RailSA

OVERSEAS companies are among the 13 which have expressed interest in supplying a multimillion-dollar ticketing system for Adelaide’s public transport system.

State Transport Minister Patrick Conlon told the parliamentary Budget Estimates Committee bids would be evaluated between now and August.

The new system is understood to be likely to involve a combination of rechargeable Smartcards and disposable magnetic tickets to cover single trips.

The Government set aside $29 million over four years to buy and implement the system but said it did not have a definitive time frame for its implementation. The existing Crouzet ticket system has been operating for more than 20 years.

The Government is finding it increasingly difficult to get parts for it. The system also costs about $225,000 a year in lost revenue.

Mr Conlon told Parliament: “We deal with these matters with the highest possible probity. I can guarantee I will have absolutely no role in selecting a bidder.”