The opening, a historic milestone due to take place on June 24, is likely to include guest speakers from organisations such as the South Australian Tourism Committee and former Barossa Wine Train. RailSA members Brian Leedham and Paul Henley will also be speaking.

The inquiry itself could come to be a major election issue for 2010, with at least three MPs closely interested in the result.

The inquiry will examine a number of factors resulting from the closure of the Barossa rail line to passenger traffic, and seek to find whether the service would be viable. Of particular interest are allegations of a TransAdelaide proposal for a metro service to Tanunda in 2006, which Parliament denied seeing in 2008. Other factors the inquiry will look at include the secrecy surrounding feasibility studies into a Barossa Valley passenger rail service.

Operator GWA will also more than likely come under scrutiny for disallowing passenger services on its broad gauge rail line, which interfaces with TransAdelaide’s Gawler line at Gawler Central, and the neglect of a number of structures and historical effects located along the alignment, which were to be maintained under the conditions of their lease.

Information supplied by RailSA members may provide insights into the inquiry. Members of the public are encouraged to attend the inquiry opening.

RailSA