Sensational-Adelaide.com

Adelaide's free 'footy express' future uncertain as SA Government withdraws funding

Adelaide's AFL clubs are unsure what will happen with public transport to football matches beyond next season as the South Australian Government looks to save money.

The future of the city's free "Footy Express" is up in the air beyond 2019, because Transport Minister Stephan Knoll has announced the Government is no longer prepared to bear the brunt of the costs for the popular winter service.

The transport is free-of-charge to football fans because it is funded by the state's Motor Accident Commission, the Adelaide and Port Adelaide football clubs and the State Government.

"It's an essential service that needs to continue but we as a Government need to make a decision," Mr Knoll said.



A train.
PHOTO: The service provides free transport to and from AFL matches at the Adelaide Oval. (ABC News)
RELATED STORY: Free Footy Express bus to continue in 2015 AFL seasonRELATED STORY: Union strike to cancel Saturday's Footy Express trains in Adelaide
Adelaide's AFL clubs are unsure what will happen with public transport to football matches beyond next season as the South Australian Government looks to save money.

The future of the city's free "Footy Express" is up in the air beyond 2019, because Transport Minister Stephan Knoll has announced the Government is no longer prepared to bear the brunt of the costs for the popular winter service.

The transport is free-of-charge to football fans because it is funded by the state's Motor Accident Commission, the Adelaide and Port Adelaide football clubs and the State Government.

"It's an essential service that needs to continue but we as a Government need to make a decision," Mr Knoll said.

"Is this something that taxpayers should be funding, or should we be putting in our money to making sure we've got enough hospital beds, making sure we can build new roads, making sure that we can educate our kids?"

Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas said the Minister has gone back on his word and a guarantee he gave to Parliament in September.

"Up until recently, Stephan Knoll was promising everybody there'd be a solution," Mr Malinauskas said.

"Now we've learnt that footy-goers are now going to have to start driving or potentially pay more just to get to the game.

"We've already seen price hikes for food and drinks at Adelaide Oval. Now we're seeing price hikes for transportation costs."

The Opposition said footy fans would have to pay more, either through higher match ticket costs or by directly paying for buses, trains and trams.

Both the Adelaide and Port Adelaide clubs released statements saying they believed the existing Footy Express services would remain next season.

Full article : https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-09/ ... r/10481608

Norman wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 09, 2018 1:25 pm

This Labor opposition is really no better than the Liberals were in opposition. The way they are phrasing it is to blame the current government for everything, including price rises for food and drinks. I also think the Footy Express services will continue, but it will be interesting to see how they will be funded.

A PUBLIC transport “footy tax” of up to $50 a season will be a big blow to fans, Adelaide Oval’s chief says, warning that it will put a seat at AFL games “beyond the reach of some people”.
...
Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan said the talks centred on how best to meet the costs of public transport while minimising the impact on fans.
...
Opposition transport spokesman Corey Wingard branded the measure a “fun tax”, accusing Labor of hitting already struggling South Australians with yet another tax.

Norman wrote:This Labor opposition is really no better than the Liberals were in opposition. The way they are phrasing it is to blame the current government for everything, including price rises for food and drinks. I also think the Footy Express services will continue, but it will be interesting to see how they will be funded.

SBD wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 09, 2018 5:10 pm

Adelaide Oval AFL fans face extra $5 ticket charge to cover public transport dated 31 October 2014

A PUBLIC transport “footy tax” of up to $50 a season will be a big blow to fans, Adelaide Oval’s chief says, warning that it will put a seat at AFL games “beyond the reach of some people”.
...
Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan said the talks centred on how best to meet the costs of public transport while minimising the impact on fans.
...
Opposition transport spokesman Corey Wingard branded the measure a “fun tax”, accusing Labor of hitting already struggling South Australians with yet another tax.

It seems appropriate that the labels are "Minister" and "opposition spokesman" not "Liberal" and "Labor" as it makes it easier to reuse the quotes!

State Government looking at trackless trams for Adelaide



TRAMS that travel without tracks could be part of Adelaide’s transport system, Transport Minister Stephan Knoll has revealed.

Adelaide Lord Mayor-elect Sandy Verschoor used her pre-election platform to support a council-led push for the State Government to invest in so-called trackless trams which travel on magnetic strips painted on the road.

Mr Knoll said he was keen on the trackless tram technology which involves autonomous trams powered by lithium-ion batteries.

“The government has an open mind on pursuing all new technologies to see if they can bring benefits to South Australia,” he said.

“Trackless trams are an exciting potential solution that could deliver better public transport at lower cost.”

Perth is looking at the technology to solve its inner-city population growth.

Mooted routes for the trackless tram include one to the Adelaide Airport, or into North Adelaide.

Ms Verschoor told The Advertiser she was thrilled Mr Knoll supported the push, and said she was keen to meet with him to discuss the idea further.

https://www.news.com.au/national/south- ... 1814605fe0

PeFe wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 13, 2018 12:27 am

Oh where to put this hybrid tram/bus thingy?????
from The Advertiser

State Government looking at trackless trams for Adelaide



TRAMS that travel without tracks could be part of Adelaide’s transport system, Transport Minister Stephan Knoll has revealed.

Adelaide Lord Mayor-elect Sandy Verschoor used her pre-election platform to support a council-led push for the State Government to invest in so-called trackless trams which travel on magnetic strips painted on the road.

Mr Knoll said he was keen on the trackless tram technology which involves autonomous trams powered by lithium-ion batteries.

“The government has an open mind on pursuing all new technologies to see if they can bring benefits to South Australia,” he said.

“Trackless trams are an exciting potential solution that could deliver better public transport at lower cost.”

Perth is looking at the technology to solve its inner-city population growth.

Mooted routes for the trackless tram include one to the Adelaide Airport, or into North Adelaide.

Ms Verschoor told The Advertiser she was thrilled Mr Knoll supported the push, and said she was keen to meet with him to discuss the idea further.

https://www.news.com.au/national/south- ... 1814605fe0

Its a bus.....shaped and painted like a tram.....running on dedicated roadway with magnetic strips.........

And probably twice as expensive as standard BRT.....

And no doubt proprietary technology, designed by a Chinese company to "create a new transport mode"

Smart cities will be very wary of this....

Nathan wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 13, 2018 7:37 pm

The idea of not having to lay rails or any kind of other "track" in existing road sounds tempting, let's not forget how well Grenfell/Currie Streets have been holding up with buses. Running something the size of a tram on a normal city road isn't going to go be some panacea of cost savings.

SBD wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 13, 2018 11:03 pm

Nathan wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 13, 2018 7:37 pm

The idea of not having to lay rails or any kind of other "track" in existing road sounds tempting, let's not forget how well Grenfell/Currie Streets have been holding up with buses. Running something the size of a tram on a normal city road isn't going to go be some panacea of cost savings.

If they are supposed to run on roads but with a ride as smooth as a tram on rails, I assume they need new special road laid.

ml69 wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 14, 2018 1:05 am

I think the lane in which it is running will need to be constructed in concrete to prevent the wear and tear of buses on a bitumen surface. Will add somewhat to the cost but still be a heck of a lot cheaper than light rail.