Re: News & Discussion: Adelaide Metro Trains
Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2019 5:15 pm
A couple of problems with this Aidan. Despite many here hopes and dreams of rail extending through Aberfoyle, Happy valley etc, these areas are very low population density, have very little option for further expansion to the southeast, and will not have enough infill development even in the next 30-50 years to make any extension of Flinders line, through difficult terrain remotely worthwhile. Even the station locations you mention serve no particular community or service centres, rather plonked in the middle of suburbia just so it can follow the path of least resistance terrain wise, with evenly placed stations. Re your "cheaper" option of the upgraded Tonsley with a Flinders loop bus , once this is in place it is unlikely money would be found in our lifetimes for such a project. At least now, the line will terminate somewhat where people need to go and provide a link from the Tonsley development and Flinders precinct, without having to change modes.Aidan wrote: ↑Mon Mar 11, 2019 12:33 amclaybro,
I make no apologies for presenting the cheaper option. DPTI's Flinders Link plan is catastrophic for Adelaide's long term development, as it would make it very difficult to extend the line further (and if they did somehow manage it, the route would be very slow and expensive).
However it does have the short term advantage of being cheaper than my preferred option. So presenting a cheaper still option was essential lest they selected DPTI's plan on cost grounds.
Linking an upgraded Tonsley station with Flinders Uni (with an upgraded Flinders Loop bus, or better still by diverting the G10 via Ring Road) would provide much of the short term benefit of DPTI's plan at a small fraction of the cost. But most importantly, it would still enable a more comprehensive solution in the future.