COM: Glenelg Tramline Upgrade

[Diamond]

I think zebra stripes should be painted across the entire intersection (for each of the 3 scramble crossings). It would be much more effective, in my opinion.

Cheers

The road rules wouldn't allow it at an intersection.

I stand corrected, but something to that effect is what I was trying to point out...My knowledge of the Australian road rules isn't the best

Cheers

[Will409]

I was there between 2:00pm and 3:00pm and got a few shots along the line. Plenty going on. Mainly sparks at Vic Square and Concreting at City West. Now that I have a new camera, it is good to be back on site.


Paving delivered to Rundle Mall.






Sparks at Victoria Square.





Platform work at Vic Square.


"I have a feeling that the sign is wrong!"


Traffic signals are now operational.



Concreted track in the northern half of Victoria Square. Nearly ready.


New line breaker at King William Street/North Terrace intersection.




City West stop receiving attention.

[Norman]

Wow, nice shots there Will. Almost there I see

Any word on the official start date?

[Will409]

No word on the official opening date as yet. However, I have heard from a worker on site that the extension will be handed over to TransAdelaide/DTEI (TransAdelaide technically lease all rollingstock and infrastructure from the State Government) from the contractor in as little as two weeks. I have heard rumours of driver training with H class on the King William Street section upto the North Terrace intersection may be as early as September 3. These runs would be at midnight. The H class rather then Flexis are preferred for these runs because they are better at cleaning the rail heads. These driver training runs (going on Melbourne experience here) generally take between 2-4 weeks to complete. My bet is that Sunday, September 23 will be opening day but this is only a guess.

2 reasons for this:

- The weight of the H class is greater then the Flexis. With all the equipment mounted on the underframe, the centre of gravity is lower. There are also magnetic track brake blocks hanging from the suspension equalisers which are only centermetres away from the rail heads.

- The wheel profile between the two tram types is different. When the H class were built in 1929 for use on the Glenelg line, most of the rail was reused from when the line was a steam railway. The rail profiles between a tramway and a railway is different with the tramway rail profile being narrower. The wheels on the H is therefor wider then the Flexi. The wheels will therefor be able to clean more of the rail head surface then a Flexi.

EXTRA NEWS THAT I WASN'T ON SITE FOR:
Even though the platform modifications were not complete, all the edging blocks were put into place. About half an hour after I left Victoria Square, H 351 was test run through Victoria Square. Unlike the previous test with 370 and 380, today was successful. Regular timetabled H class operation can now return to normal starting from this Saturday. Photos of the test run can be found here:

http://www.railpage.com.au/f-t11326407-s555.htm

[skyliner]

Magnificent pics and info.

I have a question? When the line is opened will it be possible to get a Nth Tce - south Tce. tram and return or will all south travelling trams go all the way to Glenelg.in other words will a city only service exist? I put this question as I seem to remember a third track (as a siding) getting laid just south of Sth. Tce.

ADELAIDE - TOWARDS A GREATER CITY SKYLINE

[Norman]

Magnificent pics and info.

I have a question? When the line is opened will it be possible to get a Nth Tce - south Tce. tram and return or will all south travelling trams go all the way to Glenelg.in other words will a city only service exist? I put this question as I seem to remember a third track (as a siding) getting laid just south of Sth. Tce.

ADELAIDE - TOWARDS A GREATER CITY SKYLINE

Yeah, at most times 1/2 of the trams will only run City West to South Terrace AFAIK

[duke]

Magnificent pics and info.

I have a question? When the line is opened will it be possible to get a Nth Tce - south Tce. tram and return or will all south travelling trams go all the way to Glenelg.in other words will a city only service exist? I put this question as I seem to remember a third track (as a siding) getting laid just south of Sth. Tce.

ADELAIDE - TOWARDS A GREATER CITY SKYLINE

Yeah, at most times 1/2 of the trams will only run City West to South Terrace AFAIK

I assume that is how they are going to run the free service?? There would be no other way for them to know who needs to pay.

[Will409]

The 'layby siding' at South Terrace stop southwards along Peacock Road was built with the intention of storing trams outside of peak traffic on the 'new Beeline'. This siding has now been completed with new 'tramway friendly' points. Basically, the old points had railway style blades that while they worked before, did not work well. The new blades are to a tramway design and pattern. This new service will be free from South Terrace all the way to City West so it will run the same route as the Beeline with an extension. In the city, the trams will run to a 7 minute frequency during weekdays. One tram will be city only, the other will be from Glenelg to City West and vice a versa. This does include H class operations which I am sure a lot of people (and don't forget the enthusiasts!) will be very happy about. Just imagine the noise of a coupled set powering away up the hill from the railway station to King William Street.

[Tom]

October 2nd is being thrown around as the offical opening date. Which is a Tuesday.

[skyliner]

Thanks Normamgerman and Will409. It seems the tram traffic along KWS will increase and perhaps be an aid to southern KWS development.]

I know now that when I go to the CBD I will park at Sth Tce and get the tram in and back - much cheaper also. Hope lots more do it - will help unchoke KWS as well and add a 'platform' to the case for futher tramline extensions.

ADELAIDE - TOWARDS A GREATER CITY SKYLINE

[rhino]

I know now that when I go to the CBD I will park at Sth Tce and get the tram in and back

Good luck with that. Something we are sadly lacking in that area is carparking, especially all-day carparking.

[Norman]

I wish they change the "Next Stop" announcements though, they are really bodge and drawn out right now.

It should just be "South Terrace.", and maybe an added line for some stations, like "South Terrace. Connection to Bus 203 avaliabe" or "Marion Road. Connection to M44, 100, 244 and 248 avaliable."

Just my opinion.

[AtD]

October 2nd is being thrown around as the offical opening date. Which is a Tuesday.

Source?

[Tom]

October 2nd is being thrown around as the offical opening date. Which is a Tuesday.

Source?

A conductor I was talking to on the Tram last week.

[duke]

I wonder if they are getting ready for a test run soon. I saw them removing the barriers that were in the middle of the track. Most of them are stacked up along the ends out the way of the track or in the middle median strip. A bit further along King William they have started putting dirt in the median strip also. Looks like its getting towards finishing touches.