Connect the Gawler and Outer Harbor rail lines

[Goodsy]

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Gives better access to the Port River Precinct, a viable public transport option to workers in Wingfield and Port Adelaide and would allow a inner north loop service.

I don't get why this doesn't already exist, the corridor is already there. Although the junction at the east end would need to be pretty complex to allow freight trains to pass uninterrupted

[Norman]

A service between Port Dock and Dry Creek used to run until about 30 years ago, but there was a lack of patronage that caused the line to close.

The line between the stations is also a freight line, but is dual gauge as far as I remember.

More info here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_Creek ... ilway_line

[Aidan]

Yes, the line is dual gauge, though the broad gauge rail is disused and I don't know if it's intact over the entire length of the line.

AIUI the former passenger service detoured via Rosewater, and ran to GMH Elizabeth.

Alas with the PREXY parallelling it, I'd expect there to be even less demand for it now than when regular services ceased. But I do think there's great potential for a bus link via Cormack Road to link Port Adelaide, Gillman, Wingfield and Dry Creek station... and possibly also Mawson Lakes.

And in the very long term I'd like to see a monorail running alongside that line and on to TTP via Northfield.

[eKwatee]

This would be a great idea. The population along the Gawler line has increased since the line was closed. I believe there would be enough patronage for it to be viable. Mawson Lakes for one has 10,000 residents since the line was closed.

[PeFe]

No...no....no... there is no synergy between the Gawler and Outer Harbor lines...

One day when the South Australian government has enough money, then the Gawler and Aldinga lines will be connecteed in an Adelaide CBD tunnel...

[1NEEDS2POST]

Why stop there? Lay tracks on the old Semaphore and Northfield lines and then you'd have quite a long east-west route in the north of the city. Much similar to Melbourne's Suburban Rail Loop, but much cheaper to construct since most of the route is at surface level and already there.

We still don't have the demand for it, but it would be nice if the land remains available for when we do have the population.

[Goodsy]

Why stop there? Lay tracks on the old Semaphore and Northfield lines and then you'd have quite a long east-west route in the north of the city. Much similar to Melbourne's Suburban Rail Loop, but much cheaper to construct since most of the route is at surface level and already there.

We still don't have the demand for it, but it would be nice if the land remains available for when we do have the population.

The Northfield Corridor is filled in now, they ripped up the last level crossing on Churchill road north a few months ago. Also the train dept is built ontop of the old triangle junction

[SBD]

Why stop there? Lay tracks on the old Semaphore and Northfield lines and then you'd have quite a long east-west route in the north of the city. Much similar to Melbourne's Suburban Rail Loop, but much cheaper to construct since most of the route is at surface level and already there.

We still don't have the demand for it, but it would be nice if the land remains available for when we do have the population.

Yes, it would look nice on a map, but who would use it? Nobody wants to have to change trains twice to get to and from work. How many people would commute between the Northfield and Semaphore areas compared to the Mawson Lakes-Gawler line and the Port Adelaide-Osborne area?

[ml69]

Why stop there? Lay tracks on the old Semaphore and Northfield lines and then you'd have quite a long east-west route in the north of the city. Much similar to Melbourne's Suburban Rail Loop, but much cheaper to construct since most of the route is at surface level and already there.

We still don't have the demand for it, but it would be nice if the land remains available for when we do have the population.

Yes, it would look nice on a map, but who would use it? Nobody wants to have to change trains twice to get to and from work. How many people would commute between the Northfield and Semaphore areas compared to the Mawson Lakes-Gawler line and the Port Adelaide-Osborne area?

Exactly. There is no compelling reason to do it. Would be a complete waste of money.

[OlympusAnt]

The only good use for that connection would be to turn railcars. Passengers wouldn't use it.

[SBD]

The only good use for that connection would be to turn railcars. Passengers wouldn't use it.

Gawler Outer Harbor (or Osborne) trains would get some use - maybe some of those public servants who didn't want to work at Port Adelaide catch trains to the city from that way.
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I have no idea how many passengers are needed to be "enough". Our ticketing system does not collect sufficient data to assess the actual demand. There is no way to assess the potential demand.

[ChillyPhilly]

It could have some use in summer for getting people to and from the north and Semaphore.

[bits]

Our ticketing system does not collect sufficient data to assess the actual demand. There is no way to assess the potential demand.

Why use the ticketing system?
You can track users via their Bluetooth or wifi devices. Basically everyone has a phone in their pocket with Bluetooth or wifi on.
The government already do this tracking at most traffic intersections. They probably already do it at public transport locations

[SBD]

Our ticketing system does not collect sufficient data to assess the actual demand. There is no way to assess the potential demand.

Why use the ticketing system?
You can track users via their Bluetooth or wifi devices. Basically everyone has a phone in their pocket with Bluetooth or wifi on.
The government already do this tracking at most traffic intersections. They probably already do it at public transport locations

So the actual demand is anyone who catches a train or bus north of Dry Creek and gets off of one at or beyond Port Adelaide. Potential demand is anyone who crosses both Port Wakefield Road and the Port River (or ends in Port Adelaide) by any mode of transport. Does our surveillance state collect enough data to generate that analysis?