[U/C] Port Adelaide Dock Spur Line

[Spotto]

Part 2, a view of the project from Redhill Bridge. Part of the new track bed is waiting on ballast but progress is strong. The new passing loop can be seen in the distance.

Some hints of the Rosewater Loop junction remain with timber sleepers at what would’ve been the old points.

[Norman]

Thanks for the update

[rev]

Next step the government should take is moving the Port Adelaide Police station & courts to the corner of Bower & Old Port roads and opening up the existing site for an apartment/retail development, help push the revitalization of the Port further along.

[I Follow PAFC]

Train services could be every 15 - 20 mins
Work has begun on a $51 million railway into the heart of Port Adelaide.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=234794112967725

Construction has finally begun to return public rail services to the heart of Port Adelaide for the first time in more than 40 years.
It's costing more than $50 million dollars to lay just one kilometre of track, but local businesses say it will be a huge boost to the local economy.
https://www.facebook.com/9NewsAdelaide/ ... 326950888/

[1NEEDS2POST]

Next step, I'd like to see this turned into a terminus for trains to Dry Creek as well via the now disused goods line.

I've always been told that the new station would be an island platform with the metro trains on the non-museum side and the NRM trains on the other but that plan only shows one track into the platform....

One platform could become inadequate especially on busy event weekends such as History Festival in May and Transport Expo in October. Also Will the platform be long enough to fit a 6 car 3000 set and double 4000 emu set.

Or it could be a three platform station:
One for NRM
One for trains to the city
One for trains to Dry Creek

[Modbury_Man]

I've always been told that the new station would be an island platform with the metro trains on the non-museum side and the NRM trains on the other but that plan only shows one track into the platform....

Looking at the video here, it seems a very small part of the southern end of the platform will be an 'island' style platform for NRM internal use. The video shows a steam engine sitting there.

https://dit.sa.gov.au/infrastructure/pu ... ilway_line

[Spotto]

Next step, I'd like to see this turned into a terminus for trains to Dry Creek as well via the now disused goods line.

Would’ve be easier to convert in future if they hadn’t dumped a load of earth between Russell Street and the mainline junction

[1NEEDS2POST]

Next step, I'd like to see this turned into a terminus for trains to Dry Creek as well via the now disused goods line.

Would’ve be easier to convert in future if they hadn’t dumped a load of earth between Russell Street and the mainline junction

There are two routes to Dry Creek, one being the Rosewater Loop that lasted a lot longer than the other. The other was through Gilman Railyards and there is still a path between there and the line to Dry Creek. This is shorter and it might be easier to rebuild than the Rosewater Loop. It also wouldn't have as many level crossings, I don't think re-opening the Grand Junction Road level crossing would be appealing.

[MT269]

If the lines are to be connected, then it might be appropriate to connect the Port Dock line to the Outer Harbour line, and use the alignment via Wingfield as a T junction. The Rosewater loop corridor is surplus to requirements, and has no use nowadays.

[1NEEDS2POST]

If the lines are to be connected, then it might be appropriate to connect the Port Dock line to the Outer Harbour line, and use the alignment via Wingfield as a T junction. The Rosewater loop corridor is surplus to requirements, and has no use nowadays.

That would be ideal if the viaduct could be reconfigured. There would be three lines:

Outer Harbour <-> Port Dock <-> Dry Creek
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ^
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \/
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . City

If that's possible, then may as well run trains straight from Outer Harbor to Dry Creek via Port Dock. Even if they have to reverse direction at Port Dock, that's do-able and done on railways in other countries. The most used stations are between Port Dock and the City, so it could be higher frequency than the others. Plus, when they get around to electrifying the line, they could start with Port Dock to the city first and leave the rest until later.

When ARTC moves their track across the salt pans, then the third track between Dry Creek and Salisbury will be free, so too will be the track to Virginia. For almost no upfront cost, it could be reconfigured to this:

Outer Harbour <-> Port Dock <-> Dry Creek <-> Salisbury <-> Virginia
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ^
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \/
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . City

It might seem strange because few would go the full route, but ultimately a train from Virginia to Outer Harbor solves a lot of problems: it allows Virginia residents to get to the city by train by changing at Salisbury, it allows travel from the Gawler line to Port Dock/Outer Harbor line without transiting through the city and it allows lower frequency on Outer Harbor than Port Dock.

[MT269]

In response to the above, I meant via extending it beyond Port Dock, and connecting it to the OH line somewhere near Peterhead. The current alignment via Commercial Rd and Ethelton would be closed. A new station near Glanville could be built. The issue is it creates a second short working on a line in which is not practical for. How many lines of about 20kms in length have 2 short workings with moderate patronage levels at best?

I doubt it would be financially viable to connect these lines in such a manner. If in the unlikely event it's ever done, it would be practical to include a Semaphore extension in the budget, with only one corridor and not two.

The extension to Semaphore would probably cost upwards of $40 million with near zero patronage, excluding Easter and the NY events. But if ARTC/whoever can construct a new bypass route, then why can't the DIT?

All you really get is a station slightly closer to the bus interchange, and even further away from the shopping centre which has money spent on it in the last two or so years IIRC. And increased running costs as well. Running a 3 car electric set from Port or Semaphore or somewhere to Virginia with patronage that wouldn't even fill a minibus would be absurd.

Also, having checked the length, a bird has to fly around 14kms to Virginia. Yet a train has to backtrack by quite a bit, go east, northeast. then northwest again in a journey which amounts to about 40kms. I doubt one could justify running a 3 car set on such a service. Having fixed 3 car sets is definitely progress. But can have its downsides as well.

[Norman]

A few photos from last week

[Jacob_ULG3]

From the Public Transport Projects Alliance page

Works will take place within the rail corridor in Port Adelaide, Alberton and Rosewater. Works will be undertaken at night to minimise disruption to the Outer Harbor train service.

Works include:

Removal of temporarily concrete barriers.
Rail signalling changes.
Installation of rail infrastructure (including ballast, sleepers and rail track).
Connection of new rail track to existing rail track.
The rail works will take place within the rail corridor between, Belgrave Street, Alberton and Old Port Road, Port Adelaide.

You may hear noise from vehicles, construction equipment, machinery and delivery trucks.

During the works, there will be some light spill and noisy disruptions from time to time, but we'll do our best to keep the noise to a minimum.

WORK HOURS
From Monday 18 March to Thursday 21 March 2024, works within the rail corridor will take place each night from 9pm to 4am.

From 11.30pm Friday 22 March until 4am Monday 25 March 2024, works within the rail corridor will take place continuously throughout the day and night.

OUTER HARBOR LINE SERVICE IMPACTS
During these works there will be some impacts to the Outer Harbor train services.

From 9pm until the last service each night between Monday 18 March to Thursday 21 March, the Outer Harbor rail line will be partially closed between Woodville and Outer Harbor Railway Stations. Outer Harbor train services will continue to operate between Adelaide Railway Station and Woodville Station with substitute buses operating between Woodville and Outer Harbor Railway Stations.

From Saturday 23 March until Sunday 24 March 2024, the Outer Harbor rail line will be partially closed between Woodville and Outer Harbor Railway Stations. Outer Harbor train services will continue to operate between Adelaide Railway Station and Woodville Station with substitute buses operating between Woodville and Outer Harbor Railway Stations.

There will be no impacts to the Grange line services.

Please observe rail service signage and visit www.adelaidemetro.com.au for the latest information.

[rev]

A few photos from last week

Is it just me or does that curved section look odd? I'm assuming they haven't finished perhaps?


Off topic, but is that an F35C in the background in that yard?

[PD2/20]

Is it just me or does that curved section look odd? I'm assuming they haven't finished perhaps?

The track requires the use of a tamping machine to consolidate the ballast under the sleepers to establish the correct vertical and horizontal alignments of the track. It is only more recently that the track has been laid across the the old access road to the Aviation Museum to the new platform. The connection to the main line will also require tamping. The completion of the junction will allow the tamper to be brought in by rail.