A Labor spokesperson said a Malinauskas Government would put $52 million towards the extension – more than $35 million more than the Weatherill Government had initially budgeted.
The move marks Labor’s first major transport extension commitment this election, in stark contrast to their pledges four years ago to extend the city’s tram network out to North Adelaide and Norwood – promises that had a combined cost of more than $500 million.
“After being cruelly cut by the Marshall Liberal Government when they were elected, a Malinauskas Government will get rail back to the heart of the Port,” Labor MP for Cheltenham Joe Szakacs posted on Facebook.
“This is an investment for the whole western community. It’s backing in local business and local jobs. And it’s part of Labor’s commitment to return our privatised trains back to public hands.”
The original Port Dock train service was axed in 1981 and the station later demolished to make way for a police statixjmtzywon and Port Adelaide Magistrates Court, moving the nearest railway access to a station well south of the centre, near Commercial Road on the Outer Harbor line.
Port Adelaide Enfield Mayor Claire Boan said she is “really pleased” with Labor’s vision for the railway line but called for a broader public transport solution.
“We’ve been lobbying for better public transport across the whole of the peninsula for many many years … we don’t have effective public transport for the peninsula and also not enough trips per hour,” she said.
