Adelaide’s publicly-operated trains ran on schedule 97 per cent of the time in 2019, making them more prompt than Melbourne’s privatised trains, new statistics reveal.

The figures, published on the Adelaide Metro and Victoria’s Metro websites, show Melbourne’s privately-run trains were only punctual 90.4 per cent of the time last year.

The data also revealed Adelaide’s trams arrived at their destination on time 95.8 per cent of the time in 2019 while Melbourne’s trams were on schedule just 82.7 per cent of the time.

The Opposition warns the statistics serve as more proof that the State Government’s plan to privatise Adelaide’s train and tram network is a bad idea, describing the data as “a stark reminder of the pitfalls of privately-run public transport”.

The SA Government last year announced it would privatise the operation of Adelaide’s tram network in 2020 and its train system in 2021.

Adelaide’s trams arrived on time 95.8 per cent of the time in 2019. Picture: Naomi JellicoeIt emphasised that infrastructure and ticket prices would remain under public control. Bus operations are already privatised.

The “on-time” figures come as one of the companies in the running to take over the city’s rail network is set to be stripped of its contract to operate the United Kingdom’s Northern Rail system because of unacceptable service levels.

The UK Government has started a process to rip up Deutsche Bahn’s 10-year contract, issued in 2015, due to trains routinely running late, with only one in two services operating on time.

The Government will either completely oust the company, which is Europe’s largest rail operator, or replace its existing contract with a short-term one.