News & Discussion: Adelaide Metro Trains

[jk1237]

Ozi, BOTH political parties, and BOTH Federal and State politicians are to blame. It is not possible to blame one party or another for the overall shemozzle that electrification of SA's suburban system has become.

The reasons: ...

Thank you, Rubberman. This is pretty much exactly what I wanted to post this morning, but thinking about politics sometimes makes me feel so apathetic that it's difficult to type! All sides deserve blame for what is increasingly becoming a debacle. Unfortunately, they'd much prefer to sling mud at each other in public, rather than take responsibility for their own failings and work together in a civilised and professional way to generate solutions for the good of the people whom they presume to serve and represent. A pox on all of them!

ok you have a point that a little bit of blame could rest of both sides, but the fact we have a Coalition federal govt claiming that it will spend up big on infrastructure but nothing on urban rail is utterly ridiculous and is something straight out of redneck Alabama where they think that everyone should drive around in a pick-up truck.

Its 2013 FFS

[AG]

The RBA are obsessive about interest rate stability at the expense of everything else. They've been wrecking the economy with unnecessarily high interest rates in an effort to keep the unemployment rate high because they think low unemployment is too inflationary (because the Rudd tax cuts resulted in low unemployment and a jump in inflation, and the RBA confused correlation with causation).

And looking at what's happened to our dollar in the last six years, I can only conclude they're not bothered about currency stability.

The current target policy rate the RBA has currently set is the lowest it has been for decades, it certainly isn't high by any measure. When was the last time the policy rate was 2.5%? The banks, however, have not followed the RBA down as far since they began cutting the rate a few years ago owing to pressures in the banks ability to obtain sufficient funds. This isn't something under the control of the RBA, nor should it be.

What are you implying when you mention "what's happened to our dollar in the last six years"? The AUD/USD on its own is hardly a good measure of currency stability.

[Aidan]

The current target policy rate the RBA has currently set is the lowest it has been for decades,

True.

it certainly isn't high by any measure. When was the last time the policy rate was 2.5%?

False - it is high by current international comparison. When we the last time the policy rate in the USA was zero?

The banks, however, have not followed the RBA down as far since they began cutting the rate a few years ago owing to pressures in the banks ability to obtain sufficient funds. This isn't something under the control of the RBA, nor should it be.

If by this you mean the interest rates the commercial banks decide to set, I agree with you. But if you mean pressures in the commercial banks' ability to obtain sufficient funds, I disagree wholeheartedly! Ensuring they don't have any problems with that should be one of the RBA's most important functions.

What are you implying when you mention "what's happened to our dollar in the last six years"? The AUD/USD on its own is hardly a good measure of currency stability.

What currency, or combination of currencies, would you prefer to measure it against?

[Waewick]

they are obsessive about rates because it is their only tool.

[claybro]

ok you have a point that a little bit of blame could rest of both sides, but the fact we have a Coalition federal govt claiming that it will spend up big on infrastructure but nothing on urban rail is utterly ridiculous and is something straight out of redneck Alabama where they think that everyone should drive around in a pick-up truck.

I think the curret state gov have done well to get the electrification this far, given the state of our finances. The electrification and extension of the Seaford line, and electrification of Tonsley have ensured they survive and thrive, and are less likely to be let "run down" under a less PT inclined government. HOWEVER, I do believe the federal government should deal only with federal transport infrastructure and leave the states to capital city public transport. That being said, the Federal Government should then fund ALL of south road from Cross road to the Northern Expy,(the national transport route) and thereby free up some state funds for local issues such as suburban rail, of which the Darlington project could be a part.

[Torrens_5022]

Well said claybro:
The state is responsible for metro rail, but the feds are responsible for the federal roads - the feds have neglected our and most federal roads through out the nation for decades - therefore the state money spent on the federal roads should be given back if they (feds) refuse to contribute to the shared funding on state transport projects. The states spend way too much money on federal roads - the co funding on state infrastructure is therefore is not the feds giving money for state matters - it's a co funding agreement between federal infrastructure (which is neglected by the feds) and the state infrastructure which now is being improved.
The money was promised and half already been given and spent - sounds like a contract, it's not a future agreement - it's a past agreement that already has been processed and initiated - you can't break a contract just because your an arsehole.

[mattblack]

Well said claybro:
you can't break a contract just because your an arsehole.

That's exactly why you break a contract

[Aidan]

Well said claybro:
you can't break a contract just because your an arsehole.

That's exactly why you break a contract

Not quite - exactness would require your to be changed to you're.

[EBG]

This steel structure is on the east side of the new Wayville station. It must be part of the overhead walkway. It changes shape along its length.
Will have to wait until it is lifted into place.

[Heardy_101]

I wonder how much that cost to design

[jk1237]

I wonder how much that cost to design

yes how dare they spend some money on our train system and not all on roads

[Aidan]

I wonder how much that cost to design

yes how dare they spend some money on our train system and not all on roads

When the money spent on our train system is spent in a way that doesn't benefit passengers, it's a reasonable question. And of course our road system should be subjected to just as much scrutiny.

[monotonehell]

I wonder how much that cost to design

yes how dare they spend some money on our train system and not all on roads

When the money spent on our train system is spent in a way that doesn't benefit passengers, it's a reasonable question. And of course our road system should be subjected to just as much scrutiny.

A little amenity and visual interest not only benefits the passengers, it makes the facility look more appealing so that people will be more willing to use it. Although, this doesn't mean a blank cheque should be issued to an architect.

[crawf]

That walkway is going to be super impressive once it's completed.

[SAR526]

The first trains have arrived in Oaklands since the shutdown early this year. Two test trains came through the Goodwood underpass and reversed over the Oaklands crossover to return to the city. I was told by a friendly official on the platform that there may have been a third planned.

The train at about 14.00 consisted of 3007 with 3017 trailing on approach. As they entered the station at quite a respectable velocity with no sign that the track was imposing any restrictions, the Diagonal/Morphett Roads crossing barriers went down, but immediately rose again as soon as the train was stationary.

It would seem that it is intended to open the line to Oaklands as soon as possiblel, if only for electoral reasons. In this case, it may be that the interchange with the Noarlunga Centre/Seaford buses may be moved from the city back to Oaklands with a timetable similar to that which obtained when the first shutdown for the Convention Centre reconstruction work.