News & Discussion: Trams

[rev]

Surely they're not serious? Leaving that sort of patch work in a newly redone intersection?

[rubberman]

Surely they're not serious? Leaving that sort of patch work in a newly redone intersection?

It looks like steel plates, so probably not.

[rev]

Surely they're not serious? Leaving that sort of patch work in a newly redone intersection?

It looks like steel plates, so probably not.

Yeh in the later pictures, but the earlier pictures of the Gawler place intersection are square manhole covers.

[Bob]

I have received a response from DPTI regarding the 'leaning poles' along the new tram extension. What is in place now, is in fact the final arrangement. Their words below.

Quote

The poles in question have a lateral deflection imposed by the overhead span wires. The poles cause no safety issues to the public nor to the smooth running of the trams.

[citywatcher]

Does that mean the poles are too weak or that the wires are too tight

Sent from my SM-J730G using Tapatalk

[Patrick_27]

I have received a response from DPTI regarding the 'leaning poles' along the new tram extension. What is in place now, is in fact the final arrangement. Their words below.

Quote

The poles in question have a lateral deflection imposed by the overhead span wires. The poles cause no safety issues to the public nor to the smooth running of the trams.

What a joke... How about the fact that they look ridiculous at points? I'd happily sacrifice any further extensions to make sure that this extension is done right.

[Bob]

It is what it is - clearly there is no intention to rectify anything.

I was on North Terrace earlier today near the Adelaide Club, and to use one of the new poles as an example, I selected the one immediately in front of the Myer Centre. It leans significantly inwards from south to north off vertical and very noticeable to the naked eye when you line it up with an older existing light pole nearby that is vertical, then across the road I lined up the same pole for a right angle view and you can see it is also leaning from west to east although to a much lesser degree. Sloppy workmanship at best, but this has been deemed acceptable by DPTI.

So that’s the end of the matter according to the DPTI, no more correspondence to be entered into.

I hope I am wrong but I can sense a negative news article coming from The Advertiser after the opening.

[rubberman]

I have received a response from DPTI regarding the 'leaning poles' along the new tram extension. What is in place now, is in fact the final arrangement. Their words below.

Quote

The poles in question have a lateral deflection imposed by the overhead span wires. The poles cause no safety issues to the public nor to the smooth running of the trams.

Hmm,

I thought I read somewhere that pole tip deflection should not exceed 4% of the pole length. In this case, about 200mm. It's way over that, even by Mark 1 eyeball.

Ref: Queensland Department of Main Roads MTRS97.

Claybro, I can live with the deflection, silly as it looks. I am far more concerned that someone competent has assessed the safety of something that far out of normal standard. Aesthetics are one thing, a sudden crumple in peak hour with live overhead coming down and stressed poles going who knows where is serious. Frankly, this is something the Advertiser should ask questions about.

[rev]

You guys have raised it with DPTI, they've responded that there's no issue.
Where you guys hoping they would confirm you were right, and they, the professionals being paid to build this infrastructure, were wrong?

[Bob]

If they could adjust the tension of the overhead support wires so that the deviation on each pole was consistent, it would likely look OK.

As it is right now, we have random deviations which results in a scenario of one pole being vertical, next pole leaning half a metre inwards and slightly sideways, the next pole leaning less, the next pole somewhat vertical but leaning slightly sideways etc. Inconsistency in deviation.

If the poles are strong enough as per DPTI’s response, then the remaining issue is aesthetics, so if adjusting to consistent deviation could be done, that would resolve the issue I think. I have written back to DPI asking them if this is possible.

But they cannot be left as is , it is a dogs breakfast in certain patches.

[rubberman]

If they could adjust the tension of the overhead support wires so that the deviation on each pole was consistent, it would likely look OK.

As it is right now, we have random deviations which results in a scenario of one pole being vertical, next pole leaning half a metre inwards and slightly sideways, the next pole leaning less, the next pole somewhat vertical but leaning slightly sideways etc. Inconsistency in deviation.

If the poles are strong enough as per DPTI’s response, then the remaining issue is aesthetics, so if adjusting to consistent deviation could be done, that would resolve the issue I think. I have written back to DPI asking them if this is possible.

But they cannot be left as is , it is a dogs breakfast in certain patches.

The deflection could be reduced by lowering the overhead height. However, that might not be possible to comply with minimum height standards.

[rubberman]

You guys have raised it with DPTI, they've responded that there's no issue.
Where you guys hoping they would confirm you were right, and they, the professionals being paid to build this infrastructure, were wrong?

Assuming you are serious.

The poles look shit. So there's likely at some point to be shit from the likes of the Advertiser/Indaily. People raising concerns allows DPTI time to prepare answers at their own pace. If and when it gets to the Advertiser, the Minister will want DPTI's answer overnight.

Next, given that the poles are waaay far bent than any known standard allows, it does raise the possibility that there's a structural issue. DPTI says it's all good. However, if something bad does happen, DPTI will have been warned, and cannot expect that people won't tell the Coroner they were warned.

As for being professionals paid to design the project, it seems they are actually heavy rail types designing a tramway as if it were heavy rail. Doable, but expensive and inflexible. I was at the recommissioning of the curve on North Terrace in January. As the first trams went round the curve, they had the tram inch round, and all eyes were glued on the wheels and rails to make sure it was safe. Not one pair of eyes did I see looking at the pantograph on the overhead during the process. Says the lot really.

[HeapsGood]

Does any one have any pics of the leaning Poles and how bad they are?

[rubberman]

Does any one have any pics of the leaning Poles and how bad they are?

Pochyleni Polaci

20180228_114910_resized.jpg (279.8 KiB) Viewed 3206 times

Sorry bout the quality.

[Ho Really]

This whole project on North Terrace including the work that was done opposite Parliament House seems shocking. Raising the tracks from the road surface got a fire truck stuck recently. If this was Europe you'd have the tram tracks serve as emergency lanes for police, fire and ambulance services and even taxis. Take a look at the kerbing on the new section to the east. It will not allow you to access the tracks. Great vision from whomever designed this whole thing. One word "disappointing".

Cheers