Adelaide sets new public transport patronage record

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http://www.ara.net.au/UserFiles/file/Media%20Releases/15_07_24_Adelaide%20sets%20new%20public%20transport%20patronage%20record.pdf

Adelaide sets new public transport patronage record

The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) has congratulated the South Australian Government and the people of
Adelaide on their record breaking public transport patronage figures, reaching almost 67 million trips in just the past
year.

Acting Chief Operating Officer of the ARA, Phil Allan, said that this was a classic 'if you build it, they will come' success
story, with a large portion of the increased patronage being credited to the electrification and extension of the Seaford
line, which was completed in February 2014.

"The people of Adelaide have embraced their public transport network because of the significant $400 million investment
from the State and Federal Government in providing a more efficient, cleaner, faster and effective rail network," said Mr
Allan.

"The Federal Government should look at the success of this co-funded rail project and reassess its current position on
not funding urban rail.

"A growing trend and common challenge for state governments across the country is the increasing population and
infrastructure demands facing our biggest and fastest growing cities and evidently rail can help meet this demand," he
said.

It was recorded that in the past year Adelaide Metro carried 3.4 million extra passengers, a 5.5 percent increase on the
previous financial year, with 2.7 million, or 80 percent of additional trips coming from rail commuters utilising the newly
electrified and extended Seaford line. Mr Allan referred to this phenomenon as the 'sparks effect', a proven trend around
the world where patronage increases dramatically when moving from a diesel to electric rail network.

"More than 4.45 million passengers caught the Seaford line service in the past year, that is a whopping increase of 78
percent," Mr Allan continued.

"The electrification of rail lines has a track record of increasing patronage in Australian and New Zealand cities as far
back as the revival of Perth's rail system in the 1990s. Adelaide's patronage growth is also being replicated on the newly
electrified suburban rail system in Auckland, New Zealand which was completed earlier this year.

"Urban rail is a key solution to our nation's increasingly serious economic, social and environmental problems such as
traffic congestion, transport emissions, fluctuating fuel prices and the continued growth of our major cities," Mr Allan
concluded.