure Plan, please visit www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au/strategic_infrastructure_plan