Trains make way for the new RAH

Train operations have been shifted from the North Tce railyards in preparation for construction of the new Royal Adelaide Hospital. Picture: Brooke Whatnall Source: The Advertiser

Premier Mike Rann said the shift, finalised today, was the start of an "exciting new chapter" in the city's history.

Commencement of construction on the North Tce railyards site, expected this year, will deal a near-fatal blow to the Liberals' proposed covered city stadium, slated for building on the same site.

Infrastructure Minister Pat Conlon is today expected to meet with AFL boss Andrew Demetriou to discuss the Adelaide Oval rebuild.

Adelaide City Council will tonight hold a confidential meeting to determine a collective position on the Oval plan.

As legal custodian of the park lands and landlord of the Oval, the council has the power to block the proposal or place strict regulations on the construction plans.

"The momentum continues to build - we have announced the SA Health Partnership consortium as the preferred bidder to build the new hospital and work is well underway on the adjacent South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute," he said.

"Site works for the brand new Royal Adelaide Hospital will begin this year."

The Opposition remains critical of the project, claiming cost blowouts are likely and reconstruction of the existing RAH in the city's east would allow more money to be spent on regional and suburban hospitals.

Health Minister John Hill said moving rail operations away from North Terrace means remediation of the site can proceed uninterrupted and the new RAH remained on track to be delivered by 2016.

Mr Rann today said the new Dry Creek train depot was open for business after maintenance crews, equipment and full train operations took two weeks to move from the old railyards.

"The network is being upgraded with new track, electrification and new stations so it's fantastic that our operations and maintenance facility is just as modern and functional," he said.

Mr Rann said the $1.4 billion desalination plant, new RAH and the $2.6 billion public transport overhaul were "flagships" of the state's "record breaking" infrastructure investment.

"Over the next four years we are rolling out a $10.7 billion capital investment program to make sure South Australia continues to be the best place in Australia to live, work and do business," Mr Rann said.