News & Discussion: Adelaide Metro Trains

[Spotto]

With disused infrastructure along the Gawler line being demolished with the electrification works, have the BG connections to 1Rail's Dry Creek north and south yards been severed as well? Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Penrice Stony was the last BG freight train to use the Gawler line and the only other BG freight connections into Adelaide are the decaying remnants of the abandoned lines from Roseworthy to Kapunda, Balaklava and Burra last used in the 90s.

[Brucetiki]

Drove over Elizabeth Way bridge last week-no work whatsoever has started from Elizabeth Station heading North?

I feel like the bulk of the project will be done in two stages: Adelaide to Salisbury, then Salisbury to Gawler Central.

That was how the project first started.

Stage One (est cost. $152.5 Mill) between Adl - Salisbury and Was state government funded.
Stage Two (Est cost. $462.5 Mill) between Salisbury and GAWC was jointly funded by state and federal.

without the federal govt getting involved, only half the line wouldve been done.

My theory is that they are getting Stage One Done in 2020 and then Stage Two Done Next Year. It shows when according to Adelaide Metro's Gawler Line closures site that from April 2021 that between Adelaide and Mawson Lakes will be open and the rest of the line being shut. Same when Stage One includes shut down from Adelaide to Salisbury Until Xmas Day 2020 and then full line closures afterwards. Even after the July 2021 school holidays that between Salisbury and Gawler Central is shut and then Adelaide to Salisbury is open.

Kind of gives it away seeing as they have been working on between Adelaide and Salisbury all year this year.

Question is while they work on stage 2, will they use the electrics for stage 1, or keep to diesel until the new rolling stock rolls up

[Jacob_ULG3]

I feel like the bulk of the project will be done in two stages: Adelaide to Salisbury, then Salisbury to Gawler Central.

That was how the project first started.

Stage One (est cost. $152.5 Mill) between Adl - Salisbury and Was state government funded.
Stage Two (Est cost. $462.5 Mill) between Salisbury and GAWC was jointly funded by state and federal.

without the federal govt getting involved, only half the line wouldve been done.

My theory is that they are getting Stage One Done in 2020 and then Stage Two Done Next Year. It shows when according to Adelaide Metro's Gawler Line closures site that from April 2021 that between Adelaide and Mawson Lakes will be open and the rest of the line being shut. Same when Stage One includes shut down from Adelaide to Salisbury Until Xmas Day 2020 and then full line closures afterwards. Even after the July 2021 school holidays that between Salisbury and Gawler Central is shut and then Adelaide to Salisbury is open.

Kind of gives it away seeing as they have been working on between Adelaide and Salisbury all year this year.

Question is while they work on stage 2, will they use the electrics for stage 1, or keep to diesel until the new rolling stock rolls up

Put it this way. Stage one might be commissioned but highly doubt it because of the full line closures put in place for when they work on stage 2. They are working on stage 2 now. I've noticed the survey pegs out at the elizabeth turn back track. I hope they can actually connect that track up because its not properly connected.

[Spotto]

I've noticed the survey pegs out at the elizabeth turn back track. I hope they can actually connect that track up because its not properly connected.

The turnback is already fully connected for each direction of travel, it's just that the centre track extends a little north and south beyond the connecting points for some reason.

[PD2/20]

I've noticed the survey pegs out at the elizabeth turn back track. I hope they can actually connect that track up because its not properly connected.

The turnback is already fully connected for each direction of travel, it's just that the centre track extends a little north and south beyond the connecting points for some reason.

Jacob_UGL3 is correct in saying the Elizabeth turn back is not properly connected. When constructed in 2012 in early works for electrification the switches and point motors were installed. The signalling for the turn back would have been part of the electrification and reignalling that was cancelled in 2013. Subsequently all point motors were removed and the switches in the running tracks were replaced with plain rail, although the crossing frogs were left in place. This can be verified from aerial imagery online.

The extension of the centre track beyond the points is standard practice to prevent overrunning fouling the running tracks.

[Jacob_ULG3]

I've noticed the survey pegs out at the elizabeth turn back track. I hope they can actually connect that track up because its not properly connected.

The turnback is already fully connected for each direction of travel, it's just that the centre track extends a little north and south beyond the connecting points for some reason.

Jacob_UGL3 is correct in saying the Elizabeth turn back is not properly connected. When constructed in 2012 in early works for electrification the switches and point motors were installed. The signalling for the turn back would have been part of the electrification and reignalling that was cancelled in 2013. Subsequently all point motors were removed and the switches in the running tracks were replaced with plain rail, although the crossing frogs were left in place. This can be verified from aerial imagery online.

The extension of the centre track beyond the points is standard practice to prevent overrunning fouling the running tracks.

That could possibly be another reason why the project is now 100 million bucks more and is delayed longer, to fix what was not done 8 years ago.

[Eurostar]

Seeing how Stage 1 will most likely be completed first, this will at least enable Seaford/Flinders EMUs to travel between Adelaide and Dry Creek Depot for servicing. Also testing the new sets and driver training could be done so between Dry Creek and Mawson Lakes.

[[Shuz]]

How on earth is Stage 1 costing just under $200m given there's the ARTC line to contend with and Stage 2 is costing 2.5x times that where there's ample room for works? Makes no sense.

[PD2/20]

How on earth is Stage 1 costing just under $200m given there's the ARTC line to contend with and Stage 2 is costing 2.5x times that where there's ample room for works? Makes no sense.

Stage 1 Adelaide - Salisbury services would have been covered by the surplus electric fleet (4-5 units) from the Seaford electrification. About half of Stage 2 cost is the 12 additional units that are required for full service.

[Jacob_ULG3]

How on earth is Stage 1 costing just under $200m given there's the ARTC line to contend with and Stage 2 is costing 2.5x times that where there's ample room for works? Makes no sense.

Stage 1 Adelaide - Salisbury services would have been covered by the surplus electric fleet (4-5 units) from the Seaford electrification. About half of Stage 2 cost is the 12 additional units that are required for full service.

Im pretty sure in that cost as well is replacing the existing masts to the steel masts.

[PD2/20]

How on earth is Stage 1 costing just under $200m given there's the ARTC line to contend with and Stage 2 is costing 2.5x times that where there's ample room for works? Makes no sense.

Stage 1 Adelaide - Salisbury services would have been covered by the surplus electric fleet (4-5 units) from the Seaford electrification. About half of Stage 2 cost is the 12 additional units that are required for full service.

Im pretty sure in that cost as well is replacing the existing masts to the steel masts.

I'd be surprised if the concrete masts are removed. Several years ago survey plates with track alignment details were attached to each of the concrete masts. This was one of the earliest signs that the electrification project was being restarted.

[SBD]

Stage 1 Adelaide - Salisbury services would have been covered by the surplus electric fleet (4-5 units) from the Seaford electrification. About half of Stage 2 cost is the 12 additional units that are required for full service.

Im pretty sure in that cost as well is replacing the existing masts to the steel masts.

I'd be surprised if the concrete masts are removed. Several years ago survey plates with track alignment details were attached to each of the concrete masts. This was one of the earliest signs that the electrification project was being restarted.

One of the bridges has to be removed in stage 2. I don't know if any of the other bridges (including Little Para and South Para rivers) present greater challenges than the stage 1 bridges.

[[Shuz]]

That clears things up a little, especially the 12 new trains.

I would hope they are transferring some of the Gawler line fleet onto the Outer Harbour and Belair lines to increase frequency. Though I suspect Belair is almost at capacity with level crossing down times and single track line operation.

[Spotto]

Did the promised third-seat removals on the diesel stock get done? Was announced back in May that COVID had advanced existing plans that would see the work done over June. Haven't been on the diesel lines at all this year so I have no idea.

[Brucetiki]

Did the promised third-seat removals on the diesel stock get done? Was announced back in May that COVID had advanced existing plans that would see the work done over June. Haven't been on the diesel lines at all this year so I have no idea.

Yeah the third seat's been removed from the diesels