Sensational-Adelaide.com

crawf wrote: And remember the SA Govenrment saying they are rebuilding SA, so I also think it could be on the cards for next year if itsn't then they better hurry up and put it high on the agenda because if the libs proposal a major plan to completely upgrade our PT system (especially the trains) for the 2010 election then theres a high chance labor will be thrown out of office.

Howard, Rudd KO train upgrade

November 04, 2007 12:15am

PRIME Minister John Howard and Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd have both turned down pleas for cash to help upgrade the ailing Adelaide rail system.

Labor says it has other more important transport priorities while the Liberals says it is a State Government responsibility.
Independent MP Bob Such – a regular train commuter – approached both leaders earlier this year for federal funding to convert Adelaide's broad gauge diesel service to a standard gauge light rail electric system as part of their election commitments.

His letter pointed out that such a commitment would be well received in marginal seats such as Kingston.

Conversion to electric would cost an estimated $1 billion, however, Mr Such suggested it could be done in stages over several years.

Adelaide is now the only mainland capital still running a diesel train fleet.

The engines stay running even when the trains are stationary, to maintain lights for passengers, air-conditioning and pressure for breaks and door closures.

Dr Such said conversion to an electric system would result in a cleaner, quicker fleet with potential for services to be extended to Aldinga. Prospect, Norwood and Burnside.

However, Mr Howard's principal private secretary, Peter Langhorne, replying on the PM's behalf, turned down the request.

"Passengers services in Adelaide, including the establishment of electric light rail systems, are the responsibility of the SA Government," he wrote in May.

Mr Rudd passed the request to Labor Transport spokesman Martin Ferguson who said his priority was the Brisbane to Melbourne freight corridor and the upgrading of freight lines.

Dr Such said he was disappointed at the lack of support for the project.

" If you go to electric you don't have the pollution, and the trains are faster," he said.

Norman wrote:Also, even the 3000-class cars seem to have door problems. Two youths opened the door on the Port Adelaide Bridge while the train was moving, almost falling out. They are the biggest idiots I have ever seen. However, the doors need to be updraded so theyactually lock properly.

jimmy_2486 wrote:FFS cant they just make it a button operating door like the rest of the country and like those big old trains we have!!!

We have to always be different!

ABC news wrote:Premier Mike Rann has foreshadowed a restructuring of TransAdelaide in the wake of a tram derailment yesterday.

The tram left the track between South Terrace and Greenhill Road.

Mr Rann says he is waiting for a report on how the transport corporation can be made more efficient.

The Premier says Transport Minister Patrick Conlon has his full support, but yesterday's disruption to tram services was unacceptable.

" I think that the general question of governance of TransAdelaide needs to be looked at," the Premier said.

"Currently there's a review of governance going on but I expect that there'll be changes at TransAdelaide.

"Pat Conlon has my total support and I think that, if this comes out that this was human error, it's pretty hard to blame Pat Conlon for it, he doesn't drive the trains or the trams."