News & Discussion: Regional Transport

[Cruise]

oops, once again i have forgetten everyone works in the city, silly me

[Wilfy 2007]

Why should it be designed for CBD workers? Encouraging people to commute long distances is not a good thing, local employment should be provided.

One train a day would be useless. Should run numerous trips over the day, have one trip arriving Adelaide before 8am, but have them running IN BOTH DIRECTIONS during the day, off-peak included, and so you can market it to people from Adelaide who would like to do day trips to the Barossa Valley.

Somebody,
You are right, one train a day would be useless.
The services would need to cater for passengers in both directions.
An extension of the Survey that is currently being conducted would be to hold a public forum in th Barossa to try and assess the numbers going out of the Barossa on a daily basis and the number going in to the Barossa.
Hence in my letter to the Government and Opposition MP's, which I will be writing this afternoon I will be proposing a trail period for a service to run, with the intention to gain more information about the passengers and where they are going, and where are they coming from.

The timetable would have to be worked in with the timetable that was introduced on the 27th of April so that basically what happens that some of the current services are extended into the Barossa.

Maybe the idea would be to plan for the actual service to start in 2018 when the Jumbo's are going to be taken out of service or better still once the New Electric Railcars have been delivered the Jumbo's could be moved to the Barossa and to the Seaford/Aldinga extension.

Regards,

[Will409]

Brian, there are a couple of issues that need to be addressed with the Jumbos.

- The Noarlunga Centre to Seaford/Aldinga extension will more then likely be electrified from the outset. A total of $56million has been allocated to purchase 14 new railcars (probably more like EMUs in light of the State Budget). In addition, the railcar fleet will be increased from the present 99 to 120 railcars to provide services if the system stays in it's current form. If the extension is built, the railcar fleet will go upto 134 units.

- The cast steel bogies of the Jumbos will not allow for easy gauge conversion and can only possibly be done with some VERY EXPENSIVE modifications to the bogies. Considering the age of the Jumbos, the cost of gauge conversion may not be considered justifiable.

- As pointed out above, the Jumbos will be around 38/39 years old by 2018 and very much at the end of their useful life span. The cost of gauge conversion as well as interior upgrades to suit longer distance running will more then likely rule out using the Jumbos in the Barossa.

Using old rollingstock doesn't exactly present a good image for potential passengers who you are trying to lure away from private transport. The best option would be to use new build stock based (mechanically atleast) on a prexisting design such as the V/locities. You can cut design costs and speed up delivery using a suitable prexisting design. The only real future for the Jumbos after withdrawl would be either in preservation (most likely with the NRM, Steamranger and possibly the YRP) and, sadly a few, at Sims.

[Pat28]

Oooh, V/Locities, on the line to Angaston or even the Tilt Train or wait even better (if only mney were no object - wait...) an ICE

damn, gotta stop dreaming

Anyway, beside stopping at Angaston, Tanunda and Nuriootpa (maybe Lyndoch) where else could one have a station?

[Somebody]

Why on earth Seaford/Aldinga would not be electrified would be beyond me - what would be the point of running a Noarlunga-Seaford/Aldinga diesel shuttle like Kiama-Nowra in NSW, when you have just electrified to Noarlunga and should keep the wires flowing.

Will it take until 2018 for every line to be converted to SG? If not then the Jumbos will either be going sooner than that OR will get converted to SG. Wouldn't surprise me if Belair was the last line to get it's upgrading given that it's not being electrified, would be an interesting line to see Jumbos live out their last days on. I have had the pleasure of riding 2008-2117 there in May 2007

or wait even better (if only mney were no object - wait...) an ICE

Why is money no object - they're 20+yrs old, narrow gauge and QR has little use for them. Wouldn't cost as much as new trains would, but would also be little use for SA!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InterCity_ ... tytrain%29

[Norman]

Why on earth Seaford/Aldinga would not be electrified would be beyond me - what would be the point of running a Noarlunga-Seaford/Aldinga diesel shuttle like Kiama-Nowra in NSW, when you have just electrified to Noarlunga and should keep the wires flowing.

Where did you read it wouldn't be electrified?

Will it take until 2018 for every line to be converted to SG? If not then the Jumbos will either be going sooner than that OR will get converted to SG. Wouldn't surprise me if Belair was the last line to get it's upgrading given that it's not being electrified, would be an interesting line to see Jumbos live out their last days on. I have had the pleasure of riding 2008-2117 there in May 2007

Jumbos will probably continue to service until there is no more broad gauge left. They will not be converted to SG. The Adelaide Yard will be split or dual gauge while the 3000-class is refurbished, as they are going SG as well.

or wait even better (if only mney were no object - wait...) an ICE

Why is money no object - they're 20+yrs old, narrow gauge and QR has little use for them. Wouldn't cost as much as new trains would, but would also be little use for SA!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InterCity_ ... tytrain%29

I think he means the German ICE... not an IC from QLD.

[Pat28]

German ICE all the way!

[bm7500]

More specifically... ICE 3 ..... Sex on rails!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... nkfurt.jpg

[Somebody]

Where did you read it wouldn't be electrified?

Use your eyes

Maybe the idea would be to plan for the actual service to start in 2018 when the Jumbo's are going to be taken out of service or better still once the New Electric Railcars have been delivered the Jumbo's could be moved to the Barossa and to the Seaford/Aldinga extension.

I think he means the German ICE... not an IC from QLD.

I knew that

[William]

The Barossa Valley Rail Survey has had some interesting results, Some of the surveys that have returned have had letters attached from people from Truo, Blanche town and Kapunda, from people who commute on a regular bases to the Gawler railway station to get to work, there has also been a number of replies from the disabled and return replies from those who would need the service on the Barossa line for medical and age constraint reasons of why they would like to see a returned service to the Valley.

It was also brought to our attention that in 1968 when the line was closed, there was apparently a very large protest at the Angaston station against the govt closing this railway. Many people have also written to us explaining just how expensive it is to catch the bus service from the Barossa to the city and even just to Gawler, The information center in Gawler and in Tanunda have also said they get phone calls on a daily biases of people from interstate and overseas wanting to know if a passenger service runs to the Valley.

In this day and age, it has become quite apparent in the return surveys,that with the high cost of petrol, and running and owning a private vehicle is becoming increasingly expensive and there are many people not only in the Barossa region but in the Barossa surrounding areas that people are very concerned about the lack of public transport or a passenger rail service to these areas, many many people have been continually asking that now more than ever a rail service with a park and ride facility be established along the Barossa line to Angaston and in many areas of the states Mid North.

[Ho Really]

...The information center in Gawler and in Tanunda have also said they get phone calls on a daily biases of people from interstate and overseas wanting to know if a passenger service runs to the Valley...

This is another reason why they should not rip up the Rosewater loop. This up-and-coming summer Adelaide will have a record number of cruise ship visits at Outer Harbor and many of the visitors will be going to The Barossa. A tourist train (a new or refurbished 'Wine Train') using the Rosewater loop to the Barossa Valley would be great for tourism. Looking to the future, Adelaide has also the potential to become a cruise ship homeport. In a recent report into the Australian cruise industry it has been said that port infrastructure at some eastcoast ports has been lacking and that some cruise companies are thinking about moving elsewhere. At Outer Harbor we can handle the bigger ships with no problems (something that Brisbane couldn't recently), we also have plenty of room for expansion of facilities if required. We already have a world-class international airport and good hotels, all we need now is to spruce up our rail system, which conveniently enough will be getting a major overhaul over the next few years. Let's think lateral!

Cheers

P.S. Of course trains can also run from the city (and light rail from elsewhere).

[Norman]

The Rosewater Loop has already been replaced by the Port River Rail Bridge.

[Somebody]

This is another reason why they should not rip up the Rosewater loop. This up-and-coming summer Adelaide will have a record number of cruise ship visits at Outer Harbor and many of the visitors will be going to The Barossa

Do you really think that they will want to step off the cruise ship, and straight into a train to visit the Barossa Valley, before they do so much as go into the heart of Adelaide City?

Bugger all people use Outer Harbor Station as is.

[Ho Really]

The Rosewater Loop has already been replaced by the Port River Rail Bridge.

For freight yes, but will it ever be used for passenger services. That's the question.

Cheers

[Ho Really]

This is another reason why they should not rip up the Rosewater loop. This up-and-coming summer Adelaide will have a record number of cruise ship visits at Outer Harbor and many of the visitors will be going to The Barossa

Do you really think that they will want to step off the cruise ship, and straight into a train to visit the Barossa Valley, before they do so much as go into the heart of Adelaide City?

Bugger all people use Outer Harbor Station as is.

Some (tourists) would rather go to the city, others to Glenelg and others still to the hills (Cleland, Hahndorf, etc.), but you need to give them the option of going direct to the Barossa Valley.

Cheers