News & Discussion: Adelaide Metro Trains

[Kasey771]

When electrification was first announced in 2008 all the metropolitan lines were to be converted to standard gauge by 2013 and all new work since then has used dual gauge sleepers. if this is done we would not have 2 single lines between Adelaide and Belair then trains could return to Bridgewater and extend to Mount Barker. It is all a question of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

With the recent growth in population of Mt Barker, perhaps the focus of any case for extending the Belair line once again to Mt.Barker should focus on all of the cars such a move would take off the SE Freeway during morning peak..ie make it a safety case rather than a purely $$ case??

[Norman]

Currently the bus takes an hour in peak hour to get from Mount Barker to the city. The train would take at least 75 minutes on the current track, but probably closer to 90 minutes. At the moment it's not viable.

This idea come up every few months, is been done to death.

[Torrens_5022]

Mount Barker is 33km from Adelaide via road, 53min on a T840, the train station is 55km to ARS, Belair is 21.5km and takes a minimum of 37mins, assuming both lines are in use and you run express and you get it down to to 32min, it will still take 80min to Mt Barker, the track is very windy and hilly and the train is going to average 40 to 50km/h. It's just not worth it the cost is insane and it takes 50% longer in travel time then an express bus, why not just run an express bus every 20min and an all stops every 20min, giving a bus every 10min during interpeak?

[Norman]

Mount Barker is 33km from Adelaide via road, 53min on a T840, the train station is 55km to ARS, Belair is 21.5km and takes a minimum of 37mins, assuming both lines are in use and you run express and you get it down to to 32min, it will still take 80min to Mt Barker, the track is very windy and hilly and the train is going to average 40 to 50km/h. It's just not worth it the cost is insane and it takes 50% longer in travel time then an express bus, why not just run an express bus every 20min and an all stops every 20min, giving a bus every 10min during interpeak?

A bus every 10 minutes from Mount Barker would definitely be overkill. At most, an express bus every 30 minutes and the local Hills bus also every 30 minutes. The frequency on Sundays should definitely be doubled though (up from hourly).

[Torrens_5022]

Yeah 10min currently is probably overkill, but compared to a train service it's pretty timid. It's more like a 864F every 20mins and a T840 every 20min, The service will be used. You could add a third route that goes a different way like a Nairne via Mt barker so you have three services each every 30 mins

[rhino]

You could add a third route that goes a different way like a Nairne via Mt barker so you have three services each every 30 mins

That route would be the T842 which already exists

[mattwinter]

I'm no expert here, but I remember travelling on the Overland and being surprised at how quickly we went from the hills through to the city. I wonder if you had an express Mt Barker -> Blackwood -> Mitcham -> City service, or something like that, if it could be done faster? Especially if you're using Electric trains. At least fast enough to be quicker than the busses...

Agreed that it wouldn't be worth thinking about unless Freight is first moved to the North. Then you'd have 2 tracks to belair, and plenty of sections with 3 tracks to allow express trains to overtake.

[PeFe]

New ticket gates at Salisbury Railway Station

New ticket gates have been installed at the Salisbury Railway Station and will be operational from Monday 11 September 2017 as part of a $2.1 million package to reduce fare evasion which costs the public transport network millions of dollars each year.

The ticket validation gates are similar to those in operation at the Adelaide Railway Station, where passengers will need to swipe their metroCARD or validate their Metroticket to gain access to and from the platform.
New MetroCard ticketing systems have also been installed on the platform along with enhanced passenger information systems and measures to improve safety at the station, which is one of Adelaide Metro’s busiest.
Improvements include new closed circuit TV cameras, improved lighting, new fencing and a new footpath to improve accessibility between the station entrance and the northern footpath.
Sliding gates have been installed next to the ticket validation gates to provide an alternative access point for people with prams, wheelchairs and other mobility devices, or for use in an emergency.
Security and safety patrols will be increased at adjacent railway stations to guard against passengers who try to avoid the ticket gates by disembarking just before or after the Salisbury interchange.

http://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/Announc ... ay-Station

[rhino]

I wonder if you had an express Mt Barker -> Blackwood -> Mitcham -> City service, or something like that, if it could be done faster? Especially if you're using Electric trains. At least fast enough to be quicker than the busses...

Currently it takes as long to get from Hahndorf, Bridgewater or Aldgate to the city as it does from Mount Barker on the 840X or a T840.
By making the train an express from Mt Barker you would be spending a lot of money to ignore the people along the route.
I'm a train advocate, but some places are better served by busses, due to their particular circumstances. You would need an huge population in Mount Barker, I'm talking 100,000 people, travelling daily to Adelaide, to justify the enormous cost of getting suburban trains there.

[claybro]

Alternatively, instead of the endless urban sprawl, put some major effort into upgrading employment, services and infrastructure in Murray Bridge. Re start the Murray Bridge service, and have it stop at Mount Barker, and maybe Belair to connect to suburban trains. MT Barker could easily double in population, and Murray Bridge realistically has no restriction on development land available. Just a thought. Similar to how Ballarat had boomed since connection to Melbourne via fast rail.

[rhino]

Alternatively, instead of the endless urban sprawl, put some major effort into upgrading employment, services and infrastructure in Murray Bridge. Re start the Murray Bridge service, and have it stop at Mount Barker, and maybe Belair to connect to suburban trains. MT Barker could easily double in population, and Murray Bridge realistically has no restriction on development land available. Just a thought. Similar to how Ballarat had boomed since connection to Melbourne via fast rail.

I like your thinking. One way for the Government to support this idea would be to subsidize the freight for manufacturing companies that shift to regional areas. With abundant land available at cheaper prices, it would be worthwhile for many companies to move to regional areas, if they can get their product to market at reasonable cost. These businesses would be a catalyst for growth - workers have families, who need services. Those service providers have families, who need more services, etc. and we could end up with regional centres with 10,000 population every 100km or so, which would make regional passenger transport more viable.

[Norman]

Alternatively, instead of the endless urban sprawl, put some major effort into upgrading employment, services and infrastructure in Murray Bridge. Re start the Murray Bridge service, and have it stop at Mount Barker, and maybe Belair to connect to suburban trains. MT Barker could easily double in population, and Murray Bridge realistically has no restriction on development land available. Just a thought. Similar to how Ballarat had boomed since connection to Melbourne via fast rail.

Hmm, you say you want to end suburban sprawl, but actively encourage unlimited growth around Murray Bridge?

[Goodsy]

Alternatively, instead of the endless urban sprawl, put some major effort into upgrading employment, services and infrastructure in Murray Bridge. Re start the Murray Bridge service, and have it stop at Mount Barker, and maybe Belair to connect to suburban trains. MT Barker could easily double in population, and Murray Bridge realistically has no restriction on development land available. Just a thought. Similar to how Ballarat had boomed since connection to Melbourne via fast rail.

I like your thinking. One way for the Government to support this idea would be to subsidize the freight for manufacturing companies that shift to regional areas. With abundant land available at cheaper prices, it would be worthwhile for many companies to move to regional areas, if they can get their product to market at reasonable cost. These businesses would be a catalyst for growth - workers have families, who need services. Those service providers have families, who need more services, etc. and we could end up with regional centres with 10,000 population every 100km or so, which would make regional passenger transport more viable.

Ballarat is still over an hour away by V/Line, that's Clare distance. Murray Bridge might as well be another suburb of Adelaide

[Hooligan]

New ticket gates at Salisbury Railway Station

New ticket gates have been installed at the Salisbury Railway Station and will be operational from Monday 11 September 2017 as part of a $2.1 million package to reduce fare evasion which costs the public transport network millions of dollars each year.

The ticket validation gates are similar to those in operation at the Adelaide Railway Station, where passengers will need to swipe their metroCARD or validate their Metroticket to gain access to and from the platform.
New MetroCard ticketing systems have also been installed on the platform along with enhanced passenger information systems and measures to improve safety at the station, which is one of Adelaide Metro’s busiest.
Improvements include new closed circuit TV cameras, improved lighting, new fencing and a new footpath to improve accessibility between the station entrance and the northern footpath.
Sliding gates have been installed next to the ticket validation gates to provide an alternative access point for people with prams, wheelchairs and other mobility devices, or for use in an emergency.
Security and safety patrols will be increased at adjacent railway stations to guard against passengers who try to avoid the ticket gates by disembarking just before or after the Salisbury interchange.

http://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/Announc ... ay-Station

Although I think this is a great idea, will you still need to validate your ticket once you get on the train like you do at ARS?

[Norman]

Although I think this is a great idea, will you still need to validate your ticket once you get on the train like you do at ARS?

Yes