The electrification of the Gawler Rail Line moved a significant step closer this morning when the State Government announced the calling for expressions of interest in Stage 1 of the transformation of the train line.
Expressions of interest close on 1 August 2017 with shortlisted companies invited to tender for the project.
Early works on the Stage 1 electrification will begin by the end of the year with major construction works to start early in 2018.
The Gawler rail electrification works will include:
- Installation of the overhead wiring system including masts and gantries
- Installation of a new signalling system
- Installation of an Automatic Train Protection system
- Installation of a new fibre optic communications system cable
- Service relocations, vegetation trimming and removal and other works necessary to enable the electrification to proceed
Local Member of Parliament, Mr Tony Piccolo who attended the announcement calling for Expressions of Interest said the $152.5 million first stage is being wholly funded by the State Government. “The State Government is also seeking a commitment from the Federal Turnbull Government to split the cost of completing the electrification to Gawler,” Mr Piccolo said. “The project has been identified as a high priority by Infrastructure Australia.
“The State Government allocated its share of the $462.5 million for Stage 2 in the recent State Budget.
“The project will recommence after it stalled following the withdrawal of $76 million of federal funding in October 2013 by the Liberal Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Warren Truss,” he said.
It was a sad day both for the State and Gawler when previous Liberal Prime Minister Tony Abbott publicly said on 4 April 2013:
“Now the Commonwealth Government has a long history of funding roads. We have no history of funding urban rail and I think it’s important that we stick to our knitting, and the Commonwealth’s knitting when it comes to funding infrastructure is roads.”
Mr Piccolo said that it is regrettable that the Turnbull Liberal government has maintained its opposition to funding public transport projects.
During last year’s Election campaign the Federal Labor Party committed funding towards this important project.
Infrastructure Australia has identified the Gawler Electrification as a high priority initiative, with the first business case submitted in 2008.
Significant works have already been undertaken by the State Government, including the installation of nearly 300 masts and rail track modification works necessary for electrification.
The Gawler line is our most popular train service with patronage increasing by more than 30%.
Mr Piccolo said on average almost 17,000 passengers use Gawler services each weekday and completing the electrification of the entire line will significantly increase capacity, allowing an extra 2400 passengers an hour to use the train in peak periods.
“Stage 2 of the project from Salisbury to Gawler is ready to proceed and just needs a funding commitment from the Federal Government to give it the green light,” Mr Piccolo said.
“Even with the tender process opening today, a funding commit by the Federal Coalition would allow us to expand the tender to deliver the entire project from Adelaide to Gawler,” he said.