European trams to bolster Adelaide’s fleet

The Sunday Mail understands the Government is close to sealing a deal to import up to six trams from Madrid to run on the City-to-Bay tramline. The French-made Alstom Citadis trams are scheduled to be in service by December.

The Government last year announced a worldwide tender to lease or buy extra trams to run alongside the existing 11 Bombardier Flexity Classic trams.

The Madrid trams will bolster the current fleet, which has recorded a drop in punctuality since the State Government spent $31 million extending the tramline north from Victoria Square to the city’s West End in October, 2007.

The Sunday Mail can also reveal:

TRANSADELAIDE electricians plan to boycott major transport projects – including the tramline extension – in a wages battle, and;

PUBLIC transport division head Heather Webster has resigned from her post after 10 years.

Madrid’s city transport body, MINTRA, ordered 70 of the Alstom trams under a major light-rail project for the Spanish capital.

But it is understood the project has since been scaled back because of the global recession, with 22 superfluous trams available to buy or lease.

State Transport Minister Patrick Conlon’s media spokesman, Sam Ion, declined to comment when contacted by the Sunday Mail. Opposition Transport spokesman Duncan McFetridge said he understood the trams were worth about $3 million each, nearly half the price of the Bombardier trams.

“I am told they are arriving in November, seating is for 54 (passengers) and total capacity about 180, so less seats but slightly more capacity (than current trams). Fine for a city run, but who wants to stand from coast to coast?” he said.

Tram and train electricians held rolling four-hour stoppages on Friday, as they push for a lift in their pay and allowances.

CEPU Electrical, Energy and Services division organiser Simon Pisoni warned the work bans could extend to major projects including the Belair line upgrade, the South Rd tram overpass and possibly the tram extension.

TransAdelaide spokesman Hayden Ryan said discussions with the union were ongoing. He also confirmed Ms Webster had left the Passenger Transport Division (formerly the Passenger Transport Board) to pursue “personal interests” in a family wine business and to concentrate on commitments with professional boards.

AdelaideNow