Safe Transport

Deliver a modern, safe, accessible and reliable public transport network

The number of passengers taking public transport in metropolitan Adelaide significantly increased in 2014‑15. Almost 67 million passenger trips were recorded across the bus, train and tram network—which includes 3.4 million more passenger trips than in 2013‑14 (an increase of 5.5 per cent) and represents the highest patronage figure in the network’s history.

The largest increase was experienced on the train network. More than 4.45 million passengers chose to catch Seaford services in the first full year since the extension, electrification and reopening of the line, an increase of 78 per cent over the previous year. The Outer Harbor and Gawler lines also showed steady increases in patronage, with 8 and 7.3 per cent increases respectively. On the Belair line the Millswood Station upgrade and a revised timetable helped deliver an increase of 26.6 per cent.

The bus network has shown a steady improvement with a 1.5 per cent increase in 2014-15 compared to the year before, now carrying more than 51 million commuters. Tram patronage was steady with a slight drop in passenger numbers over 2013‑14 as commuters returned to upgraded train services on the Seaford line.

The estimated metropolitan public transport patronage in 2014‑15 was 6.8 per cent of total public transport and car use (source: Australian Bureau of Statistics), up from 2013‑14 due to the completion of improvements such as the extension of the Seaford rail line.

Improvements in Adelaide Metro technology and monitoring enabled the recording of all free trips for the first time: patrons made more than 8 million free trips using free services such as the Adelaide Oval Footy Express, City Connector, Free City Tram and Free Jetty Road Glenelg Tram (note that these are not included in the 2014-15 total patronage figure above). With the inclusion of all free travel, the estimated metropolitan public transport patronage in 2014-15 was 7.2 per cent of total public transport and car use (source: ABS, DIT).

In other milestones:

The department added two double decker buses to the Adelaide Metro fleet. The vehicles are roughly the same length and width as conventional buses but can each accommodate about 90 passengers, compared to the 47-seat rigid and 67-seat articulated models. One of the double deckers was used for the new JetExpress service between Adelaide city centre and the airport, and features a luggage area on the lower level that can be monitored upstairs via a screen. The other new bus services the busy T840 route between Mount Barker in the Adelaide Hills and the city. Both double deckers are accessible by people using wheelchairs.

By June 30, fully accessible buses, which feature ramps and allocated spaces, comprised 87 per cent of the Adelaide Metro bus fleet.

Patronage of the Footy Express train, bus and tram services to AFL games at Adelaide Oval continued to be strong, with an average of 52 per cent of patrons using the free services to attend matches.

The final stage of the department’s rail revitalisation program saw the addition of new electric railcars to the fleet, bringing the total to 19, and completion of training for 184 drivers. Each three-section car seats 240 passengers, with standing room for up to 300 more, and features CCTV cameras, high capacity air-conditioning and a top speed of 110 km/h. The electric trains have added significant capacity to the Seaford and Tonsley lines and now operate most of the timetabled services.

The department contributed to the terms of reference for a wide-ranging review of the taxi and chauffeur vehicle industry, which aims to develop better, more consistent service standards for passengers, better conditions for drivers, and reforms to improve services and public confidence in the industry. The review is led by a panel supported by the department and expected to be completed by the end of 2015.

A number of senior executives joined the Premier and the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure for the first GovChat, a State Government initiative that gives members of the public direct access to decision-makers and provides another avenue to hear the issues and concerns of our customers. The topic was public transport and the response was positive with more than 450 calls received and a further 71 submissions through the YourSAy website. The feedback from this event will feed into department service improvements.