South Australians Push for Better Rail

0:00In Sydney today, March 8th, Salbot Australians are calling for better public transport ahead of the state election on March 21st, with many pushing to bring back passenger. Rail to the Adelaide Hills and extend services to regional areas. The rail line to the hills shut down in 1987, due to low ridership, leaving residents reliant on buses and taxis which can be slow and costly. Neither major party, labor nor liberal, has promised to reopen it, but the greens back the idea, while both majors plan bus expansions in places like Murray Bridge. People like 28-year-old Rachel Snowball from the hills share her struggles on ABC's your say platform. She has epilepsy and cannot drive, making daily life tough and forcing her to consider moving if options do not improve. Others want fast links to Adelaide, light rail to spots like Mount Barker, and fixes for congested freeways. Experts highlight growing population and safety risks on roads. John Hill, from the SA Transport Action Group,

1:01urges using existing freight lines for passengers to keep costs down compared to freeway upgrades. Jennifer Bonham from the Transport Action Network calls for a staged plan to build a suburban rail network beyond just the city center. Meanwhile, liberals promise a flat 50-cent fair statewide to boost ridership and ease living costs, and move the greens also support. Voters from beaches to valleys are echoing the need for trains, trams, bikes, and active transport to cut car dependence. This episode is brought to you in partnership with our sponsor, Headphones in a Pillow, Simple Idea, Surprisingly Addictive, S-O-L-I-SoliPillow.com