Labor would trial a battery passenger train on the Belair rail line, which currently uses modified diesel hybrid trains. The party said there were no battery passenger trains in operation in Australia.
The party promised to work with industry to develop the specific requirements for the Belair line, which is not compatible with traditional overhead electric infrastructure.
Labor pointed to successful networks of battery passenger trains in Japan, Ireland, Croatia and America.
“If the trial is successful, it could save taxpayers millions of dollars, removing the need for overhead infrastructure to electrify passenger rail lines,” Labor’s Emily Bourke said.
“Following the success of the battery bus trial, we are replacing the old diesel buses with new electric ones, and we have the same ambition to phase out the diesel hybrid trains.”
The Liberals’ public transport policy to date is a commitment to making all regular Adelaide Metro fares 50 cents.
The Greens this week announced a plan to return passenger rail to the Adelaide Hills via an extension of the Belair Line to Mount Barker, saying it would cost $700 million, with trains to run every half hour.
