Article: Stations to have $40m makeover

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FOUR major railway stations on the Gawler line are set to receive long-awaited upgrades.

The improvements come after $40 million was earmarked as part of the electrification of the northern line.

Nearly $16 million will be spent upgrading the Elizabeth railway station, $9.8 million on the Elizabeth South and Gawler stations and $13.8 million on the Munno Para station.

Commuters have long complained of the lack of parking, the poor safety measures and security risks at many of the Gawler line's ageing and, in some cases, dilapidated stations and platforms.

Transport Minister Patrick Conlon said on average, more than 31,500 passengers used the city's rail network each weekday.

"The upgrade to the Elizabeth station would include improved lighting and CCTV surveillance, a fully-enclosed overpass with lifts and stairs, as well as new platforms designed to minimise the step and gap between platforms and trains," he said.

It will also include passenger information displays on each platform showing train running times.

Mr Conlon said to help further increase patronage, the State Government had also budgeted $12 million to build a "turn back" (a siding which allows the trains to terminate clear of the main line) facility at the Elizabeth Station and $11 million for additional works on rail line embankment reinforcement, signal cables, culverts and bridge upgrades.

The line is being electrified with $293 million funding from the Federal Government.

Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said the electrification and station upgrades were essential to enticing northern suburbs residents to make the switch from their cars to public transport.

The Munno Para, Elizabeth South and Gawler station upgrades are expected to be completed by December, while the Elizabeth station will be completed in early 2012.

Work on a station upgrade and carpark at Smithfield has started.

The track upgrade will begin in September and is expected to take about seven months.

In the state Budget earlier this month, the Government announced $35 million over the next four years for technology to minimise the risk of train collisions and derailments. The technology can override train drivers in the event of excess speed or a traffic signal being disobeyed.