News & Discussion: Trams

[Llessur2002]

Fully agree - speed of the network and priority at intersections is an absolute priority in my opinion - both on the new lines and the existing ones. It seems a trial of automated priority requests for buses and trams is on the cards so hopefully this will have a major positive effect if successful and replicated across the network.

As for the other hurdles - you've already pointed out the workarounds (removal of on-street parking, introduction of tram only lanes, median tree removal in the Parade) and none of them really screams out 'brick wall' to me - especially the tree removal in the Parade which other than a vocal minority actually seems to have quite high levels of support given the amount of damage they do to the road surface (even amongst AdelaideNow commentators).

Of all of these the removal of on-street parking is likely to be the most opposed but if carefully managed, some alternative parking provided where possible, and if the positive benefits of increased footfall in the area the tram will bring due to the location of stops and eventual higher-density housing which the line will attract are communicated, I can't see why this wouldn't be overcome with relative ease. Certainly not a show-stopper as far as I can see.

[Norman]

Rundle Mall, museum, universities and Adelaide Lord Mayor push for East End tram extension

THE East End needs a tram extension to kickstart redevelopment and forge the first stage of an Adelaide-wide light rail expansion, a powerful alliance of business, government and academia has declared.

Spearheaded by Rundle Mall businesses, the drive for a 1km link from King William St, along North Tce to East Tce is backed by Lord Mayor Martin Haese, the city’s two universities, museums, the State Library and the Art Gallery of SA.

Backers say a multimillion-dollar tram extension would inject more people into the area, sparking increased activity at businesses, cultural institutions and at the site of the planned redevelopment of the old Royal Adelaide Hospital.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sout ... c17bb42d34

The way Mulligan speaks in this article makes me think that there will be a major announcement regarding a tram for the East End and the decision on the old RAH site.

[Ho Really]

The way Mulligan speaks in this article makes me think that there will be a major announcement regarding a tram for the East End and the decision on the old RAH site.

All good. It should've been done at the time they thought of the Glenelg Tram extension to the railway station (the first stage). Makes me think why didn't they save the money on the half-baked O-Bahn tunnel and put it aside to convert the O-Bahn into light rail and run it along North Terrace? A logical extension of a Northeast to Southwest tram system. Coast to Coast in my opinion was and still is all BS. Anyway. One day they will have to convert the tunnel to accept trams. They'll run along Grenfell Street which would be the preferable route for any East-West tram, whether along Magill Road or The Parade in the East and then across town to Henley Beach Road. No Airport Road extension as Adelaide Airport should have its own light rail that runs to the Adelaide Railway Station with only a few intermediate stops. It would be similar to the Airtrain in Brissy and not run along roads to slow it down. My worth.

Cheers

[Patrick_27]

The way Mulligan speaks in this article makes me think that there will be a major announcement regarding a tram for the East End and the decision on the old RAH site.

All good. It should've been done at the time they thought of the Glenelg Tram extension to the railway station (the first stage). Makes me think why didn't they save the money on the half-baked O-Bahn tunnel and put it aside to convert the O-Bahn into light rail and run it along North Terrace? A logical extension of a Northeast to Southwest tram system. Coast to Coast in my opinion was and still is all BS. Anyway. One day they will have to convert the tunnel to accept trams. They'll run along Grenfell Street which would be the preferable route for any East-West tram, whether along Magill Road or The Parade in the East and then across town to Henley Beach Road. No Airport Road extension as Adelaide Airport should have its own light rail that runs to the Adelaide Railway Station with only a few intermediate stops. It would be similar to the Airtrain in Brissy and not run along roads to slow it down. My worth.

Cheers

Why? The buses on the O-Bahn travel faster than any tram would, not to mention that trams won't feed on/off that corridor as well as buses already do.

[fishinajar]

The way Mulligan speaks in this article makes me think that there will be a major announcement regarding a tram for the East End and the decision on the old RAH site.

All good. It should've been done at the time they thought of the Glenelg Tram extension to the railway station (the first stage). Makes me think why didn't they save the money on the half-baked O-Bahn tunnel and put it aside to convert the O-Bahn into light rail and run it along North Terrace? A logical extension of a Northeast to Southwest tram system. Coast to Coast in my opinion was and still is all BS. Anyway. One day they will have to convert the tunnel to accept trams. They'll run along Grenfell Street which would be the preferable route for any East-West tram, whether along Magill Road or The Parade in the East and then across town to Henley Beach Road. No Airport Road extension as Adelaide Airport should have its own light rail that runs to the Adelaide Railway Station with only a few intermediate stops. It would be similar to the Airtrain in Brissy and not run along roads to slow it down. My worth.

Cheers

IF you converted the o-bahn to a light rail, how would it cost $160m or less? Also the trams would be stuck in congestion as they neared the city, exactly as the buses currently do. You would therefore have to do the tunnel AS WELL. I don't think we would be saving any money Ho Really.

[bits]

Pull out Adelaide's most successful public transport asset and replace? That sounds insane!
Don't fix something that isn't broken.

The tunnel will further improve the north-east for public transport, cars, trucks and bikes. This is part of the inner ring route which is supposed to be a very free flowing route, but instead it bottle necks currently.
The tunnel is win win win for all.

[rev]

Bill Shorten is going to announce $500 million for AdeLink if Labor get voted in.
It's on AdelaideNow behind their paywall so don't know the details if there are any.

[Kasey771]

Bill Shorten is going to announce $500 million for AdeLink if Labor get voted in.
It's on AdelaideNow behind their paywall so don't know the details if there are any.

Who is paying for Shorten's largesse? more borrowed money?

[rev]

Bill Shorten is going to announce $500 million for AdeLink if Labor get voted in.
It's on AdelaideNow behind their paywall so don't know the details if there are any.

Who is paying for Shorten's largesse? more borrowed money?

The same people paying for Turnbull's policies..you, me, them, the banks, the bond market, brown paper bags and mysterious sports bags being carried by men in black suits? I don't know, like I said, it's behind a pay wall, and I don't care enough about Rupert Murdoch's tabloid to subscribe.

[rubberman]

Bill Shorten is going to announce $500 million for AdeLink if Labor get voted in.
It's on AdelaideNow behind their paywall so don't know the details if there are any.

Who is paying for Shorten's largesse? more borrowed money?

Who is paying for inadequate infrastructure that we have now?

You have to compare the cost of doing something vs the cost of neglecting it. Sometimes it is cheaper to invest than to neglect.

Having said that, $500 million won't do a fraction of the job based on previous projects. Canberra is going to cost roughly double that for 13 kM for comparison purposes. So, if the State Government kicks in the same, we might be looking at a line to Henley Beach plus some of the City Loop....or part of the Port extension, but not both.

Good opportunity to stop private contractors price gouging of course....hahaha...as if.


Edit:

For those seeking reliable reporting:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-17/s ... rk/7419652

[rev]

$1 billion to do a tram line to Henley? Are you for real?

[rubberman]

$1 billion to do a tram line to Henley? Are you for real?

Well, it's $1.6Bn for a tram down George Street Sydney to Randwick.
It's about $800m for a 13 kM tramway in Canberra...so they say.
The Gold Coast extension of about 7kM has an estimated cost of $420m, but that doesn't need more depot construction.
The original 13 kM Gold Coast line was $1.2Bn in 2012.

So, yeah rev, based on what the private sector has been charging in Australia, that's about it.

Of course, if we wanted to do it cheaper, we could. Vastly cheaper. But that would mean State governments getting some in house expertise....oooh more public servants...nup, won't happen.

[Waewick]

Hmm. Is that the loop or something to the burbs?

[Norman]

I would say they will build the loop first.

[Waewick]

prey short on detail- looks like $500M to throw at something the state doesn't have funding for.

hopefully more detail soon - if its a loop/tram to Norwood I'd be keen, if its unfunded pie perhaps not.

I wonder what the State prefers, this or the flinders train extension?