South Australia
Rail & bus pay — current classifications, rates, penalties & allowances
Roles & Wages
| Role | Pay Point | Jan 2024 | Jan 2025 | Jan 2026 | Jan 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Train Driver Rail Operations Full-time weekly base rate for Suburban Train Drivers, progressing from Trainee to Mainline. Drivers are also paid an individually calculated aggregate wage on top of this base (see notes); the legacy pay point applies to pre-13 May 1990 Australian National transferees, paid 9% more (cl 21.26). | Trainee | $59,741.79 | $61,533.71 | $63,379.89 | $64,964.19 |
| Intermediate | $72,667.12 | $74,847.17 | $77,092.42 | $79,019.98 | |
| Trainee Mainline | $79,132.66 | $81,506.77 | $83,951.82 | $86,051 | |
| Mainline 1st Year | $84,389.5 | $86,921.14 | $89,528.43 | $91,766.91 | |
| Mainline (Thereafter) | $86,155.34 | $88,740.2 | $91,402.26 | $93,687.68 | |
| Mainline — pre-13 May 1990 (legacy) | $93,985.03 | $96,804.64 | $99,708.76 | $102,201.8 | |
Train Driver Trainer Rail Operations Weekly base rate for drivers delivering driver training. The legacy pay point applies to pre-13 May 1990 Australian National transferees, paid 9% more (cl 21.26). | After 13 May 1990 | $91,084.57 | $93,817.06 | $96,631.45 | $99,047.29 |
| Before 13 May 1990 (legacy) | $99,299.77 | $102,279.01 | $105,347.45 | $107,980.83 | |
Operations Coordinator Rail Operations Weekly base rate. The legacy pay point applies to pre-13 May 1990 Australian National transferees, paid 9% more (cl 21.26). | After 13 May 1990 | $91,084.57 | $93,817.06 | $96,631.45 | $99,047.29 |
| Before 13 May 1990 (legacy) | $99,299.77 | $102,279.01 | $105,347.45 | $107,980.83 | |
Senior Driver Rail Operations Weekly base rate; Senior Drivers are also paid an aggregate wage as agreed between the parties (cl 21.13.6). The legacy pay point applies to pre-13 May 1990 Australian National transferees, paid 9% more (cl 21.26). | After 13 May 1990 | $96,597.54 | $99,495.4 | $102,480.37 | $105,042.28 |
| Before 13 May 1990 (legacy) | $105,298.42 | $108,457.63 | $111,711.27 | $114,503.75 | |
Platform Coordinator Rail Operations Weekly base rate, progressing by year of service. From this agreement the suburban passenger service working allowance is folded into these rates rather than paid separately. | Trainee | $60,208.68 | $62,014.69 | $63,874.95 | $65,472.3 |
| 1st Year | $63,041.85 | $64,932.89 | $66,880.8 | $68,553.26 | |
| After 1st Year | $63,718.45 | $65,629.84 | $67,598.61 | $69,288.81 | |
| After 2nd Year | $66,521.89 | $68,517.79 | $70,573.15 | $72,337.43 | |
Passenger Service Assistant Rail Operations Weekly base rate, progressing by year of service. From this agreement the suburban passenger service working allowance is folded into these rates rather than paid separately. | Trainee | $57,265.96 | $58,984.33 | $60,753.82 | $62,272.39 |
| 1st Year | $66,490.07 | $68,484.92 | $70,539.77 | $72,303 | |
| After 1st Year | $67,137.98 | $69,151.61 | $71,226.28 | $73,007.25 | |
| After 2nd Year | $67,816.15 | $69,850.65 | $71,946.18 | $73,744.89 | |
Senior Passenger Service Assistant Rail Operations Weekly base rate, progressing by year of service. From this agreement the suburban passenger service working allowance is folded into these rates; approved plain-clothes revenue-protection work attracts a separate per-occasion allowance. | 1st Year | $72,289.96 | $74,458.53 | $76,692.3 | $78,609.95 |
| After 1st Year | $72,970.21 | $75,159.65 | $77,414.29 | $79,349.67 | |
| After 2nd Year | $73,577.95 | $75,785.13 | $78,059.07 | $80,010.63 | |
Network Operations Supervisor Rail Operations Support Weekly base rate (Schedule 3), progressing by year of service. Schedule 3 rates are inclusive of the Fair Work Commission decision in RTBU v Rail Commissioner [2014] FWC 53. | 1st Year | $86,159.51 | $88,743.85 | $91,406.43 | $93,691.33 |
| After 1st Year | $88,165.84 | $90,810.69 | $93,534.83 | $95,873.47 | |
| After 2nd Year | $90,140.87 | $92,845.19 | $95,630.37 | $98,021.17 | |
Shift Coordinator Rail Operations Support Weekly base rate (Schedule 3), progressing by year of service. | 1st Year | $85,326.41 | $87,886.23 | $90,522.73 | $92,785.72 |
| After 1st Year | $87,314.48 | $89,933.77 | $92,631.83 | $94,947.51 | |
| After 2nd Year | $89,268.12 | $91,946.36 | $94,704.41 | $97,072.26 | |
Operations Controller Rail Operations Support Weekly base rate (Schedule 3), progressing from Trainee and Intermediate to Qualified yearly steps. | Trainee | $86,991.05 | $89,600.95 | $92,288.57 | $94,595.9 |
| Intermediate | $97,024.78 | $99,935.68 | $102,933.7 | $105,507.08 | |
| Qualified 1st Year | $112,403 | $115,775.05 | $119,248.31 | $122,229.63 | |
| Qualified After 1st Year | $115,846.52 | $119,321.86 | $122,901.54 | $125,974.15 | |
| Qualified After 2nd Year | $119,297.34 | $122,875.98 | $126,562.59 | $129,726.5 | |
Shift Manager Rail Operations Support Weekly base rate (Schedule 3), progressing by year of service — the most senior Rail Operations Support classification. | 1st Year | $124,075.81 | $127,797.9 | $131,631.63 | $134,922.3 |
| After 1st Year | $127,692.52 | $131,523.64 | $135,469.01 | $138,856.19 | |
| After 2nd Year | $131,122.48 | $135,056.37 | $139,107.63 | $142,585.59 | |
| After 3rd Year | $134,684.42 | $138,724.73 | $142,886.59 | $146,458.96 |
Allowances
| Allowance | Unit | Jan 2024 | Mar 2024 | Jan 2025 | May 2025 | Jan 2026 | Jan 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Equipment Allowance — Senior Driver / Operations Coordinator (S2.2) Annual allowance for equipment used in duties, paid in the last full pay period of the financial year. Adjusted annually by CPI rather than the wage schedule; only the 31 March 2024 baseline is published in the agreement. | Per annum | — | $307.82 | — | — | — | — |
Equipment Allowance — Suburban Train Driver Mainline / Intermediate (S2.2) CPI-adjusted annually; 31 March 2024 baseline. | Per annum | — | $295.23 | — | — | — | — |
Equipment Allowance — Suburban Train Driver Trainee (S2.2) CPI-adjusted annually; 31 March 2024 baseline. | Per annum | — | $275.65 | — | — | — | — |
Equipment Allowance — Passenger Service Assistant / Senior PSA (S2.2) CPI-adjusted annually; 31 March 2024 baseline. | Per annum | — | $209.90 | — | — | — | — |
Equipment Allowance — Platform Coordinator (S2.2) CPI-adjusted annually; 31 March 2024 baseline. | Per annum | — | $141.32 | — | — | — | — |
Coupling/Uncoupling Allowance (S2.3) Confined-space and dirty-work allowance for a Platform Coordinator coupling/uncoupling 2000/2100-class railcars at Adelaide Railway Station platforms. | Per shift | $1.80 | — | $1.86 | — | $1.91 | $1.96 |
Suburban Passenger Service Working Allowance (S2.4) Paid to employees required to undertake safe-working activities on suburban train services. From this agreement it is no longer paid separately to PSAs, Senior PSAs or Platform Coordinators — it is folded into their weekly rates — and continues only for other eligible employees. | Per shift | $4.64 | — | $4.77 | — | $4.92 | $5.04 |
Train Operations Employee Training Allowance (S2.5) When delivering competency-based training or formal assessment of other employees (distinct from mentoring/coaching). The agreement prints the 2027 amount as a per-shift figure; every other year in the same schedule is per hour. | Per hour | $3.75 | — | $3.86 | — | $3.98 | $4.08 |
First Aid Allowance (S2.7) For employees trained and currently qualified (e.g. St John Ambulance) who are required to perform first aid duty. | Per week | $19.43 | — | $20.01 | — | $20.61 | $21.12 |
Meal Allowance (S2.13 / S4.3) Where an employee works more than 2 hours of overtime on a day they were not notified of by the previous day. Same figures for Rail Operations and Rail Operations Support employees. | Per occasion | $19.31 | — | $19.89 | — | $20.49 | $21.00 |
Senior PSA Plain Clothes Allowance (S2.14) New in the 2025 agreement — Senior PSAs undertaking approved plain-clothes revenue-protection operations, per approved occasion worked. Rate steps follow the standard schedule; the allowance is payable from the agreement's commencement (8 May 2025). | Per occasion | $9.66 | — | $9.95 | — | $10.25 | $10.51 |
On Call Allowance — Monday to Friday (S4.1) Rail Operations Support employees rostered on call on a weeknight (excluding public holidays). Recall to duty pays overtime on top, minimum 3 hours. | Per night | $37.01 | — | $38.12 | — | $39.26 | $40.24 |
On Call Allowance — Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays (S4.1) Rail Operations Support employees rostered on call on a weekend or public holiday. Recall to duty pays overtime on top, minimum 3 hours. | Per night | $64.82 | — | $66.76 | — | $68.77 | $70.48 |
Distance Payment (S2.9) Suburban Train Drivers only: a minimum of 8 hours' pay on completing 209 km in one shift; time worked after 209 km is paid at time and a half, standing alone (not counted toward overtime). | Formula | — | — | — | Min 8 hours' pay at 209 km; 150% thereafter | — | — |
Travelling Time Allowance (S2.8) Ordinary rate for time reasonably spent travelling to/from an away-from-home-depot sign on/off, in excess of normal home-depot travel; time and a half on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Not payable while away from the home depot on expenses. | Formula | — | — | — | Ordinary rate (150% Sat/Sun/public holidays) | — | — |
Footwear Reimbursement (S2.11 / S4.6) Reimbursement (on receipt) for protective footwear where the Rail Commissioner has deemed it required — minimum $105, reviewed six-monthly through the consultative forum rather than indexed with wages. | Per occasion | — | — | — | $105.00 | — | — |
Penalty Rates
Shifts commencing between 1:01 am and 3:59 am — 15% loading on the ordinary rate. Day shifts (6:01 am to 5:00 pm) attract no loading.
All time worked on a shift commencing at or between 4:00 am and 6:00 am.
The whole shift where it finishes after 6:30 pm; where the shift does not finish after 6:30 pm, the 15% applies only to each hour worked between 5:00 pm and 6:30 pm.
A shift that signs on or off at or between 1:01 am and 3:59 am, or signs on at or after 9:00 pm and spans 1:00 am to 3:59 am — 25% of the whole shift if continuous, 15% if not continuous.
Rail Operations Support only: a Continuous Shift Worker (consecutive shifts covering 24 hours a day, 6+ consecutive days) working a night shift Monday to Friday (except public holidays) is paid 25% above the ordinary rate, in place of the clause 10 night band.
Rail Operations employees: time and a half for hours in excess of 80 per fortnight. No overtime is paid twice — the greater of the daily or fortnightly basis applies.
Ordinary shift hours beyond 8 and up to 11 at time and a half; beyond 11 hours at double time. A 10-hour rest period applies after overtime.
A shift in excess of 10 rostered shifts in the fortnight: first such shift at time and a half for the first 8 hours then double time (double time throughout if any part falls on a Saturday); subsequent overtime shifts at double time.
A shift worked other than a rostered shift: weekdays at time and a half for the first 3 hours then double time; Saturday or Sunday at double time throughout.
Time worked between midnight Friday and midnight Saturday, where not overtime and not on an overtime shift.
Time worked between midnight Saturday and midnight Sunday. An employee called up to work only on a Sunday receives at least half a day's pay (minimum 4 hours) at the Sunday rate (cl 27.5.8).
Rail Operations employees working a public holiday that would be an ordinary working day: time and a half plus one day's pay — or, on request, one day of leave — in lieu. An employee not required to work is paid 8 hours at the ordinary rate.
Double time and a half where the public holiday is not a normal working day, for work outside or in excess of normal hours, and for non-driving Operations employees for all work beyond 8 hours in a shift.
Flat double time and a half. Weekend and public-holiday penalty rates substitute for — and do not stack on — the shift-harmonisation loading for the same hours (cl 29.6.1).
Time beyond 8 hours a day or 80 hours a fortnight (whichever favours the employee): time and a half for the first 3 hours, double time thereafter. Call-back after leaving the worksite: minimum 3 hours at overtime rates plus 8 consecutive hours off before the next shift.
17.5% for day workers, 20% for shift workers. Suburban Train Drivers on the aggregate wage do not receive it separately — it is already averaged into the aggregate rate (cl 21.13.2).
Notes
- •These figures are the full-time weekly base rates in Australian dollars, exactly as printed in Schedule 1 (Rail Operations employees) and Schedule 3 (Rail Operations Support employees). The hourly rate is the weekly rate divided by 38.
- •The agreement applies base-rate increases of 3% from 1 January 2024, 3% from 1 January 2025, 3% from 1 January 2026 and 2.5% from 1 January 2027. No pre-2024 baseline is published in the agreement, so the four dated columns above are the complete printed schedule.
- •Ordinary full-time hours average 38 per week. The agreement covers Adelaide's suburban train workforce, which returned to government operation on 31 January 2025 — drivers, passenger service assistants and platform coordinators, plus support roles such as network operations supervisors, operations controllers and shift managers.
- •Employees who transferred from Australian National before 13 May 1990 and have remained continuously employed are paid 9% more than the equivalent post-1990 classification; these legacy rates are shown as separate pay points.
- •Suburban Train Drivers are paid an "aggregate wage" that averages weekend work, overtime, shift loadings, broken shifts, distance payments and leave loading into a single rate. It is recalculated for each master roster rather than published as a fixed figure, so it cannot be shown here — the driver rates above are the underlying base weekly rates.
- •Shift loadings use the clause 10 "Shift Harmonisation" model — percentages of the ordinary rate that vary by shift start and finish times (shown under Penalties) — rather than flat dollar amounts.
- •The equipment allowance is adjusted each year by CPI rather than by the wage-increase schedule; only its 31 March 2024 baseline is published in the agreement, so later CPI-adjusted amounts are not shown.
- •The agreement provides for full-time, part-time and limited-term employment only — there is no casual employment or casual loading.
- •Source: Rail Commissioner Rail Operations Enterprise Agreement 2025 (AE528828), Fair Work Commission — approved 1 May 2025, operative 8 May 2025, nominal expiry 31 December 2027.
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