Country Rail to Angaston

[Sojourner]

I hope that the State Government does change their mind on this issue. We managed quite o.k to have the Bluebird country services running with a much smaller population, so why not bring it back?

Rail study stand off

10/06/2008 5:33:00 PM

State parliament has agreed to a full inquiry into restoration of a regular passenger train service to the Barossa.

But Transport SA is standing firm by their plan to not reinstate the service.

The parliamentary inquiry will investigate the viability of a service the government has already ruled out.

According to Family First politician Dennis Hood, who pushed the motion in the Legislative Council, the inquiry will be carried out by the Environment, Resources and Development committee before the end of the year.

“It’s incomprehensible that South Australia’s premier tourist region has no public transport to it,” Mr Hood said.

“We are using perfectly good rail line - not for tourists and commuters, but for limestone.”

Patrick Conlon, State Transport Minister, explained the government has been very clear there is no plan to reinstate passenger services into country areas.

Mr Conlon said there are more important priorities for the government’s taxpayer spending.

The inquiry proposal is part of Family First’s mass transit transport policy, which calls for a sweeping overhaul of the public transport system with new high-speed rail services to northern and southern suburbs, and a restoration of service areas including the Barossa.

“The Government can’t allow the public transport system to continue to deteriorate,” Mr Hood explained.

“We need to act now in this small window of opportunity we have left before petrol prices and environmental concerns become overwhelming - if they are not already,” Mr Hood added.

http://barossa.yourguide.com.au/news/lo ... 86521.aspx

[brod]

It would have to help, especially in light of such increases in fuel costs and the reported impact that is having on "day trip" tourism

[sunbowler]

It would have to help, especially in light of such increases in fuel costs and the reported impact that is having on "day trip" tourism

SA is the only mainland state (how often do we here that lead in) that doesn't have a country passenger railway service of some description. There is certainly a demand and especially an opportunity involved however there are two big factors which make it difficult for it to happen. Our state government (either party) and its public service don't have the intellect to run such a service and despite the alleged mining boom we don't have the money. It was swept under the carpet by the government and the media but an ANZ report earlier this year found that SA was technically in recession and had been for some time.

[brod]

A bit of work to do if Nurioopta station is anything to go by