South Australia’s Department of Infrastructure and Transport has awarded Keolis’s Australian subsidiary, Keolis Downer, a contract worth 1.32 billion euros to operate and maintain Adelaide’s commuter rail network (South Australia).
The contract will come into force on 21 January 2021 and will run for an initial period of eight years but can be extended by a further four years. It is the first time these services will be managed by a private entity.
The network measures 131km in total. Of these 39km are electrified. The network comprises four main lines – Belair, Gawler, Outer Harbor and Seaford – as well as two spur lines – Grange and Tonsley. In total, the network serves 89 stations.
Adelaide’s commuter network currently operates 92 trains, of which 22 Bombardier-built A-City Class 4000 are electric. A further 12 of these are currently under construction from a June 2019 order and will enter service from 2021 onwards.
Keolis Downer also plans on improving the real-time information issued to passengers.
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