News & Discussion: Adelaide Metro Trains

[ChillyPhilly]

Rejoice. Salisbury is my local station and has been for 4.5 years, so I'm pretty happy about this news.

[SBD]

Jay Weatherill's Facebook page says that Lend Lease have been signed on to do the Gawler Electrification with work to begin in weeks. Finally.

10 years after it was first proposed...It’s amazing how an impending election can get things done isn’t it?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

"First Proposed" is relative.

Move for Extension of
Rail Electrification.
As far as Gawler?
At the instigation of the Salis-
bury Development Advisory Com-
mittee, Gawler and other Council
bodies immediately north of Salis-
bury will meet next month to see
what action can be taken to per-
suade the State Government to ex-
tend electrification of the railway
system as far as Gawler.
At present the proposal is to
electrify the system to Dry Creek.

[Goodsy]

Wonder if they're going to get rid of any level crossings while they're at it

[Kasey771]

Well they've only gone to 3 elections promising to do something... you can only take people for mugs for so long.

I used to (half) joke that Jay had chosen to electrify Seaford over Gawler because of the electoral make up of that area compared to the North(which always votes Labor) ie there was no new votes in it for him. Perhaps now he's just realised that even he cant mug people off for 3 elections in a row and still count on the vote of the North? Either way I'm happy this looks like finally happening

[Norman]

Good, now let's start planning the extension under the CBD. It will allow higher frequencies on all lines due to being able to run through the CBD rather than terminating in a terminus station.

[crawf]

Good, now let's start planning the extension under the CBD. It will allow higher frequencies on all lines due to being able to run through the CBD rather than terminating in a terminus station.

The next step needs to be electrifying the Outer Harbor and Belair Lines.

Then a city loop

[[Shuz]]

Good, now let's start planning the extension under the CBD. It will allow higher frequencies on all lines due to being able to run through the CBD rather than terminating in a terminus station.

The next step needs to be electrifying the Outer Harbor and Belair Lines.

Then a city loop

Outer Harbour, yes - no doubt about it this will be the next cab off the rank after Gawler electrification is done. Too much time and money has been invested in upgrading the Outer Harbour line (level crossing removals, new station upgrades, sleeper replacement, Torrens Junction, etc.) to justify converting it to light rail.

As for Belair - I think the jury's still out on that one. They may be better off converting the line to light rail, but deviating at Mitcham Station and going down Unley Road as part of the proposed UnleyLink tram line. But that's a discussion for another thread (visions).

A City Loop is a while off yet - another two decades at least, I'd say.

[Goodsy]

I'd put money on regional lines happening before the city loop

[Patrick_27]

I think a city loops needs to happen sooner rather than later as we're now behind on every other major Australian capital with this and the longer we go without the more it will cost in the long run. That said, as it has been mentioned here there are so many rail projects that need consideration (without even mentioning trams). The first is Gawler electrification, the second is Outer Harbour and whether they keep the Grange spur line open, the next is the Belair corridor and if they move freight up north to allow for reduplication, extension and electrification of that line (at this point there seems to be a fair argument that the cost/benefit ratio is way out on that one at this point in time). Then we have regional rail and extension of the Seaford, and eventual Flinders line (to Flagstaff Hill), other new lines that could be viable and necessary. The list goes on and on. Until this state has a massive economic boom I think it's fair to say that the Feds are going to ignore most of these projects. Personally I'd also see some viability in re-opening the Northfield line, extending it and sending trains out towards Athelstone.

[prometheus2704]

Good, now let's start planning the extension under the CBD. It will allow higher frequencies on all lines due to being able to run through the CBD rather than terminating in a terminus station.

The next step needs to be electrifying the Outer Harbor and Belair Lines.

Then a city loop

I seem to recall that height of one or both of the tunnels on the Belair Line prevent electrification without substantial works to increase their height. Those costs wouldn't justify it. As extra diesel cars become available, what will stop the Belair Line getting more passengers will be the frequency of services. The passing loops currently stop that. All but a few trains into the city in the morning and back out in the evening have to stop at at least one loop.

[Norman]

An interesting idea posted on another forum was to use railcars fitted with batteries. When the train enters the tunnel, it switches to battery power until the next section with wires is reached. Could be worth looking at.

[Goodsy]

here's the official release

https://www.premier.sa.gov.au/index.php ... thin-weeks

[claybro]

Is there any harm keeping Belair as diesel, but upgrading the stations and tracks (duplication) and new railcars? I am always surprised in other countries how many local outer suburban and regional lines are still diesel-even in places like Japan, where electric everything is used including freight.
As for the priority, I think maybe focus on electrification of Gawler and OH (in whatever form that is decided) and much improvement of stations including some amalgamation. Perhaps close the Grange spur after Albert Park, but redirect it to West Lakes. Seaton, East Grange stations are a waste of space being either end of a large golf course.
Once patronage improves with the improvement in services and amenity, the loop could be the next priority. Not sure extensions to Aldinga or Flagstaff Hill should come until after the loop.

[mawsonguy]

If you read the announcement carefully you will see that it is Labor Party spin and they are only electrifying the section from Adelaide to Salisbury (Hint: they talk of Stage 1 and Stage 2). The section from Salisbury to Gawler remains unfunded and will not occur until the State Government can extract funds from the Feds.

My vote for the next project after electrifying the OH line is installing passing loops on the Seaford and Gawler lines so we can have true express services.

[SRW]

The above is correct: electrification beyond Salisbury remains unfunded.

I think that the city loop is the highest priority after electrification of Gawler and Outer Harbor. The city loop will allow efficiencies on all routes to actually grow and sustain patronage, as well as open the potential for regional links once Adelaide Station is freed up. Imagine being able to catch a train to the Barossa from North Tce!