Faster trips for northern suburbs commuters with rail service under public control

Monday 29 September 2025

Northern suburbs commuters will benefit from faster travel times on the Gawler rail line thanks to a major timetable change.

The new weekday timetables will see travel times on 76 per cent of all trips between Adelaide and Gawler shortened.

The changes follow trains returning to public control in February 2025 and the electrification of the Gawler line, which has seen the State Government introduce 12 new Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) trains to service the Gawler line.

The end of privatisation, together with the completed electrification project, has allowed for faster travel times to be rolled out across the timetable, improving journeys across a more reliable and safer public transport system.

Another boost for travel in the north will roll out on 13 October, with an extension of the Riverlea Park bus service which connects residents in the new Riverlea development in in Adelaide’s northern suburbs.

The development will see an estimated 30,000 additional residents join the fast-growing region over the next 25 years.

Public transport bus services were first rolled out to this area in 2023, and will now be extended to increase the catchment area.

Recent changes also include around-the-clock free public transport for seniors and a fare reduction for the 28-day student metro pass from $28.60 to $10.

Commuters have overwhelmingly embraced the cheaper fares, which allow high schoolers to travel for the equivalent of 25 cents per trip.

The Monday to Friday timetables for the Gawler train line will be updated to reflect these changes from Monday, 13 October 2025.

Most trips between Adelaide and Gawler will be reduced by several minutes on weekdays, with no changes to weekend services.

Connecting bus routes will receive minor timetable changes to maintain efficient and safe connections. Travel times on these services will not change.

For more information on timetable changes head to the Adelaide Metro website.