News & Discussion: Adelaide Metro Trains

[Norman]

Norm, you've clearly bought into the Government's spin.

We really have 22 new trains as the 4000 class must be a 3 - carriage set. They cannot be decoupled from one another. There has to be an A, B and T carriage in order for the train as a whole to work.

So, we actually need to be buying another 22 (66) trains for the Gawler line.

Why? We already have 70 3000-class cars that are perfectly suitable for the electrified environment. Most of these run in two, three or four car sets. The 2000-class, most of which have now been retired, ran in two or three car sets.

The Seaford Line needs 8 sets to cover the normal daytime runs, plus another 5 for peak services. 2 are required for the Tonsley Line. That makes 15 sets. We have 22, so we already have an excess of 7 sets which could be used to run double consists, but that is rarely done as the demand isn't there.

[[Shuz]]

The 3000 class are a good 30 years old now. They're on the verge of retirement. We need a new modern fleet of trains that has the capacity, the speed and the mod-cons (like airconditioning) for a 21st century city.

They may be "perfectly" suitable for another 5 years... but by the time the Gawler Electrification project is completed, they'll be excinct. Hence we need to buy new trains now.

[claybro]

We need a new modern fleet of trains that has the capacity, the speed and the mod-cons (like airconditioning) for a 21st century city.

And to have a system that allows the trains to run at the speeds they are designed for!

[Norman]

The 3000 class are a good 30 years old now. They're on the verge of retirement. We need a new modern fleet of trains that has the capacity, the speed and the mod-cons (like airconditioning) for a 21st century city.

They may be "perfectly" suitable for another 5 years... but by the time the Gawler Electrification project is completed, they'll be excinct. Hence we need to buy new trains now.

Given that the 2000-class entered service in 1979 and the 3000-class in 1987-1996, they will be in service for another 10-15 years at least. It's best to let the current ones run out their service. They are still in good condition, have good air conditioning (we have had air conditioning in all trains since the 2000-class) and can run at a decent speed once they have accelerated if the track is in good condition. Let's focus on fixing the tracks first, then talk about buying new trains.

[[Shuz]]

Pretty sure all the tracks except the Belair and Grange lines got fixed a like 3 years ago?

Having said that, there are an awful lot of TSRs about for "brand new" tracks. Is it something they fucked up?

[Norman]

Pretty sure all the tracks except the Belair and Grange lines got fixed a like 3 years ago?

Having said that, there are an awful lot of TSRs about for "brand new" tracks. Is it something they fucked up?

Yeah, on the Seaford line they replaced everything except the actual rail, which is silly. They are going to do some more work fixing that over the next few months apparently, but the ride to and from Seaford is still fairly average.

In terms of which lines have been re-sleepered, all lines except for Grange and a small section between Oaklands and Warradale have been done.

[rubberman]

Pretty sure all the tracks except the Belair and Grange lines got fixed a like 3 years ago?

Having said that, there are an awful lot of TSRs about for "brand new" tracks. Is it something they fucked up?

When new track is laid and packed for the first time, there is inevitably some settlement - happens all the time and is quite normal. In fact, you can feel it in the Glenelg line too.

So no fuck up.

However, what is usual in well specified contracts is for the contractor to come back after a settling in period, and trim up the low spots.

Of course, if they forgot to include that final trim in the contract...oops!

[I Follow PAFC]

Outer Harbor and Grange train line closures.
Outer Harbor (and Grange) train line closures – night and weekend works October-November 2015.

Timetables and routes will be available on the Adelaide Metro website later this week.

http://adelaidemetro.com.au/Announcemen ... e-closures

[claybro]

Is there any word on what is actually now proposed for the OH line going forward? With the Feds now suddenly interested in handing out cash for urban rail, I understand the state gov is prioritising the Gawler line. But before any further tram extensions are also proposed, has the state at least even decided on light rail, normal electric trains, or that strange hybrid thT was once proposed? If they had a cohesive plan, maybe the Feds would also fund at least a commencement of this line, in conjunction with finalising Gawler . After all, Victoria wants $8 billion to build the underground rail link, so our lines should be chicken feed in comparison funding wise.

[PeFe]

From The Advertiser

Millswood train station is set to remain open permanently, after a successful year-long trial

Millswood station will remain open permanently following a successful year-long trial.

MILLSWOOD station will remain open permanently following a successful year-long trial.
Since reopening last October, more than 15,000 commuters have used the train station, closed in 1995 due to insufficient passenger numbers.
March was the most popular month, with 26 per cent more commuters than the monthly average.
Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan said patronage had grown during the trial.
“These figures are not insignificant,” Mr Mullighan told Parliament last week.
“Following this trial, the State Government will keep the Millswood train station open and will continue to encourage public transport use throughout the local community.”
The Reopen Millswood Station Group has been advocating for the station’s reopening for many years.
Member John Greenshields was thrilled it would remain in use.
“The patronage exceeded my expectations greatly, especially during peak hour,” Mr Greenshields said.
“In just a year, it became an essential community asset, particularly for people going to events in the city on the weekend.
“At some points they even had 11 or 12 people get on the train at once, which is a fair bit considering Goodwood station sometimes gets just three people.”
He was confident people would continue to use the station.
“I’m not sceptical of the longevity,” he said.
“The year-long trial proved that it works, for commuters, students and anyone else.”
Fellow group member John Gasper was also pleased.
“It would have been a waste of effort and money if it was closed,” Mr Gasper said.
“There are many people who use the station regularly.
“I felt the station needed to remain open so people could use public transport to get into the city.”
The Transport Department said the Belair line’s timetable would be reviewed early next year.

So 15000 commuters in the last year have used that station, not sure where this fits into the larger scheme of things...Is that a great number or really pissy compared to similar stations?
At least the Belair timetable will be reviewed.....maybe more services stopping at Millswood is on the cards?
I know there is a bus 20 metres away on Goodwood Rd but of course the train is a much quicker journey into the Cbd.

[crawf]

I'd love to know the top 5 or 10 busiest train stations in the metro area, excluding Adelaide station.

This is probably way off the mark, but heres my list.

1. Noarlunga
2. Salisbury
3. Mawson Lakes
4. Elizabeth
5. Woodville?

[ChillyPhilly]

I'd love to know the top 5 or 10 busiest train stations in the metro area, excluding Adelaide station.

This is probably way off the mark, but heres my list.

1. Noarlunga
2. Salisbury
3. Mawson Lakes
4. Elizabeth
5. Woodville?

Looks pretty good to me. Some of the time Mawson Interchange can be busier than Salisbury.

[metro]

Just doing the maths I worked out 15,000 passengers per year is only about 40-50 per day.. how is this a success??

But it would be great to see how that ranks compared to the rest of the network, but if 50 people a day is considered a success then perhaps that means most stations in Adelaide get less than 50 people a day (Kilburn, Kudla etc), but there would be some would have huge numbers of people using them (Mawson, Noarlunga etc). I remember reading somewhere Adelaide Station gets approx 40,000-50,000 per day, and that was a few years ago.

[jk1237]

In addition to Mawson Lakes, Salisbury, Noarlunga and Elizabeth, I think the other well used stations are Oaklands, Brighton, Hallett Cove, Gawler, Smithfield, Blackwood, Glanville. Would be good if they could release some stats, like virtually every other city does

[Patrick_27]

Sidenote to all of this, once the rail electrification is complete. I think we as a state need to start talking about extending the Seaford line further south, Belair line to Mount Barker (and perhaps later on to Murray Bridge) and reopening the Northfield line and extending it to Golden Grove/Tea Tree Gully.