News & Discussion: Adelaide Metro Trains

[Wayno]

I'd be more then happy to contribute photos and information to the fact sheet. However, I think we should try and highlight the various issues and then offer various solutions to them. Perhaps we should also provide contact details to people such as the State Transport Minister, the Premier and the Opposition Leader. Let the people be heard!

As for distribution, what about setting setting up stands at various railway stations where possible.

good man! could you collaborate with a few other rail-geeks on a fact-sheet please. Probably no dire urgency as we don't have any fixed deadlines to work towards (unless you want to generate impact in advance of the SA budget in June). This fact sheet will also be a good education for many S-A members (including myself)!

Anyone see any problems with the general direction here?

I think you need to rethink what you're doing. Firstly what are you trying to achieve? Distribution at railway stations sounds like preaching to the converted to me. Most commuters are well aware that the system is suffering from neglect. The fact that some of them might not know that things can be better isn't really a great reason to go to the trouble of distributing such a document. And once you've distributed such a document, then what? Where do they take their concerns from there? Would the document suggest to them what to do next? Or will it just end up in the bin as a dead end exercise.

I'm not 100% sure but I think that you're going about this wrong.

yep, i readily admit i'm not sure of the best course of action here. Producing a 1-page fact sheet and bouncing it around in this forum is a good start though - will definitely spark ideas and conversation...

[AtD]

I think you need to rethink what you're doing. Firstly what are you trying to achieve? Distribution at railway stations sounds like preaching to the converted to me. Most commuters are well aware that the system is suffering from neglect. The fact that some of them might not know that things can be better isn't really a great reason to go to the trouble of distributing such a document. And once you've distributed such a document, then what? Where do they take their concerns from there? Would the document suggest to them what to do next? Or will it just end up in the bin as a dead end exercise.

I'm not 100% sure but I think that you're going about this wrong.

It's not so much preaching to the converted, because there is a considerable level of apathy. People are resigned to the fact they have a shitty rail system. It's something that would be more appropriate closer to the state election, to put the issue on the addenda of at least some voters. Perhaps you guys can find some marginal seats and target stations and interchanges in those areas? If the major parties figure some swing voters in the key marginals care about rail, you might just find some political attention.

I'm not normally one to encourage a "the government 'ought to do something" attitude, but I think this is one case where it's the only option.

[muzzamo]

Have you guys picked up on the changes to the gawler line and new timetable?:

http://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/routes/ ... thern.html

[Xaragmata]

Have you guys picked up on the changes to the gawler line and new timetable?:

http://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/routes/ ... thern.html

Just alter the typo from Galwer to Gawler & it will appear

( http://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/ttsearc ... ext=Galwer )

I left a message for their site administrator.

[Omicron]

The best way to avoid the problems of the rail system is to drive everywhere instead

We must also drive large-capacity V8s, so that all traffic reaches the speed limit as quickly as possible, which in turn improves efficiency.

[Cruise]

The best way to avoid the problems of the rail system is to drive everywhere instead

We must also drive large-capacity V8s, so that all traffic reaches the speed limit as quickly as possible, which in turn improves efficiency.

Very True,

[Norman]

The best way to avoid the problems of the rail system is to drive everywhere instead

We must also drive large-capacity V8s, so that all traffic reaches the speed limit as quickly as possible, which in turn improves efficiency.

Especially when you're a Port Adelaide bogan

I'm seriously disappointed at the youth at Broadmeadows and Elizabeth who were throwing rocks and eggs at the train as we were leaving the station.

[Pistol]

^^ What more do you expect?

[Will409]

Had a couple of bottles thrown at the train in my time. I'm surprised I havn't had any golf balls hit the train going through East Grange golf course.

[Omicron]

The best way to avoid the problems of the rail system is to drive everywhere instead

We must also drive large-capacity V8s, so that all traffic reaches the speed limit as quickly as possible, which in turn improves efficiency.

Very True,

I for one shall do my part for traffic efficiency with the 500ci V8 of a '70 Eldorado, or perhaps a 428 SCJ! 440 Magnum! 455SD! LS6 454! Excellent.

[Will409]

The perfect oppurtunity has arisen on Railsa to start a joint website collaboration on upgrading the rail system. We have currently got a few idea's floating around here.

Howie, could we possibly split this thread so the 'think tank' session can begin in a dedicated thread? I'll alert the membership of Railsa as to what is going on here and see if I can get some member's there to start posting here.

[Wayno]

The perfect oppurtunity has arisen on Railsa to start a joint website collaboration on upgrading the rail system. We have currently got a few idea's floating around here.

Howie, could we possibly split this thread so the 'think tank' session can begin in a dedicated thread? I'll alert the membership of Railsa as to what is going on here and see if I can get some member's there to start posting here.

that's great news!

[Will409]

The idea's on the thread I already linked to on Railsa are continuing to flow but I have managed to plug this thread on Railsa also. I have mentioned the planned 1/2 page fact sheet about the current issues/dangers with the current system as well as what can be done to rectify and improve it as well as providing a link here. Finally, I have made an appeal for any interested members to start posting here to help out. Both forums want the same thing, an improved rail system here in Adelaide. There are people on Railsa with far more detailed knowledge then I (including a couple of locomotive drivers, one who drives the once daily stone train down the Gawler Central line). Hopefully we can start getting this 'next assignement' off the ground.

[Will409]

All facts for the Sensational-Adelaide rail fact sheet to be posted here. I'll start up a new thread on Railsa to see if I can get info from there as well to post here. Get the members there who have a deeper knowledge of the railways then I to contribute. The points below are some of the basic details as to what is wrong around the system.

Issues:

Track:
-Chipping/shelling of the rail head.
-Rail buckling.
-Mechanically jointed in places.
-Snapped timber sleepers.
-Rotten timber sleepers.
-High dirt concentration in the ballast causing poor drainage.
-Shallow ballast in places which if not looked after can again lead to poor drainage.
-Level crossing safety and traffic flow.

Stations:
-The majority of them are rundown with only the most basic of facilities.
-Poor lighting (although this is being slowly rectified).
-Substandard passenger accomodation in certain examples such as Elizabeth South.
-Poor security at a large number of stations.

Rollingstock:
-More rollingstock needed to cater from growing traffic.
-Poorly kept windows (heavily scratched and covered in white muck).

Signalling/Public Address/Ticketing:
-Crouzet style ticketing system still in use 21 years after it was first launched to the public. Spare parts now very hard nigh impossible to acquire.

Services:
-Lack of late night services.
-Poor railcar allocation in regards to individual service capacity.

Solutions:

Track:
-Rerail various sections of track.
-Grind arious sections of track where applicable to extend rail life.
-Make CWR (Continuously Welded Rail) as standard across the whole system.
-Replace all steel/timber sleepers with gauge convertable concrete sleepers across the whole system (with the neccessary exception of insulated joints for signalling purposes).
-Clean up existing ballast with a high concentration of new ballast and relay from the ground up.

Stations:
-Replace smaller shelters with new facilities with deeper roofs for better passenger protection from the elements.
-Install solar panels on stations roofs (possibly like the ones on the tramline extension where the solar panels form the roofing).
-A dedicated maintenance force to maintain stations only.

Rollingstock:
-Order and extra 20-35 extra railcars to cope with current traffic demands as well as to cater for higher frequency services.

Signalling/Public Address/Ticketing:
-More upto date ticket system (such as a Smartcard system) based on the best systems currently inplace around the world.

Services:
-Introduce more night as well as late night services of a suitable frequency.

All points listed in italics are issues/solutions that have been brought up by other people. Any extra points raised will be updated in this post.

[Norman]

-Crouzet was introduced as a temprary solution that was put in place to last only a few years (ie 4 or 5)
-Timetables are outdated to give an accurate time of when the train runs
-Lack of proper set lenth scheduling
-Lack of services on the Outer Harbor line on Weekends
-Lack of services at night
-Lack of late-night services (ie 1am & 2am)