Tram drivers will walk off the job for the entire day tomorrow, after rejecting the latest pay offer from private operator Torrens Connect.

No tram services will run at all, with Adelaide Metro working on “arranging as many substitute buses as possible”.

We are working to limit the impact to passengers, including arranging as many substitute buses as possible.

Please plan ahead and consider using alternative public transport options.

More info will be provided here and on the Adelaide Metro website as soon as it is available.

— Adelaide Metro (@AdelaideMetroSA) September 9, 2023

Substitute buses will operate between Glenelg and the Entertainment Centre approximately every 7-10 minutes during morning and evening peak periods, and every 15-20 minutes in off-peak times. These replacement services will run “in close vicinity of the tram line”.

There will be no substitute services along the Botanic Gardens line.

More details about bus stop locations will be available on the Adelaide Metro website.

“As capacity on substitute buses is lower than on normal tram services, customers are encouraged to plan ahead and consider other alternative transport arrangements if possible, including catching regular bus services, trains, or organising a lift with family or friends,” Adelaide Metro said.

“Passengers are also being made aware of this disruption to services with signage at tram stops and Torrens Connect staff will be present across the network tomorrow.

“Adelaide Metro thanks all customers for their patience and apologises for the inconvenience caused by this industrial action.”

Other alternative Adelaide Metro options for tram commuters include:

The latest, longest strike came after drivers last week rejected the latest “improved” pay offer from Torrens Connect, and follows three shorter strikes in the past month.

Last week, Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) SA/NT secretary Darren Phillips said workers decided to escalate the situation as the latest offer was “still well short of their demand for a pay rise that reflects the increasing cost of living”.

“The fact is that these workers are on a relatively low base pay rate of $67,000 a year, and inflation has been eroding the value of their pay year after year,” Phillips said.

“They are fed up, and they do not want to keep going backwards.

“A 24-hour stoppage is a serious action for our members to take, and they understand the disruption that it will cause to travellers.”

The RTBU had previously threatened to turn off ticket validators on trams from Wednesday as part of the industrial action, but that element has since been withdrawn and passengers will be expected to pay to ride.

Travellers are encouraged to check the Adelaide Metro website and social media for updates on the substitute buses.