COM: Glenelg Tramline Upgrade

[Briggzy_03]

Thank you for the updates Bill. Much appreciated mate.

[Waewick]

Well the trams aren't up and running today.

[BillD]

Three of us were at stop 12 by 5am ready to ride the first tram but... no trams.
The latest estimate from an orange vest was for the test trams to be rolling between 10 & 12.
The overhead trucks were off the track at 5:40 and one of the guys said "we're done here".

Here's a shot of the crossover:

[muzzamo]

all of the tram stops in the city are still closed..

[DM8]

Glenelg tram line out of service
Article from: The Advertiser
December 07, 2009 09:15am

ADELAIDE'S trams will stay in their sheds today because work on the new Glenelg overpass has taken longer than expected.

A substitute bus service that ran over the weekend will continue today.

Regular services are expected to resume by tomorrow morning.

But commuters have been advised to contact Adelaide Metro infoline this afternoon to confirm that services will be available tomorrow.

[Pat28]

From the AdMet site:

NO TRAM SERVICES MONDAY 7 DECEMBER
BUS SUBSTITUTES TO CONTINUE


Substitute bus services availableTRAM SUBSTITUTE BUS SERVICES AVAILABLE


Tram Substitute Bus Services
Tram substitute bus services are operating (Monday 7 December) as near as possible to the weekday tram timetable between Glenelg and the City every 15 minutes during the day.

Shuttles Terrace to Terrace
Tram substitute bus shuttle services also operate (Monday 7 December) between North and South Terrace every 6 minutes.


Work to transfer trams onto the new Glenelg Tram Overpass has taken longer than expected and as a result there will be NO tram services operating today, Monday 7 December.


Despite working around the clock across the weekend, project contractor McConnell Dowell has been unable to complete the package of works that included:

• relocation of trams from temporary to new track

• new electrical supply

• all associated power supply safety features and testing


Tram customers are advised substitute bus services that have run across the weekend will continue today to ensure customers can complete their regular journeys.

Advisory signs will be in place at all tram stops to guide customers to buses while TransAdelaide staff will be on hand at major tram stops to direct passengers.

Regular services will resume from first service Tuesday morning, December 8.

Traffic on South Road will NOT be affected by the delay.


The project team undertook an ambitious package of works over the weekend that included track work at South Terrace and upgrading of the overhead wires along the line.


Crews also spent the weekend upgrading all level crossing signals along the length of the Glenelg tram line.


With resources highly skilled and in limited supply, workplace agreements requiring scheduled breaks mean the delay has proven unavoidable.

Multiple, 24-hour work sites were chosen to prevent further closures of the line but cumulative delays have resulted in the need to run works into Monday.


Whilst every effort was made to complete the work in time for Monday’s timetabled services, safety must be the first priority with all works requiring thorough testing before services recommence.


The Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure apologises for the inconvenience and thanks tram customers for their patience while this important infrastructure project is completed.

[fabricator]

From the AdMet site:

Despite working around the clock across the weekend, project contractor McConnell Dowell has been unable to complete the package of works that included:

• relocation of trams from temporary to new track

Pretty sure the trams stay in the depot, its only which track they move over which has changed.
Nice failure of english there AdMet

[AG]

Looks like the contractor was a bit too ambitious and tried to bite off more than they could chew with the weekend works for the second time. I find it astonishing that those who continue to post comments on AdelaideNow think that the Government is responsible for the missed deadline (I'd hate to break this to anyone who doesn't know this already, but the Government is only responsible for funding and overseeing the project, not building it).

[rhino]

(I'd hate to break this to anyone who doesn't know this already, but the Government is only responsible for funding and overseeing the project, not building it).

Traditionally, the person least likely to understand this has been the leader of the opposition.

[AtD]

Am I correct in saying normally these sort of contracts include financial penalties on the builder if they fail to meet a contractual deadline?

I wonder if today's shenanigans cost them much.

[Waewick]

Looks like the contractor was a bit too ambitious and tried to bite off more than they could chew with the weekend works for the second time. I find it astonishing that those who continue to post comments on AdelaideNow think that the Government is responsible for the missed deadline (I'd hate to break this to anyone who doesn't know this already, but the Government is only responsible for funding and overseeing the project, not building it).

surely overseeing it involves it being supplied on time? It seems the Rann government can find excuses to avoid responsibility for everything.

Letting governments off for everything is how one way freeways get built

[AtD]

surely overseeing it involves it being supplied on time? It seems the Rann government can find excuses to avoid responsibility for everything.

Letting governments off for everything is how one way freeways get built

The ALP MPs aren't engineers!

[Tonsley213]

I was only talking to my pearents last night saying that it would be open way before anyone knew it woludn't. Welldone to me for predicting that..

[BillD]

5:16pm 7th Dec 2009 - Flexity 107 is the first tram to use the new South Rd overpass (on the up track).

During the first trip over and back it was attended by a number of high-vis vests and was at sub-walking speed. The next couple were faster.

Flexity 103 followed at 6:01pm on the 'down'.



Bill

[BillD]

Here it is coming down the eastern ramp on the first test pass.

Well done everybody !