Question: Noarlunga Substitute Bus Service
19/06/2013
An answer was provided this week in Parliament to question asked on 8 March 2011:
Extract from Hansard
OAKLANDS-NOARLUNGA SUBSTITUTE BUS SERVICE – Question
The Hon. K.L. VINCENT (14:39): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister representing the Minister for Transport a question regarding the Oaklands-Noarlunga substitute bus service.
Leave granted.
The Hon. K.L. VINCENT: As many members would be aware, the Noarlunga train line between the Oaklands interchange and the Noarlunga Centre interchange is currently closed, and will be closed for quite some time. I am told by the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure that substitute buses will be operating during the line closure and that these buses will replace the train services as closely as possible in terms of service frequency and stopping locations. However, it seems to me, from what my constituents have been saying, that these bus substitutes are not exactly cutting it when it comes to accessibility for people with mobility issues. My questions to the minister are:
1. Since the commencement of the bus substitute, how many bus services have run between the Noarlunga and Oaklands interchange?
2. Of these, how many have been accessible?
3. In the event that TransAdelaide is unable to provide an accessible bus, what alternatives have been put in place to service people with limited mobility?
The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for Gambling) (14:40): I thank the Hon. Ms Vincent for her question. Obviously, we strive to provide accessible transport for people with mobility problems. The government is committed to a large-scale expansion, or improvements, to our public transport network, including the electrification of major rail routes. In the period in which some of that work is carried out, as the honourable member points out, there will be some alternative services offered and that is something that will sometimes cause inconvenience for people in relation to the service that they would normally get from rail. I will refer those questions to my honourable colleague in the other place and bring back a response in relation to the specifics that the honourable member has raised regarding the Noarlunga line.
In reply to the Hon. K.L. VINCENT (8 March 2011) (First Session) – Answer
The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation): The Minister for Transport Services has received this advice:
1.Between 6 February 2011 and 23 July 2011, 303 substitute bus services operated between the Noarlunga and Oaklands interchanges each weekday, and 124 per day on weekends and public holidays with the first and last services departing Noarlunga and Oaklands as follows:
Monday to Friday
| Depart Noarlunga | Depart Oaklands | |
| First Service | 4.48am | 5.46am |
| Last Service | 11.43pm | 12.25am |
Weekends and Public Holidays
| Depart Noarlunga | Depart Oaklands | |
| First Service | 5.58am | 6.50am |
| Last Service | 11.44pm | 12.25am |
2.To meet the existing requirements for the normal Adelaide Metro bus services during morning and afternoon peak periods, the fleet of regular buses were fully utilised. The buses used as substitute buses to support the upgrade of the Noarlunga line were previously withdrawn from regular service routes as they reached the statutory age limit for public passenger vehicles (25 years). While they have reached the age limit required under the Passenger Transport Act 1994 and Passenger Transport Regulations 2009, these vehicles are regularly maintained and inspected and are therefore safe to continue operating public transport services subject to a restricted age limit extension. This bus substitute fleet was used exclusively to provide a service to passengers as rail lines were upgraded under the Rail Revitalisation Program.
In off peak periods (before 7.00am and between 9.00am and 3.00pm) some regular buses that are fully accessible were used on substitute routes when available. Accessible buses were used after 6.00pm and on weekends.
3.The substitute bus service operated under instructions that no passenger would be left behind because of accessibility issues. As with normal Adelaide Metro bus services, passengers were encouraged to contact the service provider, SouthLink, to enable arrangements for their requirements to be met. Where an accessible bus for that particular substitute bus service was not available, an access cab could be arranged at no charge
