Another article about three trams in Adelaide… This timefrom ABC news.
Outdated trams are being considered at an inflated price bythe South Australian Government just so they can be in use before the stateelection next year, the Opposition says. The Government announced last year itwould spend $20 million buying additional trams and building a new 100-metreline from North Terrace to the Festival Centre. Opposition transportspokesperson David Pisoni said the Government was paying $5 million each fortrams that were built in 2010."New South Wales and the ACT are buying brand new tramsfor similar capacity for around $3.2 million each, so they have the latesttechnology and they have a 10-year head start on the life of those trams,"he said.He said SA Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan"probably had the ribbon and the scissors in the cupboard ready to openthese new tramlines with new trams before the next election in March nextyear". "They can't get new trams to do that so they are paying morefor second-hand trams in order to meet their political timeline," MrPisoni said.Mr Mullighan said the tender process had not been finalisedbut the Government was considering the purchase of Citadis 302 trams fromMadrid. He said Citadis trams were already being used in Adelaide, and werealso being used across the world, including in Melbourne."The trams offered for sale have not been used inservice and are in new condition, despite being built in 2010," MrMalinauskas said. "They have been stored in Madrid and have beenmaintained to a high standard by the manufacturer and are in as-new condition. "Aswell as being a high-quality product and a great deal for taxpayers, if our bidis successful, expanding our fleet with the same type of trams will also meancheaper operating and maintenance costs than if a different type of vehicle waspurchased."Mr Mullighan said investment in public transport came to a"standstill" under the last Liberal Government in South Australia(2002). "We inherited a run-down tram network using 76-year-old redrattlers with no air conditioning," he said. "We have increasedpatronage from just 2.06 million trips in 2005-06 to more than 9.2 milliontrips in 2015-16 and improved reliability with trams now running on time morethan 96 per cent of the time."
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