News & Discussion: Trams

[Nathan]

Now, removing trams in Sydney WAS very dodgy indeed.

Although nothing could be as dodgy as the GM Streetcar Conspiracy.

[rev]

News release - Stephen Mullighan
First stage of AdeLINK tram extension out to market
Stephen Mullighan December 3, 2016

The first stage of the State Government’s massive expansion of Adelaide’s tram network is out to market.

The $50 million project will see the city tramline extended along North Terrace to Adelaide’s East End.

The extension forms Stage One of EastLINK, with future stages planned through Kent Town to the Eastern suburbs. The extension also marks the first stage in the CityLINK loop around the CBD.

The extension will feature three new stops and provide a frequent and reliable link between the Riverbank’s Educational and Cultural Precinct, Entertainment Precinct and the Health and Biomedical Precinct.

The 10-minute free shuttle service could transport more than 2000 people an hour between the city’s east and west ends.

Works are scheduled to commence in the first quarter of next year and be completed by the end of 2017, weather permitting.

The State Government is also calling for tenders for improvements to our existing tram network, including a much needed upgrade to the City South tram stop and upgrading tram tracks that will provide tram passengers with a smoother, quieter journey.

Background

The tender will include the design and construction of the one-kilometre extension from the intersection of King William Street and North Terrace to East Terrace.

The City South works will deliver a much needed upgrade to the existing tram stop located at the intersection of Sturt, Halifax and King William Streets that will improve accessibility for people with disabilities and upgrade track that was installed in the early 1980s.

Additional track upgrades will occur along Jetty Road to improve the running of the trams and improving safety for cyclists with the inclusion of a rubber inlay.

The Jetty Road works will be scheduled to start mid next year, well after the busy summer period.

The works will be delivered in line with the State Government’s Industry Participation Policy, which dictates that as many local workers and contractors as possible are utilised.

Quotes attributable to Transport and Infrastructure Minister Stephen Mullighan

http://www.premier.sa.gov.au/index.php/ ... -to-market

[Llessur2002]

Govt announces $20 million Festival Plaza tram plan

The State Government will extend the city tramline along King William Street to the Festival Plaza and buy three new trams, costing $20 million, Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis announced this morning.



Construction on the King William Street tramline extension and the stop adjacent the Festival Plaza is due to begin early next year, with completion expected by the end of 2017, “weather permitting”.

The Festival Plaza tram spur is the major pre-announcement in the lead-up to Koutsantonis’ mid-year budget review tomorrow.

It comes five months after the Government announced a $50 million tramline was to be built along North Terrace, to carry “up to 1000 passengers each hour”.

The Government now says the three new trams will allow for a 10-minute tram service to transport more than 2000 passengers to and from the educational, cultural, health and entertainment precincts along the Riverbank each hour.

Koutsantonis said the investment was part of the Government’s “AdeLINK” plan to “massively expand our tram network to the north, south, east and west”.
“These new trams will increase the frequency of services, while the new stop will limit disruption to the North Terrace intersection and bring passengers right to the doorstep of the Festival Centre,” he said.

Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan said extending the tram network would “attract investment, boost economic growth and encourage urban renewal and jobs, and bring residents and visitors to the city centre”.

“While a majority of benefit will be to public transport customers, expanding our tram network will also play a crucial role in addressing the congestion challenges we face across the metropolitan area.

“Today’s announcement continues our commitment to prioritise major transport infrastructure initiatives which will improve the day-to-day experience of South Australian public transport users.”

Mullighan told reporters this morning that the extended tram service would be a “real symbol to those people living in North Adelaide, and up in Prospect – just as the previously announced extension along North Terrace has been a symbol to people living in Norwood – that trams are coming, and they’re coming their way”.

He said building the offshoot tramline to the Festival Plaza would minimise disruption by undertaking construction work on the busy North Terrace–King William Street intersection once – rather than twice.

“We’re already extending the tram east along North Terrace, which means we’ve got quite a bit of work to do on the North Terrace – King William intersection,” he said.
“It makes sense, while we’re interrupting that intersection for those works to make sure we finish all of the works we’ll need to do in the future, if we’re bringing a tram north, towards North Adelaide.”

He said the tram extension would stimulate development.

“We know that where the trams go, there’s been a huge amount of development, and when we eventually head out east, and when we eventually head out further north, that’s what we want to see for those parts of the city,” he said.

However, he said a lack of federal support for public transport was a barrier to further tram network extensions.

“The real barrier to extending our tram network even more broadly is getting the federal government back involved in public transport,” Mullighan said.

“We had a commitment from the federal Opposition that should they have won at the recent federal election they would committed half a billion dollars to expanding Adelaide’s tram network.”

Lord Mayor Martin Haese said the project would contribute to achieving carbon neutrality for the city of Adelaide.

Mullighan suggested in April that AdeLINK could be partly funded by a “value capture regime”, with contributions from nearby property owners, councils and/or developers.
City trams travel down King William Street and the western section of the North Terrace and on to the Entertainment Centre. The closest stops to the new Festival Plaza stop are at Rundle Mall and the Railway Station.

http://indaily.com.au/news/local/2016/1 ... tram-plan/

[Llessur2002]

And a video

[crawf]

Well that is a nice little surprise!

Glad they are ordering a couple of extra new trams. They are needed.

A wild guess... though will Glenelg trams terminate at the Festival Plaza stop? while trams from the Entertainment Centre terminate at East Terrace (ORAH)?

A couple other things (both positives):
- Wires will be supported from light poles
- Side platforms

[[Shuz]]

Nice Christmas present for sure!

Do we know what extra trams we will get? Same Citadis / Flexitys or a new model?

[Llessur2002]

A wild guess... though will Glenelg trams terminate at the Festival Plaza stop? while trams from the Entertainment Centre terminate at East Terrace (ORAH)?

Yeah I wondered that too - although the track configuration at NT/KWS would support other routes (a nightmare for cyclists though ).

A couple other things (both positives):
- Wires will be supported from light poles
- Side platforms

I much prefer the side platforms - still not as good as kerbside platforms but infinitely better than the crowded centre island stops through the rest of the CBD.

Also, how much better does NT look with only two lanes of car traffic each way? Always thought it a shame that our main cultural boulevard is essentially a 6 lane highway.

[Kasey771]

Well that is a nice little surprise!

Glad they are ordering a couple of extra new trams. They are needed.

A wild guess... though will Glenelg trams terminate at the Festival Plaza stop? while trams from the Entertainment Centre terminate at East Terrace (ORAH)?

A lovely little surprise.
I see it going one of 2 ways
tram line 1: AEC to East End and repeat with
tramline2: Glenelg to Festival Plaza crossing the X so to speak or
perhaps
tm1:Festival Plaza to Glenelg(dont have to change the points at Nth tce), just straight down KWS and back
tm2:AEC to East End back and forth along North tce.
Either way, this should be a nice little addition to the growing tram network:)

[rhino]

It's good news, but I would have thought Adelaide Oval would be the logical temporary terminus of the Prospect tram. I wonder how much more it would have cost to go that extra distance (one stop)?

[bits]

It's good news, but I would have thought Adelaide Oval would be the logical temporary terminus of the Prospect tram. I wonder how much more it would have cost to go that extra distance (one stop)?

Maybe it will play like t2t and Torrens Rd.
Over budget, under promise then with cost savings extend the project for the same money?

[Kasey771]

It's good news, but I would have thought Adelaide Oval would be the logical temporary terminus of the Prospect tram. I wonder how much more it would have cost to go that extra distance (one stop)?

depends on if you've made promises to the developer of the Festival Plaza or not? There's a definite benefit to the developer in having people exit the trams on KWS and walk through the new Festival Plaza on the way to the Oval. I have no evidence for this, its just wild supposition on my part.

[rhino]

tm1:Festival Plaza to Glenelg(dont have to change the points at Nth tce), just straight down KWS and back
tm2:AEC to East End back and forth along North tce.

The trouble with this is that there is no common stop/station at which to change trams

[Llessur2002]

It's good news, but I would have thought Adelaide Oval would be the logical temporary terminus of the Prospect tram. I wonder how much more it would have cost to go that extra distance (one stop)?

I wonder whether this might happen anyway - in the same way as the T2T project has gradually grown in scope as it has progressed.

Also, I guess some thought has to be given to the operation of the footy express buses which presumably will be affected by an Oval tram stop?

Edit: just seen this. So, basically what he said ^

Maybe it will play like t2t and Torrens Rd.
Over budget, under promise then with cost savings extend the project for the same money?

[rhino]

It's good news, but I would have thought Adelaide Oval would be the logical temporary terminus of the Prospect tram. I wonder how much more it would have cost to go that extra distance (one stop)?

Maybe it will play like t2t and Torrens Rd.
Over budget, under promise then with cost savings extend the project for the same money?

This looks like a logical outcome to me, considering the cost of the original extension along KWS and Nth Tce was only $21million, including new trams.

[Norman]

It's good news, but I would have thought Adelaide Oval would be the logical temporary terminus of the Prospect tram. I wonder how much more it would have cost to go that extra distance (one stop)?

Maybe it will play like t2t and Torrens Rd.
Over budget, under promise then with cost savings extend the project for the same money?

This looks like a logical outcome to me, considering the cost of the original extension along KWS and Nth Tce was only $21million, including new trams.

I'm pretty sure the the extension was $31m in 2007 dollars, and included only 2 additional trams. The other 11 Flexities were purchased as part of the original revitalisation.