[COM] Goodwood Junction Rail Underpass | $110m

[rhino]

It's a big win for Adelaide, and a big win for rail transport, especially freight. A commitment to increase train lengths to 1800m means that there will be a lot more work coming in lengthening crossing loops on the Adelaide - Melbourne leg, where most loops only allow 1500m trains at this stage (some even less).

Shuz, there is some truth to what you say, but it's not warranted yet, and not affordable either. To spend public money you can't afford on something you don't need is irresponsible. Planning and budgeting for it's future construction is the better way to go.

[[Shuz]]

It's a big win for Adelaide, and a big win for rail transport, especially freight. A commitment to increase train lengths to 1800m means that there will be a lot more work coming in lengthening crossing loops on the Adelaide - Melbourne leg, where most loops only allow 1500m trains at this stage (some even less).

Shuz, there is some truth to what you say, but it's not warranted yet, and not affordable either. To spend public money you can't afford on something you don't need is irresponsible. Planning and budgeting for it's future construction is the better way to go.

I agree. I don't think we need to go the whole nine yards and start building all these new lines that aren't needed just as yet. But there definitely needs to be some foresight in at least notifying current property owners of the intent to buying out adjacent properties to accomodate for more tracks and doing things right the first time.

For example, if you look in the artist's impression of the Goodwood junction, the freight and Belair lines still cross the intersection at-grade, while the Noarlunga lines go underneath. For the love of God, this is 2012, I have not heard of (happy to be corrected on this) any major city which builds or rebuilds level crossings to replace them with another! I thought this sort of thing was actually embedded within the whole guise of improving safety, reducing congestion and that sort of fanciful political chit-chat. It should be completely grade seperated. Noarlunga underpass, road at-grade, Belair and freight lines overpass, or something like that.

[muzzamo]

For example, if you look in the artist's impression of the Goodwood junction,

It is a very common mistake on these forums to look at "artists impressions" and confuse them with detailed designs.

The money has been allocated, now the detailed design starts.

[Norman]

Fantastic news, this is a win-win for economic conservatism during these tough times and a good outcome to remove some level crossing delays and upgrade stations in need.

[AG]

People will judge regardless of whether they have the entire story or not, concept or detailed design, or even if they don't understand the technical and financial limitations and detailing (which is nearly everyone).

[fabricator]

For example, if you look in the artist's impression of the Goodwood junction, the freight and Belair lines still cross the intersection at-grade, while the Noarlunga lines go underneath. For the love of God, this is 2012, I have not heard of (happy to be corrected on this) any major city which builds or rebuilds level crossings to replace them with another!

The purpose of the Goodwood grade separation is to remove the crossing of the Noarlunga and ARTC goods lines, nothing else (though Leader St level crossing is also going to be removed). This is because the ARTC have a problem with the overhead wires for electrification of the Noarlunga line crossing their tracks. Double stack containers (and SCTs taller boxcars ?) don't fit under the wires basically, while double stack doesn't fit the tunnels around Belair/Blackwood/Murray Bridge they hope one day fix these limitations.

The same reasoning is behind the Bowden project, except it also includes an underpass on a main road (Park Terrace) and two side streets, and a new underground station. It was impossible to build it without doing this.

If the state government wish they can spend money on road bridges/underpasses for the area around Goodwood, or changes to the roads in this area.

[Ben]

Work to start in January:

Goodwood rail work on track

6 Jun 12 @ 09:00am by Emily Griffiths

WORK to separate the freight and commuter rail lines at Goodwood is expected to start next January, with a long-running campaign to build a freight line bypassing Adelaide failing to win government support.

But the Unley Rail Advisory Group says it will continue to push to have freight trains diverted away from the inner suburbs.

The group faces a tough battle, as the State Government last week set aside $110 million in its 2012-13 budget for a joint federal project aimed at increasing SA’s rail freight productivity.

But Unley councillor Rob Sangster, also the chair of the Unley Rail Advisory Group, says the community - sick of freight train noise and traffic disruption - will continue the fight.

“It is very important (the line) should primarily be a commuter line,” Cr Sangster said.

“We will certainly still be pursuing for the diversion of freight trains away from the suburbs.”

He hoped the group would be able to work with the newly formed Mitcham Rail and Transport Committee in order to further garner support.

“There’s strength in numbers,” he said.

“We will keep pursuing the issue and one day we might get there. You never know.”

The Goodwood grade separation is the first stage of the joint state and federal government $443 million upgrade of the Goodwood and Torrens rail lines.

As part of the project, the intersection of lines near Leader St will be split, with the passenger line passing beneath the freight line to improve rail freight competitiveness.

Local residents say the money should be spent on easing the notorious Cross Rd bottleneck.

“The crossing on Cross Rd is much worse,” Goodwood resident Franco Demarchi, who lives near the train line, said.

Leader St business owner Mee Young agreed.

“While I think (Leader St) is a dangerous crossing, I also think (this project) costs too much money,” Mrs Young said.

“Especially when the biggest problem is at Cross Rd.”

The project is expected to be completed by mid-2013.

[AG]

Some of the comments made by locals in the article miss the point of the grade separation. It isn't to alleviate congestion or danger at Leader Street, it is to untangle points of conflict between commuter and freight rail services. The at-grade track junction does contribute to queues and delays at the Leader Street and Cross Road crossings due to the need for trains to slow/halt on the approach to Goodwood Junction when commuter trains and freight trains approach simultaneously.

[mattblack]

Also, when you buy a house near to a freight line you might expect some noise, Adelaide is not a major arrival/destination for freight so these movements are minimal. Common sense that many in the area dont have, I should know, I live there!

[mutt]

i do hope an under or overpass at cross road is considered soon though
being stuck at that crossing as a long goods train passes and traffic backed up to the next main road is something i could do without along with thousands of others who travel through that area

goodwood road style underpass is probably the best option

[rhino]

goodwood road style underpass is probably the best option

Yes, rail grades would be too steep to put the rail line over the road, it needs to remain at the level it is on. And a road underpass would suit this area much better than a flyover.

[adam73837]

Yes you're probably right here, but I'm curious; if they were to send Cross Road above/below the train line, how would they manage the intersections with Victoria Avenue and Hilda Terrace? Is there sufficient space on either side of the current crossing to allow the intersections to remain intact? Any Civil Engineers out there willing to answer this one?

[fishinajar]

With south rd approaching a non stop future and with the northern and port connectors I wouldn't be surprised to see state gov push road freight down cross rd to intersect with south road instead of across portrush. This would obviously entail rail level segregation.

[wilkiebarkid]

Yes you're probably right here, but I'm curious; if they were to send Cross Road above/below the train line, how would they manage the intersections with Victoria Avenue and Hilda Terrace? Is there sufficient space on either side of the current crossing to allow the intersections to remain intact? Any Civil Engineers out there willing to answer this one?

Leave Cross Road as it is and have a long gradual underpass for the rail line. Having it lowering and rising, say, one kilometre either side of Cross road, it would not be too much of an impost on the freight trains. It would need to go under Hilda Terrace too. That's 2 less railway crossings.

[rhino]

Leave Cross Road as it is and have a long gradual underpass for the rail line. Having it lowering and rising, say, one kilometre either side of Cross road, it would not be too much of an impost on the freight trains. It would need to go under Hilda Terrace too. That's 2 less railway crossings.

Are you sure about that? (the part in blue). If it's true, then you would be starting the decline just after the Seaford line goes under the freight line, which means it would probably be more efficient to put the freight line under the Seaford line. I suspect the freight line would require more than a kilometre to get it back to grade. It would be fine for commuter trains.