Photo: Adelaide Metro passengers, Jody Olsson and Tiffany Hathazi
The festive season is officially upon us, bringing with it shopping sprees, Christmas parties, and unfortunately, a rise in lost belongings on Adelaide’s public transport network.
This year, Adelaide Metro has recorded over 57 million passenger trips across its trains, trams, and buses, with approximately 605 train services, 420 tram services, and 9,000 bus services operating daily. Amidst this hustle and bustle, it’s easy to see how belongings can be left behind.
A spokesperson for Adelaide Metro, Michelle Spagnoletti, said, “The Adelaide Metro team work very hard every day to transport tens of thousands of passengers across our network, and part of that job is helping reunite customers with their lost belongings.”
And what a collection of lost belongings it is! From the everyday essentials like MetroCARDS, wallets, and mobile phones to the more unusual items such as musical instruments, prams, and even whipper snippers, Adelaide Metro has seen it all. In total, a staggering 14,000 items were left behind on Adelaide’s public transport network this year.
“So far this year, we have found more than 14,000 lost items across the Adelaide Metro network,” Ms. Spagnoletti confirmed. “While it can be a thankless task, it is a very rewarding moment when we are able to reunite a sentimental or personal item with its owner.”
The Morphettville Bus Depot has taken the lead in lost property storage, housing close to 2,400 items this year. Each depot’s storage room is a veritable treasure trove of lost property, with items of all shapes and sizes waiting to be reclaimed.
Among the top five most common finds for 2024 were MetroCARDS (1440), wallets (1164), mobile phones (818), drink bottles (536), and umbrellas (492). Interestingly, money was also a frequent find, with one wallet containing $950 being swiftly returned to its grateful owner.
For those who have experienced the panic of losing an item on public transport, passenger Jody Olsson shares a heartwarming story of lost and found. “We cannot say enough about the amazing help in locating our lost bag on the bus and the customer service that we received from the whole team involved,” Ms. Olsson said. “My client was very relieved when I reported back to her that her backpack was found and her very expensive hearing aids were still inside.”
Ms. Spagnoletti echoed this sentiment, stating, “When you hear a story like Jody’s it is a true testament to the dedicated public transport team that go above and beyond to reunite precious items to grateful customers.”
Ms. Olsson added, “It can be a very stressful time when you accidentally leave something on public transport. Luckily there are still wonderful people in our society that are honest enough not to take someone’s personal property. The Adelaide Metro team are an amazing group of people that went out of their way to be so helpful and polite.”
To avoid your belongings ending up in a depot storage room, Adelaide Metro has some simple tips for passengers:
- Be mindful of your belongings: When disembarking, take a moment to scan your surroundings and ensure you haven’t left anything behind.
- Keep valuables close: Store valuable items such as wallets, phones, and keys in a secure bag or pocket.
- Label your belongings: Adding a tag with your name and contact information can significantly increase the chances of your items being returned.
If you do happen to lose an item on Adelaide Metro, you can report it online or by calling 1300 311 108. Providing as much detail as possible, including a photo, can greatly assist staff in locating your item.
“We want to remind all passengers to keep an eye on their belongings over this busy festive season, making sure their gifts end up under the tree and not at our depots,” Ms. Spagnoletti said.
So, as you navigate the festive season, remember these tips and help ensure your belongings stay with you, not at a depot.
