Flinders Line in high demand as students return

The State Government says patronage data for the new $141 million Flinders Railway Line shows the investment is already attracting more South Australians to use public transport with a 10.9 per cent increase in validations compared with the old Tonsley Line.

The new Flinders Line and new Tonsley and Flinders railway stations opened for passenger services on 29 December 2020, and are now operating under an enhanced timetable, developed after extensive consultation.

The Australian and South Australian governments jointly funded the project to extend the former Tonsley Line to the Flinders Medical Centre and Flinders University precincts.

SA Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Corey Wingard says patronage data for the first six weeks of service shows the investment is paying off.

“Uptake on the new Flinders Line has been great,” says Minister Wingard. “We’ve added more than 12,000 trips per year to the line, including late night and weekend services. That’s a 10.9 per cent increase on the Tonsley week day average at a time when patronage has been down across the Adelaide Metro network due to COVID-19.

“We’re rapt with this level of uptake for the new line, especially at a time when patronage has been affected by COVID-19, and I look forward to seeing more people make the most of this great service providing access to the Flinders educational and medical precincts.”

Many Flinders University students attending campus for the first time in 2021 have experienced the new Flinders Line for the first time – and Flinders University President and Vice-Chancellor  Professor Colin Stirling says the rail line is a game-changer not just for the University but the whole of the southern health and education precinct.

“It’s easier and faster than ever for students, staff and visitors to get to our Bedford Park and Tonsley campuses from the city, just 22 minutes end-to-end,” says Professor Stirling.

“Our domestic undergraduate enrolments are up 12% compared to the same time last year, and we look forward to welcoming many more students to campus through Flinders station.

“The rail link has been the catalyst for our Flinders Village development – planning is progressing for our flagship Health and Medical Research Building and we anticipate turning the first sod on this landmark project by the end of this year with work on student accommodation and amenities to follow.

“It’s a vital enabler of jobs and economic growth, and we thank the state and federal governments for their visionary investment.”

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