News & Discussion: Adelaide Metro Trains

[drwaddles]

Single line across the bridge (but double track for the remainder) will not hinder capacity significantly - you can still run 10+ services per hour with a single track bridge, which is in excess of what is required for the forseeable future.

That said, $30m for 'future proofing' is a bargain.

[deano91]

Wow, completion for 2012! That surely means they would have to get cracking soon, maybe next year? It should also mean that the new trains for the line would have to be ordered soon too?

Also, I wonder who's stupid idea it was to replace my usual Monday morning train, which is usually a packed 3 car jumbo set, with a 2 car 3000 set? It felt like sardines on there, horrendous. I also noticed a change the other day in another service. On Wednesday mornings, the train I am on goes through Brighton, where there is usually a 2 car 3000 set waiting to start its service, but last week it had been replaced with a 3 car jumbo set. I wonder if these changes are permanent?

Finally, does anyone have any news on the new ticketing system we're supposed to be getting? Has a decision been made/is this even going ahead??

So many questions, so little time

Actually, I was wrong, I've still got one more question - why is the Noarlunga line going to be closed on the June long weekend? Just routine maintenence??

[Norman]

Wow, completion for 2012! That surely means they would have to get cracking soon, maybe next year? It should also mean that the new trains for the line would have to be ordered soon too?

Also, I wonder who's stupid idea it was to replace my usual Monday morning train, which is usually a packed 3 car jumbo set, with a 2 car 3000 set? It felt like sardines on there, horrendous. I also noticed a change the other day in another service. On Wednesday mornings, the train I am on goes through Brighton, where there is usually a 2 car 3000 set waiting to start its service, but last week it had been replaced with a 3 car jumbo set. I wonder if these changes are permanent?

Finally, does anyone have any news on the new ticketing system we're supposed to be getting? Has a decision been made/is this even going ahead??

So many questions, so little time

Actually, I was wrong, I've still got one more question - why is the Noarlunga line going to be closed on the June long weekend? Just routine maintenence??

1. I think the start date will be 2012, not the completion date. I could be wrong though. Noarlunga/Seaford line is slated for completion in 2013/2014 IIRC.

2. A tender for the new trains has been called, they should arrive from 2013 I think.

3. Trains are all over the place at the moment, as some are being refurbished for the upgraded Belair line and as a precursor to electrification.

4. The ticketing system should be replaced within the next 2 to 3 years. Tenders are out IIRC.

5. Not sure what they are doing on the Noarlunga Line, maybe Will409 will have some info on that.

[bm7500]

There is a now massive stockpile of concrete sleepers ajacent the old Northfield line on Churchill Road North at Dry Creek.

[deano91]

1. I think the start date will be 2012, not the completion date. I could be wrong though. Noarlunga/Seaford line is slated for completion in 2013/2014 IIRC.

2. A tender for the new trains has been called, they should arrive from 2013 I think.

3. Trains are all over the place at the moment, as some are being refurbished for the upgraded Belair line and as a precursor to electrification.

4. The ticketing system should be replaced within the next 2 to 3 years. Tenders are out IIRC.

5. Not sure what they are doing on the Noarlunga Line, maybe Will409 will have some info on that.

Thanks for that Norman. All looking pretty exciting for our future of public transport!

[rhino]

1. I think the start date will be 2012, not the completion date. I could be wrong though. Noarlunga/Seaford line is slated for completion in 2013/2014 IIRC.

I thought the whole idea of the Feds offering this money for infrastructure was to create work. If that is the case, there's not much point in putting it off for 3 years, is there? If it's started ASAP, it could be finished some time in 2012.

[Norman]

There is a now massive stockpile of concrete sleepers ajacent the old Northfield line on Churchill Road North at Dry Creek.

I'd say that they are for the new rail depot and for the Belair Line.

1. I think the start date will be 2012, not the completion date. I could be wrong though. Noarlunga/Seaford line is slated for completion in 2013/2014 IIRC.

I thought the whole idea of the Feds offering this money for infrastructure was to create work. If that is the case, there's not much point in putting it off for 3 years, is there? If it's started ASAP, it could be finished some time in 2012.

Well, I don't know the specifics, they could have the line done in 2012, we'll have to see.

[Archer]

There something happening along the Noarlunga Line, just north of the Meyer Rd bridge at Lonsdale. I haven't had a good look but there appeared to be some heavy machinery, a couple of containers and a fenced off area, probably for storing equipment. Map below shows the location, basically just a little further north from the stockpile of concrete sleepers and the work for the Desal Plant. Map Below:

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?hl=en&ie ... 3&t=h&z=17

[Norman]

A new area at the DTEI website has been set up for the Noarlunga Line, specifically the upgraded Hallett Cove stations.

http://dtei.sa.gov.au/infrastructure/RR ... ne_renewal

[Norman]

Time for an update. The full set of photos, as well as a larger size can be viewed here: http://cid-8ac526a53435b646.skydrive.li ... 9-6-2009|6

Point under construction at the Adelaide End of Blackwood Station




Sleepers laid for one of the Platforms at Blackwood




Construction of the Pedestrian Crossing




Clamp in place


Welding underway at the Blackwood Layover Point


Blackwood Point at the Belair End


A nice track, nice sleepers and a nice new trackbed, can't wait for this to finish!

[deano91]

Great pics Norman! Able to shed any light on what this "upgrade" of Blackwood consists of?

[Norman]

Great pics Norman! Able to shed any light on what this "upgrade" of Blackwood consists of?

I heard it was a facelift, but I think work will only get underway once the track had been laid. Nothing has been done thus far.

[deano91]

Ahhh fair enough, I knew it was a facelift but everytime I drive past there (which is quite often) I can never see any differences.

[Xaragmata]

Thanks for the update Norman, I haven't been following any of this...

[deano91]

Transport ticket system bids

Article from: The Advertiser

GREG KELTON

June 26, 2009 12:01am

OVERSEAS companies are among the 13 which have expressed interest in supplying a multimillion-dollar ticketing system for Adelaide's public transport system.

State Transport Minister Patrick Conlon told the parliamentary Budget Estimates Committee bids would be evaluated between now and August.

The new system is understood to be likely to involve a combination of rechargeable Smartcards and disposable magnetic tickets to cover single trips.

The Government set aside $29 million over four years to buy and implement the system but said it did not have a definitive time frame for its implementation. The existing Crouzet ticket system has been operating for more than 20 years.

The Government is finding it increasingly difficult to get parts for it. The system also costs about $225,000 a year in lost revenue.

Mr Conlon told Parliament: "We deal with these matters with the highest possible probity. I can guarantee I will have absolutely no role in selecting a bidder."

I'm glad to see that there is some action happening on this one. Out of all of the projects that are going on, this is one of the projects I would most like to see happen and happen soon. I think a smartcard would make such a good positive difference for all PT users.



It's also interesting to see what the Government views as "comprehensive":

Transport 'plan' looks a bit thin

Article from: The Advertiser

June 26, 2009 12:01am

LABOR'S "comprehensive" plan for public transport has been revealed as a one-page map in a Budget Estimates Committee hearing.

Opposition transport spokesman Duncan McFetridge and Transport Minister Patrick Conlon clashed heatedly over the issue when Mr McFetridge said a Freedom of Information application had resulted in the Liberals being given a map.

In a radio interview last month, Mr Conlon referred to a comprehensive plan of the public transport system and corridors.