[COM] M2 Northern Connector | 15.5km | $867m

[ChillyPhilly]

Announcement on the Northern Connector is imminent
A reminder..

Great news!

Does anyone know whether the northern connector plan allows for space provision for a future metro rail line to service the Dry Creek and Waterloo Corner areas if they get redeveloped into housing estates?

No, but there is currently a standard gauge freight line going through Salisbury North that could be utilised once the rail component of the Northern Connector frees up that line.

Hopefully for Buckland Park. Although (hopefully again) the former doesn't go ahead.

[The Scooter Guy]

Announcement on the Northern Connector is imminent

PM flags support for SA road project
3 HOURS AGO AUGUST 14, 2015 8:26PM
http://www.news.com.au/national/breakin ... 7484216177

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has flagged an imminent announcement on federal support for Adelaide's northern-connector road project.

THE 15-kilometre road will provide better access for freight through Adelaide's northern suburbs and is a key part of a north-south express corridor through the city.

Mr Abbott says the commonwealth regards the connector an important project and talks are continuing with the South Australian government.

"My understanding is just about everyone in South Australia wants it to crack on as quickly as possible," he said during a visit to Adelaide on Friday.

"I hope to have more to say about this in the near future."

A reminder..

Great news!

Does anyone know whether the northern connector plan allows for space provision for a future metro rail line to service the Dry Creek and Waterloo Corner areas if they get redeveloped into housing estates?

I wonder if there will be both standard gauge & broad gauge lines between Penfield & Cavan...
I'd like to be able to take a train to Waterloo Corner, then cycle all the way down to the St Kilda Adventure Playground and Tramway Museum.

[Goodsy]

I wonder if there will be both standard gauge & broad gauge lines between Penfield & Cavan...
I'd like to be able to take a train to Waterloo Corner, then cycle all the way down to the St Kilda Adventure Playground and Tramway Museum.

A train station that services st kilda playground would be pretty great, not sure what kind of patronage they'd get though

[[Shuz]]

The freight rail line associated with this proposal is very bendy - you'd think they could straighten it out a bit more?

[SouthAussie94]

The freight rail line associated with this proposal is very bendy - you'd think they could straighten it out a bit more?

Is that really an issue? As long as the curves are of such a radius as to not restrict speed I doubt it would be an issue. I suspect that rolling stock speed restrictions would be a bigger issue than track geometry for overall train speed along this section.

[Patrick_27]

Does the Northern Connector going ahead mean that freight can be removed from the Belair line? I recall that Unley councillors during their quest to reopen Millswood Station were also rallying the government to remove freight from that corridor so Belair could be duplicated for metro rail again. Apparently the removal of freight along this route would mean the freight would need to be diverted north of Adelaide... Could this be achieved through this project?

[Goodsy]

Does the Northern Connector going ahead mean that freight can be removed from the Belair line? I recall that Unley councillors during their quest to reopen Millswood Station were also rallying the government to remove freight from that corridor so Belair could be duplicated for metro rail again. Apparently the removal of freight along this route would mean the freight would need to be diverted north of Adelaide... Could this be achieved through this project?

if that goes ahead then I sincerely hope they have a plan with Cormack Road, the rail crossing at peak times is bad enough. Every morning it seems like there's 2 passenger trains and a freight train waiting for you. Sometimes churchill road is backed up to that yard where they keep all rail things, and in the afternoons it can get backed up right to South Road

[PeFe]

Does the Northern Connector going ahead mean that freight can be removed from the Belair line? I recall that Unley councillors during their quest to reopen Millswood Station were also rallying the government to remove freight from that corridor so Belair could be duplicated for metro rail again. Apparently the removal of freight along this route would mean the freight would need to be diverted north of Adelaide... Could this be achieved through this project?

No.....the Northern Connector has nothing to do with freight using the Adelaide hills as entry to the city from Melbourne.
Diverting the freight line to the north of Murray Bridge over the hills somewhere north of Gawler was costed at around 2 billion dollars. Buckleys in our life time.

[drsmith]

IIRC, the NC road was to be built first with the freight rail at some later stage.

There was also talk of the NC road being a 2-stage build. It'll be interesting to see if that's still the case.

[crawf]

IIRC, the NC road was to be built first with the freight rail at some later stage.

There was also talk of the NC road being a 2-stage build. It'll be interesting to see if that's still the case.

If that was the case, then I guess Southern - Bolivar Interchange would be the first stage?

Hopefully it's all built in one go.

[[Shuz]]

NC will be a two stage project. PREXY to Bolivar is Stage 1.

[Goodsy]

NC will be a two stage project. PREXY to Bolivar is Stage 1.

Why would they do it that way if they need to let the earth settle under the salt pans? shouldn't it be from NExy to Bolivar first

[SouthAussie94]

NC will be a two stage project. PREXY to Bolivar is Stage 1.

Why would they do it that way if they need to let the earth settle under the salt pans? shouldn't it be from NExy to Bolivar first

Looking at the map posted above it appears that there isn't a Southbound exit at the Bolivar Interchange, hence they wouldn't be able to start at the Nexy and work South..

[Tonsley213]

IIRC current modelling showed that the freight rail line wasn't needed for the next 30-50 years.

[SBD]

IIRC current modelling showed that the freight rail line wasn't needed for the next 30-50 years.

I guess that depends what "need" is being measured. If the "need" is to reduce the interstate freight at level crossings and through residential neighbourhoods between Dry Creek and Penfield, then it is needed now. Level crossings up to Salisbury would continue to have suburban trains though, so would not be completely eliminated.