Tramways revival in Adelaide: Difference between revisions

| caption =<br />The two models of tram leadingintroduced thefor Adelaide's tramways revival: 200&nbsp;Series,&nbsp;[[Alstom Citadis]] (left) and&nbsp;100&nbsp;Series,&nbsp;[[Bombardier Flexity Classic#Adelaide|Bombardier Flexity Classic]].<br, />Aton the newly{{convert|9.25|km|mi|abbr=off}} openedreserved Adelaideline Entertainment&nbsp;Centre&nbsp;stop,between MayAdelaide 2010.and Glenelg

| ridership2 = About 109.5 million per year before Covid-19 pandemic; about 7.5 million since

| data4 = {{bulleted list|From 2006: fifteen&nbsp;100 Series – ''[[Tram types in Adelaide#Adelaide trams of the 21st century#100 Series (Bombardier Flexity Classic)|Bombardier Flexity Classic]]''|From 2010: nine&nbsp;200 Series – ''[[Tram types in Adelaide#Adelaide trams of the 21st century #200 Series (Alstom Citadis 302)|Alstom Citadis 302]]''| 2006–2015: Decreasing numbers of 300 Series (previously classified [[H type Adelaide tram|Type&nbsp;H]]) in 2006, then two&nbsp;until 2015.}}

| map_state = collapseduncollapsed

''This article – one of several about Adelaide’s trams – describes the development of new tram lines and operation of new trams since 2005. ToLinks seeto where this subject fits within the wider context ofan [[trams in Adelaide|overview]], and aother linkarticles to a less detailed overview article, click ''<kbd>[<span style="color: #0645AD">{{larger|show}}</span>]</kbd>are ''in the following panel.''

Other comprehensive articles are: <br />{{bulleted list|[[Tram types in Adelaide]] (1878–)|[[Horse trams in Adelaide|Horse trams era]] (1878–1914) |[[Glenelg tram line|Glenelg ("South Terrace") line]] (1873–)| [[Municipal Tramways Trust]] (1907–1975) – includes the electric street network (1909–1958)|[[W. G. T. Goodman|W.G.T. Goodman, General Manager MTT]] (1907–1950)|[[State Transport Authority (South Australia)|State Transport Authority]] (1975–1994) |[[TransAdelaide]], branded as [[Adelaide Metro]] from 2000 (1994–2010)|[[Department offor Planning, TransportInfrastructure and InfrastructureTransport]], branded as [[Adelaide Metro]] (2010–) |[[Trolleybuses in Adelaide]] (1937–1963).}}<br />Another comprehensiveA Wikipediarelated article is ''[[Tramway Museum, St Kilda]]''. The museum's collection, much of it operational, includes almost every type of tram that ran in Adelaide in the 20th century.}}

The city of '''[[Adelaide]]'s'' had an extensive tramway system running to most of its suburbs. The tram services started with horse trams that from 1878 ran on a network of lines extending eventually to about 100&nbsp;km (62&nbsp;mi) in length. Thirty-one years later, starting in 1909, the lines were upgraded and electrified. Forty-nine years after that, in 1958, all street tramlines were closed, leaving only the [[Glenelg tram line]] operating. In 2005, major investments in infrastructure and modern trams inaugurated what has becomebecame a ''' tramways revival''', leading to a 50&nbsp;per cent increase in the route length of the city's tramways.

After the closure of all Adelaide street tram services, the sole surviving route was the 10.8&nbsp;km (6.7&nbsp;mi) [[Glenelg tram line]] (also known colloquially as the "Bay line"), extending south-west from Adelaide's centre to the beachside suburb of [[Glenelg, South Australia|Glenelg]]. It ran on its own [[Right-of-way (transportation)|reservation]] as a [[light rail]] line except for a [[Street running|street-running]] section about 750&nbsp;metres (820&nbsp;yards) long at each end. Lack of funds to redevelop the reservation into a roadway prompted a decision to keep the line operating for a further ten years until it reached the end of its economic life. Track deteriorated, the condition of the 1929-vintage tramcars declined, and for a time it appeared that part of the line might be resumed for a freeway.<ref>{{cite journal |last= Radcliffe |first= J.C. |title= The Glenelg line – Australia’sAustralia's first LRT |journal= Trolley Wire |publisher= Australian Electric Traction Association|location= Sutherland, NSW|date= December 1979|issue= 185 |page= 5}}</ref> However, the line received a major upgrade and trams were refurbished in the early 1970s. Throughout the period, the trams provided a reliable service and enjoyed widespread affection in the community.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-01/why-was-adelaides-tram-network-ripped-up-in-the-1950s/9205768 |title= Why was Adelaide's tram network ripped up in the 1950s? |last= Prosser |first= Candice |date= 1 December 2017 |website= Curious Adelaide |publisher= [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |access-date= 24 March 2018 }}</ref>

In 2003 the newly elected Labor [[Rann Governmentgovernment|minorityLabor government]] announced the revitalisation of the Glenelg tram line and its intent to purchase modern low-floor vehicles to operate the line.<ref name= "Barry&Haskard">{{cite web |url= http://www.cotma.org.au/documents/adelaide_2012/Randall%20Barry%20&%20Peter%20Haskard%20-%20Adelaide%27s%20new%20electric%20trains.pdf |title= Adelaide's new trams: tramcar procurement projects 2004–2010 |last1= Barry |first1= Randall |last2= Haskard |first2= Peter |date= 17 August 2012 |website= Council of Australian Tramway Museums of Australasia |publisher= Department for Planning, Transport and Infrastructure |access-date= 25 June 2018 }}</ref>{{rp|40}}

Coleman Rail<ref group="note">At the time of the Glenelg tram line upgrade and construction of the new line to City West, Coleman Rail Pty Ltd, a private Australian construction company, was a business within the Victorian family-run engineering group Geotech Holdings, which in turn was acquired by Spanish infrastructure group [[Acciona]] in 2017. The company designed and constructed the rebuilding of the line from Glenelg to Victoria Square. It also designed and constructed the subsequent new line from Victoria Square to City West on North Terrace.</ref> extensively upgraded 10 kilometres of track; re-built 9 road crossings; built 18&nbsp;raised-platform tram stops and 41&nbsp;pedestrian crossings with access mazes and ramps; upgraded electrical and signalling systems, four 600V&nbsp;DC converter stations, a new traction power side -feeder system and overhead wiring; and altered the Glengowrie maintenance depot to accommodate the new trams on order. Overall design, construction, commissioning, and driver and operator training were conducted over a 38-week period.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.acciona.com.au/projects/construction/railways-and-tunnels/glenelg-tram-line-extension/ |title= Glenelg tram line extension |date= 2008 |website= Acciona Australia |publisher= Acciona Australia |access-date= 24 March 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.colemanrail.com.au/about-us/our-history |title= Our history |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= 2018 |website= Coleman Rail |publisher= Coleman Rail Pty Ltd |access-date= 22 June 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.afr.com/business/infrastructure/spains-acciona-doubles-australian-business-with-geotech-acquisition-20170308-guu2as |title= Spain's Acciona doubles Australian business with Geotech acquisition |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= 9 March 2017 |website= The Australian Financial Review |access-date= 22 June 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://abns.com.au/coleman-rail/ |title= Coleman Rail |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= 20 December 2015 |website= Australian Business News Source |access-date= 22 June 2018 }}</ref><ref group=Four "note">Ayears replacementlater, bridgein 2009, a major choke point where the tramline crosses diagonally over a four-way intersection of South Road and Cross Road was completedameliorated inwhen 2009a bridge for South Road vehicular traffic was built over the intersection.<ref group="note">{{coord| -34.9672| 138.5729|format=dms}}</ref>

By the time the new trams were delivered, the line's [[H type Adelaide tram|Type&nbsp;H]] "Glenelg trams" were 77 years old. After some months of joint operation as the new trams were brought on line, 17 were sold or donated. The remaining five were refurbished in 2000 and two of those ran– occasionally351 untiland 2015,352 after(formerly 367) – received a further refurbishment in 2012–13 in anticipation of occasional revenue operation, which occurred until 2015 when they were storedput into storage.<ref>"Here & There", ''Trolley Wire'' issue 352, February 2018, page 19</ref> The [[Department for Infrastructure and Transport]] donated the two to the Tramway Museum, St Kilda in 2021.<ref>{{cite magazine |title =St Kilda |last =Seymour|first=Colin |date=February 2022|magazine= Trolley Wire |location =Sutherland, New South Wales |publisher=South Pacific Electric Railway Co-operative Society Limited |issue=368|issn=0155-1264 |page=38}}</ref>

''These trams are detailed in the article: [[Tram types in Adelaide#Adelaide trams of the 21st century#100 Series (Bombardier Flexity Classic)|Tram types in Adelaide (100&nbsp;Series)]]''

Following the decision to extend the line from [[Victoria Square, Adelaide|Victoria Square]] along [[King William Street, Adelaide|King William Street]], a further two [[Bombardier Flexity Classic]]s were ordered in 2005.<ref>[http://www.dpc.sa.gov.au/documents/rendition/B19220 Cabinet, Subjects for Consideration, 8 August 2004] Department of the Premier & Cabinet</ref><ref>[http://www.trammuseumadelaide.com/413634112 City West to Glenelg Service], Tramway Museum, St Kilda</ref> They arrived in the first half of 2007.<ref>"Adelaide – another Flexity enters service", ''Trolley Wire"'', issue 309, May 2007, page 16</ref> The replacement for the tram damaged before delivery arrived in June.<ref>"Adelaide: last Flexity arrives", ''Trolley Wire"'', issue 310, August 2007</ref>

After the route had been extended through the city centre, the service became very popular: in the three months from November 2007 to the end of January 2008, more than 100,000 extra trips had been taken than in the same period in the previous year. Intensive overcrowding occurred, and many passengers were unable to board trams during peak hours.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23228882-2682,00.html |publisher=The Advertiser (Adelaide) – News Corporation |accessdateaccess-date=2008-02-19 |title=On track for future extension | first=Matt | last=Williams | date=16 February 2008}}{{subscription required}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23031415-5006301,00.html |publisher=The Advertiser (Adelaide) – News Corporation |accessdateaccess-date=2008-02-19 |title=Trams may be s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d to beat overcrowding | first=Lauren | last=Novak | date=9 January 2008}}</ref> The route extension was also blamed for increased traffic congestion in the city, although no quantitative evidence was advanced.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/29/2072918.htm |publisher=ABC News |accessdateaccess-date=2008-02-19 |title=Authorities deny tram causing congestion }}{{subscription required}}</ref>

In 2016 the [[Stephen Mullighan|transport minister]] said public perception of trams returning to Adelaide had changed:<blockquote>"When we announced in 2005 that we would be extending the Glenelg tram past Victoria Square to the railway station there were howls of protest against it. I think we've managed to completely flip the public debate from being against these sorts of projects to be being very strongly in favour."<ref>{{cite news |first= Sam |last=Kelton |title=AdeLINK: State Government, councils, transport experts meet to discuss Adelaide tram network |url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/adelink-state-government-councils-transport-experts-meet-to-discuss-adelaide-tram-network/news-story/2892958c126f6d1b24151e3590f41caa |work=Adelaide Now|publisher=The Advertiser (Adelaide) – News Corporation |date=21 April 2016 |accessdateaccess-date=10 May 2018}}{{subscription required}}</ref></blockquote>

The case for further tramway extensions became the subject of public debate. The South Australian [[Jane Lomax-Smith|tourism minister]] supported the line being extended to [[North Adelaide]] and [[Prospect, South Australia|Prospect]]. Transport Minister [[Patrick Conlon (politician)|Patrick Conlon]], however, considered the idea impracticable,<ref>{{cite news |first= Craig |last=Bildstien |title=Minister 'mortified' by ruling on trams |url=http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,21101060-910,00.html |work=Adelaide Now|publisher=[[News Limited]] |date=23 January 2007 |accessdateaccess-date=2007-02-11}}{{subscription required}}</ref> and preferred to have a fare-free city loop.<ref name="Theadvertiser20070219">{{cite news|work=The Advertiser (Adelaide) – News Corporation |publisher=News Limited|date=19 February 2007 |title=Free tram network 'to drive city's future |pages=2}}{{subscription required}}</ref>

''These trams are detailed in the article: [[Tram types in Adelaide#Adelaide trams of the 21st century#200 Series (Alstom Citadis 302)|Tram types in Adelaide (200&nbsp;Series)]]''

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In mid-2008 the state government issued an international tender call for new or second hand trams in anticipation of the next route extension. Soon, 23 almost new trams were found in [[Madrid]]. The city had been in the process of installing new light rail infrastructure but the [[Financial crisis of 2007–2008|Global Financial Crisis]] had caused it to cut back on its plans, resulting in surplus rolling stock.<ref name= "Barry&Haskard"/>{{rp|48, 49}} They were five-segment [[Alstom Citadis|Citadis 302]] models manufactured by [[Alstom]] for the [[Metro Ligero]] in Madrid. The [[Patrick Conlon (politician)|transport minister]] said that although the $6&nbsp;million cost for each tram was about the same as buying them new, their prompt arrival would help to avoid capacity problems with the forthcoming route extension. He added that the trams had been built for Madrid's hot climate and the air conditioning was "as good as it gets". The government purchased six of the trams in July 2009.<ref>{{cite news |last= Castello |first= Renato |title= European trams to bolster our City-Glenelg fleet |url= https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/european-trams-to-bolster-our-city-glenelg-fleet/story-e6frea83-1225715245207 |accessdateaccess-date= 27 October 2013 |newspaper= The Advertiser (Adelaide) – News Corporation |date=24 May 2009}}{{subscription required}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= Fenton |first= AndewAndrew |title= Six new trams for Adelaide-ex-Madrid |url= https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/six-new-trams-for-adelaide-ex-madrid/news-story/72fdb7e22a36312fa5a9f9562e13b913?nk=dc978bd600b113734bc682b98bc943d8-1526148969 |accessdateaccess-date= 27 May 2014 |newspaper= The Advertiser (Adelaide) – News Corporation|date= 7 June 2009}}{{subscription required}}</ref><ref>"Six new trams for Adelaide", ''Trolley Wire'', issue 318, August 2009, page 21</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.theengineer.co.uk/issues/august-2004-online/alstom-to-keep-madrid-moving/ | title= Alstom to keep Madrid moving | publisher= The Engineer | accessdateaccess-date=15 May 2018}}</ref><ref name= "Barry&Haskard"/>{{rp|50}}

In the 2008 state budget, the government announced that it would further extend the tram line 2.8&nbsp;km (1.7&nbsp;mi) north-west to the [[Adelaide Entertainment Centre]], [[Port Road, Adelaide|Port Road]], [[Hindmarsh, South Australia|Hindmarsh]]. The line, opened in March 2010, runs from what had been the 2007 terminus on North Terrace, near the [[Adelaide railway station|railway station]], to the [[Adelaide Entertainment Centre]] in the inner north-west suburb of [[Hindmarsh, South Australia|Hindmarsh]]. It also incorporated a park-and-ride service on [[Port Road, Adelaide|Port Road]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theaec.net/VenueInfo/Parking.aspx | title=Park 'n' Ride Users – 7 days | publisher= Adelaide Entertainment Centre | accessdateaccess-date=2013-12-05}}</ref>

The project was budgeted to cost $80&nbsp;million, to which the Adelaide City Council would contribute $5&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.globalrailnews.com/2017/09/18/construction-of-adelaide-tram-extension-to-begin-in-weeks/ |title= Construction of Adelaide tram extension to begin in weeks |date=18 September 2017 |publisher=Global Rail News |access-date=6 May 2018}}</ref> A joint venture of [[Downer Rail]] and [[York Civil]] began work in July 2017.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/new-tram-stops-and-extra-funding-to-ease-traffic-problems-announced-for-north-terrace-extension/news-story/f64e9fc153fa2297540282920c42c8c8 |title=New tram stops and extra funding to ease traffic problems announced for North Terrace extension |first=Miles |last=Kemp |newspaper=The Advertiser (Adelaide) – News Corporation|date=21 July 2017 |accessdateaccess-date=20 July 2017}}{{subscription required}}</ref><ref>[http://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/Announcements/Planned-Disruptions/North-Terrace-services-detoured-for-tram-line-extension-works North Terrace services detoured for tram line extension works] Adelaide Metro</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://dpti.sa.gov.au/news?a=351795 |title=Major construction set to begin on $80 million City Tram Extension Project |date=18 September 2017 |publisher=Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure |access-date=7 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/395689/DOCS_AND_FILES-12089963-v7-City_Tram_Extension_-_Communications_-_Stage_4_construction_newsletter_.pdf |title=City Tram Extension Project |date=January 2018 |publisher=Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure |access-date=5 August 2018}}</ref>

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[[File:King William St – North Tce tram intersection, Adelaide 2018.png|thumb|left|Rebuilding the 3-way tramway intersection laid down in January 2018 (left) to a 4-way one (centre), as proposed by the Liberal government elected in March 2018, would have involved lengthy major roadworks. Duplicating the northwards-to-eastwards curve alone (right) was eventually costed at $47&nbsp;million plus $70&nbsp;million for trams with acceptable derailment risks, and the commitment was dropped.]]

The state government, in December 2016, stated that it recognised track construction work at the very busy North Terrace–King William Street intersection ({{coord| 34.9215|S|138.5994|E|format=dms}}) would cause disruption of road traffic. The [[Stephen Mullighan|transport minister]] stressed the desirability of having disruption only once – by building a four-way "[[grand union]]" junction rather than a three-way junction that would later have to be modified if what he termed "the offshoot tramline" north to the Festival Centre were to be built later.<ref name= "Mullighan">{{cite web |url= https://indaily.com.au/news/local/2016/12/15/govt-announces-20-million-festival-plaza-tram-plan/ |title= City tram plan: $20m for Festival Plaza extension, new trams |last= Siebert |first= Bension |date= 15 December 2016 |website= InDaily: Adelaide's independent news |publisher= Solstice Media Pty Ltd |access-date= 6 May 2018 }}</ref> In the event, however, the government decided to build a junction with double tracks on one corner and single tracks on two corners, saying that the complexity and cost of including a right-hand turn from King William Street into North Terrace could not be justified and would make traffic flows worse. The decision attracted popular ridicule.<ref name= "Laborcommits>{{cite web |url= http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-25/labor-commits"-to-extending-adelaide-tramline-to-norwood/9482618 |title= SA election: Labor promises $279 million to take trams up The Parade to Norwood |date=25 February 2018 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=7 May 2018}}</ref> The reduced junction steelwork, prefabricated, was welded in place and laid in concrete in January 2018.

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! colspan="1011"|Adelaide tram patronage by financial year

! InfoInformation:

|colspan="910" style="text-align:left;"| font-size: 86%;"|''Financial years start on 1 July and end on 30 June; hence the financial year {{#expr:{{CURRENTYEAR}}-1}}–{{CURRENTYEAR}} is 1 July {{#expr:{{CURRENTYEAR}}-1}} to 30 June {{CURRENTYEAR}}.<br />The numbered notes show major occurrences that affected the number of boardings, <br />including changes to free travel (as detailed in the article).''

| colspan="12" style="text-align:leftcenter;"| ''<big>↓</big> (Graph could not be updated for FY 2020–21 and later because of technical issues with Wikipedia graphs) <big>↓</big>'' <br />{{Graph:Chart|width=600|height=150|type=rect |legend=Legend|colors=#494a4c, #E71938, #9F3F1B

|x=2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021–22

|y1Title=Seniors Card off-peak free travel included|

|y2Title=All free travel includedwithin city & Glenelg is free|

|y2= , , , , , , , , , , , , , 8.88, 8.89, 9.26, 9.48}}, 9.45, 7.40

<!--2001-02 to 2002-03reference-->

|colspan="2"|<ref name=01-03>{{cite web|title=TransAdelaide - Replacement Pages - Rail Patronage - Report 2002-2003 |url=https://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/HouseofAssembly/BusinessoftheAssembly/RecordsandPapers/TabledPapersandPetitions/Pages/TabledPapersandPetitions.aspx?TPLoadDoc=true&TPDocType=0&TPP=50&TPS=3&TPItemID=89&TPDocName=ReplacementofPatronagesection1203.pdf|publisher=Parliament of South Australia|accessdateaccess-date=13 October 2016|date=4 December 2003}}</ref>

<!--20032002-0403 to 2004-05reference-->

<!--20052003-0604 reference-->

|<ref name=03-05>{{cite web | url=http://www.dpti.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/00130015/127012127014/TransAdelaide_Annual_Report_2005TransAdelaide_Annual_Report_2004-0605.pdf | title=TransAdelaide Annual Report 20052004-0605 | publisher=TransAdelaide | accessdateaccess-date=13 October 2016 | page=2211}}</ref>

<!--20062004-0705 reference-->

<!--20072005-0806 reference-->

|<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dpti.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/00030013/116409127012/Annual_Report_07_08TransAdelaide_Annual_Report_2005-06.pdf | title=DTEITransAdelaide Annual Report 20072005-0806 | publisher=Department for Transport, Energy and InfrastructureTransAdelaide | accessdateaccess-date=13 October 2016 | page=12122}}</ref>

<!--20082006-0907 reference-->

|<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dpti.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/00150013/116412116410/Annual_Report_2008-09_as_at_22_September_2009DTEI_annual_report_18_oct_2007_pt1.pdf | title=DTEI Annual Report 20082006-0907 | publisher=Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure | accessdateaccess-date=13 October 2016 | page=11870}}</ref>

<!--20092007-1008 reference-->

|<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dpti.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/00130003/54301116409/Annual_Report_2009-10Annual_Report_07_08.pdf | title=DTEI Annual Report 20092007-1008 | publisher=Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure | accessdateaccess-date=13 October 2016 | page=75121}}</ref>

|colspan="10" style="text-align:left; font-size: 86%;"| '''Note 1:'''&nbsp;Figures for all years include free travel for seniorSouth citizens.Australian holders of Senior Citizen card.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''2:'''&nbsp;Line was closed for upgrading during June 2005. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''3:'''&nbsp;Line was closed for upgrading during July &nbsp;2005. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''4:'''&nbsp;Extension to University of SA, North&nbsp;Terrace, opened in October 2007. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''5:'''&nbsp;Extension to Adelaide Entertainment Centre opened in March 2010.

| 2010-11 || 2011-12 || 2012-13 || 2013-14 || 2014-15 || 2015-16 || 2016-17 || 2017-18 || <!--2018-19 || 2019-20!-->

<!--2010-11 reference-->

|<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dpti.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/75035/Annual_report_2010_2011_online.pdf | title=DTEI Annual Report 2010-11 | publisher=Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure | accessdateaccess-date=13 October 2016 | page=62}}</ref>

<!--2011-12 reference-->

|<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dpti.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/88609/DPTI_Annual_report_2011-2012_Nov20_web.pdf | title=DPTI Annual Report 2011-12 | publisher=Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure | accessdateaccess-date=13 October 2016 | page=68}}</ref>

<!--2012-13 reference-->

|<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dpti.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/121017/DPTI_Annual_report_2012-2013_081113.pdf | title=DPTI Annual Report 2012-13 | publisher=Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure | accessdateaccess-date=13 October 2016 | page=78}}</ref>

<!--2013-14 reference-->

|<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dpti.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/154270/DPTI_Annual_report_2013-2014_060115.pdf | title=DPTI Annual Report 2013-14 | publisher=Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure | accessdateaccess-date=13 October 2016 | page=88}}</ref>

<!--2014-15 reference-->

|<ref>{{cite web|title=DPTI Annual Report 2014-15 - Transport Acts|url=http://www.dpti.sa.gov.au/annual_report/2014-15/reporting_section/transport_acts|publisher=Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure|accessdateaccess-date=13 October 2016}}</ref>

<!--2015-16 reference-->

|<ref>{{cite web|title=DPTI Annual Report 2015-16|url=https://www.dpti.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/283973/DPTI_Annual_Report_2015-16_-_Final_version_without_Financial_Statements.PDF|publisher=Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure|accessdateaccess-date=1 December 2016|page=63}}</ref>

<!--2016-17 reference-->

|<ref>{{cite web|title=DPTI Annual Report 2016-17 - Reporting against the Passenger Transport Act 1994|url=https://dpti.sa.gov.au/annual_report/dpti_annual_report_2016-17_online_version/section_b_reporting_required_under_any_other_act_or_regulation#passenger_transport_act|publisher=Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure|accessdateaccess-date=2 December 2017}}</ref>

<!--2017-18 reference-->

|<ref>{{cite web|title=DPTI Annual Report 2017-18 - Adelaide Metro patronage 2017-18|url=https://dpti.sa.gov.au/annual_report/dpti_annual_report_2017-18_online_version/section_b_reporting_required_under_any_other_act_or_regulation|publisher=Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure|accessdateaccess-date=4 November 2018}}</ref>

! NoteNotes<br />for 2010s

|colspan="710" style="text-align:left;"| font-size: 86%;"|'''Note 6:'''&nbsp; From 2014FY to 20152014–2015 all free travel iswas included (previously only senior citizens' free travel by South Australian holders of Senior Citizen cards was included).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''7:'''&nbsp;The Covid-19 pandemic severely affected patronage from mid-March 2020.

During its 16 years in office until it lost office in the [[2018 South Australian state election|March 2018 state elections]], the [[Australian Labor Party (South Australian Branch)#Premiers|Labor]] government had announced plans for Adelaide's public transport only to drop them from a later budget. In the 2008 budget, as part of a planned electrification of the [[Outer Harbor railway line|Outer Harbor]] and [[Grange railway line|Grange]] railway lines, new [[tram-trains]] were proposed to run on existing railway lines to [[West Lakes, South Australia|West Lakes]], [[Port Adelaide]] and [[Semaphore, South Australia|Semaphore]]. Electrification of the Outer Harbor railway line was to commence in 2010–11 and "once connected to the tram network, will enable future extensions of light rail services to West Lakes, Semaphore and Port Adelaide".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.treasury.sa.gov.au/dtf/budget/publications_and_downloads/current_budget.jsp? |title=2008 State Budget |accessdateaccess-date=2008-06-06 |date=5 June 2008 |publisher=South Australian Department of Treasury and Finance |url-status=dead |archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524133343/http://www.treasury.sa.gov.au/dtf/budget/publications_and_downloads/current_budget.jsp |archivedatearchive-date=24 May 2011}}</ref> However, the plans were abandoned in the 2012 state budget. As at 2019 the railway line had not been electrified, hence no tram-trains were operating.<ref name="The Advertiser/AdelaideNow">{{cite news |url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/port-semaphore-tramline-derailed-in-state-budget/story-e6frea83-1226377277925|title=Port, Semaphore tramline derailed in State Budget |accessdateaccess-date=7 October 2014 |date=8 May 2009 |publisher=The Advertiser (Adelaide) – News Corporation}}{{subscription required}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=2012 State Budget |date=May 2012 |accessdateaccess-date=7 May 2018 |url=http://servicesa.cdn.on.net/documents/bp1_budget_overview2012-13.pdf |publisher=South Australian Department of Treasury and Finance }}</ref>

In the face of criticism, the [[Stephen Mullighan|transport minister]] in December 2016 blamed the [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal]] [[Government of Australia|federal government]]'s lack of support of state public transport for the stalled investment in the Adelaide tramway system, saying his party "had a commitment from the federal opposition that had they won at the recent federal election they would have committed half a billion dollars to expanding the network."<ref name= "Mullighan"/> No further provision for expenditure ensued.<ref name= "Labor commits">{{cite web |url= http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-25/labor-commits-to-extending-adelaide-tramline-to-norwood/9482618 |title= SA election: Labor promises $279 million to take trams up The Parade to Norwood |date=25 February 2018 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=7 May 2018}}</ref> The proposal met with strong opposition from Norwood residents and traders concerned about the removal of trees in the median strip of [[The Parade, Adelaide|The Parade at Norwood]] and the likely reduction in street parking.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://grumpyinunley.wordpress.com/2018/02/26/unley-road-tram-disaster/ |title= Unley Road tram disaster |date=26 February 2018 |publisher=Grumpy in Unley |access-date=7 May 2018}}</ref> A [[Royal Automobile Association|motorists' organisation]] travel-time survey identified increasing tram traffic as a major contributor to congestion on three major Adelaide roads; it called for the government's Integrated Transport and Land Use Plan to include the effect of increased tram services to address population growth, encourage the use of public transport, and consider its effect on motorists and what was needed to mitigate it.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.raa.com.au/community-and-advocacy/media-releases/1245 |title= Glenelg tram expansion needs more planning to avoid further congestion |date=14 February 2018 |publisher= Royal Automobile Association (SA) |access-date=7 May 2018}}</ref>

In the campaign for the March 2018 state elections, another Labor proposal – taken from its 2015 plan for projecting tram services along The Parade (Norwood), Unley Road, Prospect Road, and via Henley Beach Road to Adelaide Airport – was to build the line to Norwood, the electorate of the opposition leader. This would involve a 3&nbsp;km (1.9&nbsp;mi) line from the East End of Adelaide through Kent Town and the purchase of four new trams at a total cost of $259&nbsp;million.<ref name= "Labor commits"/>

*remove overhead lines from tram routes in the Adelaide CBD.<ref name= "LibTptPolicy"/><ref>{{cite web |title=SA election: What has Steven Marshall actually promised to do if elected? |date=19 March 2018 |accessdateaccess-date=7 April 2018 |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-19/heres-what-steven-marshall-has-promised/9562270 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://indaily.com.au/news/politics/2018/03/09/libs-wont-rebuild-adelaides-suburban-tram-network/ |title=Libs won't rebuild Adelaide's suburban tram network |last=Siebert |first=Bension |date=9 March 2018 |website=InDaily |access-date=6 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-08/liberal-party-election-promise-37m-for-tram-tracks-in-adelaide/9527828 |title=Liberal Party promises to add right-hand turn to Adelaide tram line |last=MacLennan |first=Leah |date=8 March 2018 |website=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=7 April 2018}}</ref>

In November 2018, after receiving expert advice from engineering consultancy [[Aurecon|Aurecon Australasia]], the government withdrew its commitment to build the right-hand turn, citing an increased cost estimate (to more than $117&nbsp;million, including $70 million to purchase and operate trams that could negotiate the bend); the unacceptable derailment risks to [[Tram types in Adelaide#Citadis 302 / Type 200|Citadis]] trams because of the gradients involved; and the necessity for the very busy intersection to be shut down for 8 to 10 weeks.<ref>{{cite news|title=SA Liberals can't get Adelaide tram to go right |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-18/sa-government-scraps-right-turn-for-adelaide-trams/10508610 |work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=18 November 2018 |accessdateaccess-date=2 February 2019}}</ref>

In January 2019 the [[Stephan Knoll|transport minister]] stated that the government needed to finalise a claims process with contractor Downer Group on the North Terrace and King William Road extensions before an external review of cost over-runs and would be completed.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/|publisher=The Advertiser (Adelaide) – News Corporation|accessdateaccess-date=2019-01-08 |title=Brakes on tram farce review | first=Simeon | last=Thomas-Wilson | date=8 January 2019|page=7}}{{subscription required}}</ref> He also alluded to the impending establishment of the South Australian Public Transport Authority, which "will inform the development of a comprehensives public transport strategy that is customer focused, more reliable, accessible and better suit[s] the needs of South Australians".<ref>{{cite magazine |last= Sampson |first= Bob |date= January 2019 |title= DPTI News: establishment of the SA Public Transport Authority |magazine= Catchpoint Magazine |location= Port Adelaide |publisher= [[National Railway Museum, Inc.Port Adelaide]] |issn= 2207-9114 }}</ref>