Railway station open, but more delays ahead

After a month of delays and disruptions, the Adelaide Railway Station was reopened this morning, much to the delight of thousands of train passengers.

The station had been closed for an upgrade of the line and facilities since early January, with services stopping just outside the city and substitute buses completing the journey.

Passengers were quick to point out the benefits of trains making it all the way into the city this morning.

“Probably here 20 minutes earlier than I would be normally on the bus,” one commuter told 7News this morning.

Transport Department chief executive Rod Hook said it was very pleasing to see passengers on the Grange, Outer Harbor and Gawler lines making the full journey into the city.

“The major inconvenience we’ve been causing while we rebuild the tracks is over,” Mr Hook said.

But the delays are far from over for commuters on the Belair, Noarlunga and Tonsley lines.

They are facing many more months of substitute buses while other upgrades take place on those lines.

“Hopefully they can hurry up and get us back on the trains, buses take too long, they’re uncomfortable,” a passenger told 7News.

But train commuters are facing even more delays once the Government finds enough money to electrify the entire network.

“When the capacity of the budget allows us, we will proceed with those investments to electrify the balance of the system,” Premier Jay Weatherill said.