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November 29, 2018 07:19:36
The future of the Overland train between Adelaide and Melbourne is unstable, with the South Australian government eliminating any future funding for the service.
A Great Southern Rail operator spokesperson told ABC that funding cuts meant it was unlikely that the 130-year-old Overland service could operate beyond this year.
"Overland has always needed the support of the governments of South Australia and South Australia to ensure its long-term commercial viability," she said.
"This support has heavily subsidized significant operational costs to ensure the affordability of commuters.
"Having now received the advice of the Government of South Australia, Great Southern Rail has begun to explore all the possibilities available to provide a short-term transitional phase of travel beyond December 2018."
Great Southern Rail relies on a funding agreement between the governments of South Australia and South America to fund the service for 20 years.
The Victorian Government re-engaged in August to fund its share for an additional 15 months
Each year, the South African government grants Overland a subsidy of $ 300,000, but Transport Minister Stephan Knoll said funds are needed elsewhere.
"We have seen fewer and fewer people using it and we have to make sure we do everything we can to put the budget back in the dark," Knoll said.
"We must make tough decisions to ensure we have the funds to provide world-clbad health and education services."
Opposition transport spokesman Tom Koutsantonis said pbadengers who rely on Adelaide-Melbourne train service could be forced to take the road again because of the reduction.
Tourism would also be affected, he said.
"It is a service that serves the regions of South Australia, promotes tourism and integrates trade – it's frankly, I think it's a very bad government decision, plus a whole series decisions that have hindered the regions of South Australia, "he said.
Overland operates two weekly flights between Adelaide and Melbourne and carries approximately 30,000 pbadengers a year.
Trips take 10.5 hours, compared to 1.5 hours of flight.
Great Southern Rail announced last week the launch of a three-day Great Southern touristic train service linking Adelaide and Brisbane via the Victorian and Southwest coastlines and Canberra.
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