TRAINS carted grain through the northern Mallee for the last time in late July, ending a century-long history of rail in the region.
Local Member for Chaffey Tim Whetstone said it was the "end of an era", after the contract between sole rail user Viterra and rail operator Genesee & Wyoming Australia expired.
"GWA have nothing in the pipeline to replace the loss of Viterra as a customer, and no customers means no trains," he said.
"And unless we have 250,000 tonnes of grain on those lines, they are not viable."
Mr Whetstone said he had met with Transport and Infrastructure Minister Stephen Mullighan a number of times already, and again last week, to lobby for extra road funding for the Mallee, with thousands of extra truck movements expected on the Karoonda and Mallee highways.
"Plus they also have to consider the Pinnaroo to Bordertown road and the Pinnaroo to Loxton road," he said.
"All are in a disgraceful condition. This isn't just about upgrading roads - it's about road safety, we can't just wait around for accidents to happen.
"Increased truck numbers are only going to make it worse this harvest."
The state government allocated $2.3 million to fix parts of the Karoonda Highway late last year, which Mr Whetstone believes came about when Mr Mullighan drove the road himself.
"That's why I have invited the minister to drive the Mallee Highway," he said.
"He can gain a better understanding of just how bad the roads are there as well.
"I will be lobbying hard, as will Member for Barker Tony Pasin and Senator Anne Ruston, to get some momentum.
"The SA government is too focused on Adelaide's needs and is showing little regard for the regions."
In response, Mr Mullighan said he toured the roads in the Mallee region months ago.
"Mr Whetstone has been vastly overstating the situation in the Mallee," he said.
"His claim that there will be 14,000 extra truck movements is more than four times the 3000 or so expected by Viterra."
