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Friday, 23rd August 2013

Tonsley Rail Line Duplication And Upgrade Brought Forward

The Rudd and Weatherill Labor Governments have today announced the bring forward of $63 million to duplicate part of the Tonsley Rail Line and upgrade existing track as quickly as possible.


Deputy Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and South Australian Transport and Infrastructure Minister Tom Koutsantonis today announced their respective governments would bring forward funding while inspecting the start of construction work in Ascot Park.
“The Rudd Labor Government has a plan to keep our cities moving, one which involves investing in both their road and rail infrastructure. If not tackled in such a balanced way, the cost of congestion here in Adelaide will double to $1.1 billion a year by the end of the decade,” Mr Albanese said.
“The Tonsley Park Public Transport Project will significantly improve public transport services for people living in the southern suburbs and is part of our unprecedented investment in public transport.
“Construction to duplicate and upgrade the rail line near Ascot Park commenced just this week and bringing forward funding will ensure this first stage of work is completed as quickly as possible, minimising inconvenience to rail commuters.
“Bringing this work forward also means we can redeploy 250 workers that are already engaged on the Rail Revitalisation Project in Adelaide’s south, keeping jobs in South Australia when and where they’re needed.
“This project is an example of the record investment we’re making in urban public transport, all of which would be cut by Tony Abbott and the Liberals. Mr Abbott has repeatedly said that the Federal Government should have nothing to do with fixing our nation’s public transport infrastructure.
“Only Labor will invest in and deliver the public transport our cities need into the future.”
As part of the project, 1.2 kilometres of the Tonsley Rail Line will be duplicated and 3.3 kilometres of existing track upgraded.
Mr Koutsantonis said the Tonsley Park Public Transport Project also includes upgrading Clovelly Park and Tonsley stations and the construction of a new park–and–ride facility and bus interchange.
“Our investment here will deliver the infrastructure we need to meet demand for public transport services into the future,” Mr Koutsantonis said.
“We anticipate patronage increases of about 450 per cent at Clovelly Park station and 600 per cent at Tonsley station by 2015.
“This project also caters for the growing popularity of park-and-ride in our suburbs as well as linking into bus services at a new interchange to be built in the later stages of the project.
“By beginning the track work now we can avoid having to close the line some time next year after the resumption of rail services, which would not have been ideal.
“Substitute buses will continue for a little longer but in return we are building a more efficient rail service to complement our investment in advanced manufacturing and education facilities at the former Mitsubishi site.”
The next stages of the Tonsley Park Public Transport Project include the:

  • Rebuild of the Clovelly Park station to service the Tonsley Park development and to link to the park-and-ride facilities announced last December.

  • Rebuild of the Tonsley Station to connect rail and bus services.

  • New bus interchange at the intersection of South and Sturt roads.

  • Extension of Flinders Drive to Sturt Road to better connect to bus services.

  • Minor works on Sturt and South roads to improve the efficiency of local bus services.


Rail services on the Tonsley line are scheduled to resume in November. A long weekend shutdown will be required in early 2014 to install the duplicated junction at the Noarlunga line that will allow electrified services to run on the Tonsley line.
Funding for this project is already included in the budget.
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NATION BUILDING PROGRAM: SA
Through our Nation Building Programs, Federal Labor is investing a record $4.2 billion to maintain and modernise the State’s road, rail and public transport infrastructure, with $196 million being provided this financial year alone.
All up, we’ve more than doubled infrastructure spending in the State from $92 to $226 per South Australian.
This includes funding for two of the biggest road projects in South Australia’s history: the Northern Expressway (completed) and South Road Superway (underway) – both in Adelaide.
EXISTING PROJECTS
Over the next 12 months (2013-14), we will complete work on the following major projects:

  •  Constructing the new South Road Superway, which will feature a new 2.8 kilometre elevated roadway between Wing and Taminga Streets along South Road.   Federal contribution: $406 million.

  • Upgrade of the Dukes Highway, including new overtaking lanes, additional rest areas and other safety works.  Federal contribution: $80 million.


Over the next 12 months work will also continue on untangling the passenger and freight lines through Adelaide’s CBD at Goodwood and Torrens (Federal contribution: $232.1 million).
NEW PROJECTS
Following consultations with the State Government and Infrastructure Australia, this year’s Federal Budget added the following projects to our capital works program:

  • South Road (Torrens Road to River Torrens): Upgrade and widen South Road between Torrens Road and the River Torrens, including sinking 1.4 kilometres of the road below surface as well as constructing two new interchanges and a rail line overpass. Federal contribution: $448 million, with $20 million brought      forward to kick-start the project.



  • Tonsley Park Public Transport Project: Improve the public transport infrastructure in and around Tonsley Park, including duplicating a section of the Tonsley Rail Line and installing park-and-ride facilities and bus interchanges at Clovelly Park and Tonsley stations. Federal contribution: $31.5 million.



  • Managed Motorways: Install an Advanced Traffic
    Management System along the South Eastern Freeway between Stirling and Mount Barker, including variable speed limit and message signs. Federal contribution: $8 million.



  • Managed Motorways: Install Intelligent Transport Systems along the South Eastern Freeway between Crafers and Stirling, including hard shoulder running, lane use management and better incident management systems. Federal contribution: $4.5 million.



  • Anangu Pitjanjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands: Upgrade sections of the 210 kilometre main access road between the Stuart Highway and Pukatja as well as improve 21 kilometres of community roads.  This package will provide all-weather access to airstrips at Pukatja, Umuwa, Fregon, Mimili, and Indulkana, as well as to the Umuwa and Fregon homelands.  Federal contribution: $85 million.


The 2013-14 Federal Budget also maintained funding for a range of initiatives which help make local roads better and safer:

  • $4.7 million to eliminate another 22 dangerous black spots;

  • $87.1 million to assist councils across the State to maintain and upgrade their local roads; and

  • $2.9 million to provide 7 new and upgraded rest areas, 9 new and upgraded stock ramps and 2 road upgrades to improve access for trucks and livestock transporters.


 
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Electorate Office

334a Marrickville Rd
Marrickville NSW 2204

Phone: 02 9564 3588

Parliament House Office

Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: 02 6277 7700

Phone: (02) 9564 3588
Fax: (02) 9564 1734
Email: A.Albanese.MP@aph.gov.au

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