I think it would be worth planning the route and possibly some land acquisitionrubberman wrote:Not to enter the debate, but if the Libs get in, and they keep their promise, there's a couple of years arguing for funding. Then comes; environmental approvals, surveys, land purchases, geological investigations, concept and detailed design. Five years? More like ten, realistically. Then, there's probably five years to build it.Mr Messy wrote: ↑Thu Feb 08, 2018 10:12 amNot yet while the current line still has some capacity.omada wrote:I can't see the merit in spending upwards of $1 billion to reroute via Murray Bridge, as the Libs have recently proposed. Even so, it would be great if it happened, then we could use the old railway as a dedicated bikeway
A better option would be to re-duplicate the Belair line
So, any capacity excess on the present Hills Line needs to serve for fifteen years. Is the excess that much?
If not, then the Liberal proposal has a lot of merit.
In any case, it would be much cheaper to do the planning, environmental approvals, surveying, final route selection and property purchase now (with rentals back to landowners in the meantime), so it's ready to go. Shovel ready.
In fact, it would be smart to have several big projects "shovel ready". If there's a big economic slump, having projects all ready to go avoids pink batts.
News & Discussion: Adelaide Metro Trains
Re: U/C: Electrification & Upgrade of the Adelaide Rail Network
Re: U/C: Electrification & Upgrade of the Adelaide Rail Network
When the idea of a rail freight route around the hills was first mooted about five years ago, ARTC looked into the capacity of the current alignment and came to the conclusion that, with a few relatively minor works (as compared to the cost of building the new route), the current alignment would cope for the next 25 to 30 years. The new crossing loop at Ambleside that was built about 4 years ago has already increased the capacity of the line. Considering the current railway land is already owned, I suspect that double-tracking the existing freight route would still be cheaper than creating a new one. This would allow the route to cope for many more decades, and who knows what technology will have in store for us then?
cheers,
Rhino
Rhino
Re: U/C: Electrification & Upgrade of the Adelaide Rail Network
Do the requirements to not double-stack containers and to use additional locomotives due to the gradients involved get counted as part of "capacity"? They constrain the operations on the route, including at the termini.rhino wrote: ↑Thu Feb 08, 2018 11:45 amWhen the idea of a rail freight route around the hills was first mooted about five years ago, ARTC looked into the capacity of the current alignment and came to the conclusion that, with a few relatively minor works (as compared to the cost of building the new route), the current alignment would cope for the next 25 to 30 years. The new crossing loop at Ambleside that was built about 4 years ago has already increased the capacity of the line. Considering the current railway land is already owned, I suspect that double-tracking the existing freight route would still be cheaper than creating a new one. This would allow the route to cope for many more decades, and who knows what technology will have in store for us then?
Double-stacking containers is often seen as an issue that could be solved by digging the tunnel and bridge floors a bit deeper. I imagine that is part of the issue, but is the load on the coupler immediately behind the locomotive going uphill also a consideration? Doubling the weight of the train has to have engineering implications as well as physical space.
-
- Super Size Scraper Poster!
- Posts: 2436
- Joined: Tue Mar 05, 2013 4:41 pm
- Location: Adelaide CBD, SA
Re: U/C: Electrification & Upgrade of the Adelaide Rail Network
The sad reality is that the Belair Line will never benefit from further investment along this corridor. As far as the Feds are concerned, freight along this route takes priority over metro trains. Now if this were Victoria or NSW, I'm sure you'd find the Feds cheque book would be a lot easier to get our hands on but unfortunately we're just little old Adelaide where every fix can simply be a half-fix.SBD wrote: ↑Thu Feb 08, 2018 12:10 pmDo the requirements to not double-stack containers and to use additional locomotives due to the gradients involved get counted as part of "capacity"? They constrain the operations on the route, including at the termini.rhino wrote: ↑Thu Feb 08, 2018 11:45 amWhen the idea of a rail freight route around the hills was first mooted about five years ago, ARTC looked into the capacity of the current alignment and came to the conclusion that, with a few relatively minor works (as compared to the cost of building the new route), the current alignment would cope for the next 25 to 30 years. The new crossing loop at Ambleside that was built about 4 years ago has already increased the capacity of the line. Considering the current railway land is already owned, I suspect that double-tracking the existing freight route would still be cheaper than creating a new one. This would allow the route to cope for many more decades, and who knows what technology will have in store for us then?
Double-stacking containers is often seen as an issue that could be solved by digging the tunnel and bridge floors a bit deeper. I imagine that is part of the issue, but is the load on the coupler immediately behind the locomotive going uphill also a consideration? Doubling the weight of the train has to have engineering implications as well as physical space.
Re: U/C: Electrification & Upgrade of the Adelaide Rail Network
Double-stacking does not double the weight of the train. I'm pretty certain that in most cases the weight of the wagon is greater than the weight of a loaded container. Adding another container to a wagon is not going to double the total weight on the rails of that wagon. Anyway, locos are rated as to what total weight they can pull along a specific route, depending on the weight (influencing traction) of the loco and the steepness of the route.SBD wrote: ↑Thu Feb 08, 2018 12:10 pmDouble-stacking containers is often seen as an issue that could be solved by digging the tunnel and bridge floors a bit deeper. I imagine that is part of the issue, but is the load on the coupler immediately behind the locomotive going uphill also a consideration? Doubling the weight of the train has to have engineering implications as well as physical space.
Also don't forget that it's not just the tunnels in the Adelaide Hills that is stopping double stacking on this route. There are some low bridges in Melbourne and one or two in rural Victoria that are also in the way.
cheers,
Rhino
Rhino
Re: U/C: Electrification & Upgrade of the Adelaide Rail Network
Maybe there could be a way to get the freight line to run parallel with Brown Hill Creek from Mitcham station to Mount Lofty station. 3 or 4 tunnels may be required to do so, so maybe the Premier could talk to Elon Musk about getting the Boring Company involved. A new passenger line could be run with this which would drastically cut the travel times up to the hills and make a Mount Barker line a viable (in terms of travel time) transport alternative. I guess it would cost a few billion dollars though.
Re: U/C: Electrification & Upgrade of the Adelaide Rail Network
New Croydon station nearing completion (City-bound).
- Llessur2002
- Super Size Scraper Poster!
- Posts: 2073
- Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2014 4:59 pm
- Location: Inner West
Re: U/C: Electrification & Upgrade of the Adelaide Rail Network
A couple more of Croydon Station - the city bound shelter from a different angle and the permanent tactile paving going down.
Last edited by Llessur2002 on Mon Feb 19, 2018 8:53 am, edited 2 times in total.
Re: U/C: Electrification & Upgrade of the Adelaide Rail Network
I don’t have pics but they are also refurbishing all Grange line stations. Grange is complete as is Albert Park. Seaton is being worked on, and not quite sure on the status is East Grange.
Re: U/C: Electrification & Upgrade of the Adelaide Rail Network
East Grange is currently receiving a new shelter similar to the others on the Grange line, should be finished within a few weeks by the look of it.
Re: U/C: Electrification & Upgrade of the Adelaide Rail Network
Would this kind in investment in the line suggest they don’t plan to close it? Would new shelters of this nature prevent it from becoming light rail?
Last edited by Mpol03 on Sun Feb 18, 2018 11:34 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: U/C: Electrification & Upgrade of the Adelaide Rail Network
The new shelters are very modular and cheap. They can easily be packed up and moved to another station on the network.
- Llessur2002
- Super Size Scraper Poster!
- Posts: 2073
- Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2014 4:59 pm
- Location: Inner West
Re: U/C: Electrification & Upgrade of the Adelaide Rail Network
Can't get around the paywall any more and I'll be buggered if I'm putting any money in Murdoch's pocket...
Re: U/C: Electrification & Upgrade of the Adelaide Rail Network
Actually, they are rebuilding the Clovelly Park station a few metres south, and renaming it Tonsley. This paper has no idea.
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: Semrush [Bot] and 51 guests