News & Discussion: Adelaide Metro Trains

[claybro]

This all looks like positive stuff if it actually comes to fruition. A couple of things though. Better integration of rail with other modes of transport is more about the other modes.. than the rail itself. (It is easier to get buses to change to meet train running as they are more flexible). Also speeding up of services. We all agree that trains in Adelaide are painfully slow, with running stock designed for speeds up to 130 km/h... trundling along at 60-70/h. One wonders if this is a track/station placing issue, or the current operator. Maybe tighter scheduling is possible with higher speed, less frequent or alternate stopping patterns. It will be interesting to see what the new operator comes up with, and how much the existing system constrains them.

[SBD]

Hopefully a three-car electric set is enough to address capacity issues that arise in morning and evening peaks before and after Mawson Lakes, which is easily the most heavily patronised station on the line. Most passengers can get a seat before there, but after, it is not possible.

I always laugh when I see this; head to London in which if you travelled from the otter suburbs into the centre of town, which could take over 20mins, you’ll be lucky to get a seat.

At most you stand for 20mins, it’s a service that makes sure you get to town, it never says you’ll always get a seat.

London?! Even in Perth it is rare to get a seat on the train during peak. Once again, you can stand for 30 odd minutes on the train, or crawl along the exact same route on the freeway in your car for up to an hour, then pay exorbitant carparking at the city end.

The new trains are specified as 240 seated, up to 300 standing, so it is expected that half the passengers don’t get a seat.

[ChillyPhilly]

I always laugh when I see this; head to London in which if you travelled from the otter suburbs into the centre of town, which could take over 20mins, you’ll be lucky to get a seat.

At most you stand for 20mins, it’s a service that makes sure you get to town, it never says you’ll always get a seat.

London?! Even in Perth it is rare to get a seat on the train during peak. Once again, you can stand for 30 odd minutes on the train, or crawl along the exact same route on the freeway in your car for up to an hour, then pay exorbitant carparking at the city end.

The new trains are specified as 240 seated, up to 300 standing, so it is expected that half the passengers don’t get a seat.

I should clarify that it's not about 'getting a seat', but that - for whatever the reason - these services are unnecessarily packed after one station.

[Llessur2002]

Am on a single car train to Outer Harbour - I knew they were running these on the Grange line but it's a first for me on the OH line. More Lib cuts I guess...

[Mr Messy]

Yeah they run single cars at night on the Belair line too

[SBD]

Am on a single car train to Outer Harbour - I knew they were running these on the Grange line but it's a first for me on the OH line. More Lib cuts I guess...

How full was it, and how long until the next one?I 'd rather catch frequent trains than large trains if it's choice.

[ralmin]

Rather they run one car every half hour than two cars every hour.

[Spotto]

Am on a single car train to Outer Harbour - I knew they were running these on the Grange line but it's a first for me on the OH line. More Lib cuts I guess...

How full was it, and how long until the next one?I 'd rather catch frequent trains than large trains if it's choice.

Timetable hasn’t changed since the January revision, trains are still running every half hour on both lines past Woodville. The shared Woodville-to-City section varies between every 15 and 25 minutes

[NTRabbit]

This all looks like positive stuff if it actually comes to fruition. A couple of things though. Better integration of rail with other modes of transport is more about the other modes.. than the rail itself. (It is easier to get buses to change to meet train running as they are more flexible). Also speeding up of services. We all agree that trains in Adelaide are painfully slow, with running stock designed for speeds up to 130 km/h... trundling along at 60-70/h. One wonders if this is a track/station placing issue, or the current operator. Maybe tighter scheduling is possible with higher speed, less frequent or alternate stopping patterns. It will be interesting to see what the new operator comes up with, and how much the existing system constrains them.

In reality, what will happen is that the cost to the passenger goes up, the cost to the taxpayer goes up, and the service in both quantity and quality goes down.