Over the past 10 years or so, it has been written about many times in The Advertiser with regards to our transport infrastructure, and the problems associated with it.

Regardless of how many people, politicians and strategic planners have commented, complained or come up with solutions regarding the state or our transport corridors, the only thing that seems to be happening, is that we just keep going around and around in circles with very little progress.

In the view of many South Australians, including myself, we get frustrated that all the politicians seem to be interested in, is passing the buck, and blaming each other for the deterioration that the railways, and our road systems are currently in.

The fact remains, that our rail system should have never been privatised, we are the only state that does not have a regional passenger rail service to our country towns.

With the very real possibility of petrol prices only showing signs of increasing, it is vital that the state and federal governments need to start looking at the long term prospects of the passenger rail to places like Victor Harbor, Clare, Burra, Whyalla, Port Lincoln as well as replacing the rail to the townships in the 'Copper Triangle' like Wallaroo and Moonta.

The townships, such as these, in the future are not going to be able to survive the reduction of people, and those who will still need to travel whether it would be for business, pleasure or for our tourists, and what real benefits are there going to be for a well-maintained road when the future price of petrol will make it unaffordable for us to go and visit these areas.

One very good example of this is the Barossa Valley, which I know Ivan Venning (the member for Schubert), has continually been lobbying the Rann government to upgrade the rail system, so that the public of South Australia can have a passenger rail service to carry passengers to and from Adelaide to the Barossa, with a reliable efficient system.

As it stands now, those from the Barossa who wish or need to travel to Adelaide, have to drive to Gawler to catch a train.

In these circumstances, this form of travel and the way our public system operates is totally unacceptable.

These people who have to travel from the Barossa and Adelaide, don't want to have to sit on public transport that stops at most stations between Gawler and Adelaide, but need a quick and reliable passenger train that would run as an express stopping at Salisbury, Gawler and making stops at Lyndoch, Tanunda and Angaston.

Feeder lines in our metropolitan areas also need serious consideration. Rail corridors like the one that used to run through Dry Creek, Cavan, Pooraka and Northfield should have never been removed.

Inner suburban areas including the Semaphore line, Bridgewater, Mt Barker and the Barossa should be reinstated and maintained as these populated areas increase and continue to grow.

We are going to have to face the facts regarding public transport.

Although roads like Victor Harbor and Pt Wakefield will need upgrading for the purpose of heavy transport, the fact remains, that with the ongoing increase in fuel prices, the general public, and tourists alike, are not going to be able to afford to just jump in their car and go for a weekend away or a day's outing.

These signs are already being shown in today's economic climate, and if South Australia is to survive in the next 10-20 years, and continue to draw holiday makers and day trippers, including those who need the services for work, school etc, then these rail systems are going to have to be upgraded, replaced and reintroduced into many areas of the state.

Privatisation of our railway has failed, and needs to be put back in the hands of the public through government ownership.

Barossa & Light Herald