SA train drivers to strike next week

Adelaide's trains will stop for about four hours next week as drivers meet over a pay dispute.

The stop-work meeting will halt trains from about 10am on September 14 but won't disrupt early morning peak-hour services.

Services are expected to resume shortly after the meeting finishes at 2pm.

Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan says free train travel will be provided on September 15 to make up for recent disruptions caused by the ongoing negotiations with rail workers.

"It is always incredibly frustrating when our public transport services are disrupted and we apologise for the inconvenience that causes for our passengers," he said on Tuesday.

"A free day of train travel is one way of making it up to our passengers."

Rail workers had planned to strike during Adelaide's final AFL home game last month but called it off at the last minute after talks with the government.

Mr Mullighan said enterprise agreement negotiations were progressing well and the Rail, Tram and Bus Union had agreed not to disrupt the Royal Adelaide Show or the Crows' AFL elimination final at Adelaide Oval on Thursday.

The union has argued that train drivers and controllers, station staff and ticket inspectors deserve better wages and conditions after going more than two years without a pay rise.

The South Australian opposition said the strike would further damage public confidence in the reliability of the rail system.

"It's less than two weeks since the last industrial action inconvenienced commuters and just over four months since the Seaford line shut down for two days as a result of an electrical fault," transport spokesman David Pisoni said.

"The repeated strikes and faults plaguing Adelaide's rail network have resulted in a travelling public wary of relying on trains."