News & Discussion: O-Bahn

[Kasey771]

This past Thursday had more buses testing the tunnel.

They've been testing the sensor and emergency systems with each kind of o-bahn enabled bus in the fleet.

Seems to be going well, but with the complexity of all the safety systems combined with reality, I've been told off the record that there's likely going to be a lot of tunnel shutdowns in the first few weeks of operation. Due to unforeseen combinations of events tripping the safety alarm.

This is good and as it should be. Best to err on the side of safety and investigate what happened, then implement what was learned instead of killing a bunch of people.

Of course the PT hating Sadelaide-Now comment brigade will be poised with their comments of "SEE WE TOLD YOU IT WOULDN'T WORK!", "WASTE OF TAXPAYERS' MONEY!" and the like.

You just know its coming:(

[how good is he]

Will other buses heading in/out of the city to/from Grenfell St be using the tunnel or will this be exclusively for O-Bahn routed buses?

[timtam20292]

I would think it’s only for O-bahn buses.

[Patrick_27]

Will other buses heading in/out of the city to/from Grenfell St be using the tunnel or will this be exclusively for O-Bahn routed buses?

Good question - however a majority of the buses that head along Hackney Road are designated for the O-Bahn.

[adelaide transport]

It is the O-Bahn tunnel-so only O-Bahn buses can use it,plus Dumbo which is the Mercedes breakdown truck(the original).

[how good is he]

Yes I accept most are on the O-Bahn route but I would like to know which other routes/buses would benefit if they could ever use the tunnel (and express lanes). Anyone know?

[SBD]

Yes I accept most are on the O-Bahn route but I would like to know which other routes/buses would benefit if they could ever use the tunnel (and express lanes). Anyone know?

Presumably, any route that goes along Hackney Road past the O-Bahn entrance/exit on their way from/to the city centre could benefit from the new tunnel. Are there any routes that fit that description? If they currently use North Terrace instead of Grenfell Street, they might stay on that route rather than switch to the tunnel, or rejigwith other routes that use Botanic Road but not Hackney Road.

[monotonehell]

Yes I accept most are on the O-Bahn route but I would like to know which other routes/buses would benefit if they could ever use the tunnel (and express lanes). Anyone know?

To use the narrow and fast tunnel, vehicles require guide wheels.

[SBD]

Yes I accept most are on the O-Bahn route but I would like to know which other routes/buses would benefit if they could ever use the tunnel (and express lanes). Anyone know?

To use the narrow and fast tunnel, vehicles require guide wheels.

If a route required the tunnel, then the buses scheduled for that route would be buses suitable for using it, just like any routes that leave the busway at Klemzig or Paradise need guidewheels to use the section before that.

[how good is he]

Yes fair points and I know they will need guidewheels (which can always be added) but just curious what other routes/suburbs could benefit from this tunnel. This could further help congestion/trip times. What I was hoping to find out if any other buses/suburbs (apart from the current O-bahn route) could benefit. So nobody knows?
SBD, you state the obvious but it doesn't answer my question.

[Norman]

Yes fair points and I know they will need guidewheels (which can always be added) but just curious what other routes/suburbs could benefit from this tunnel. This could further help congestion/trip times. What I was hoping to find out if any other buses/suburbs (apart from the current O-bahn route) could benefit. So nobody knows?
SBD, you state the obvious but it doesn't answer my question.

Any routes in the North-Eastern suburbs could benefit, but some would require a route change, especially those currently heading along Melbourne Street to access the CBD. It will be interesting to see what the changes will be, but we will have to wait as that information isn't public yet.

[SBD]

Yes fair points and I know they will need guidewheels (which can always be added) but just curious what other routes/suburbs could benefit from this tunnel. This could further help congestion/trip times. What I was hoping to find out if any other buses/suburbs (apart from the current O-bahn route) could benefit. So nobody knows?
SBD, you state the obvious but it doesn't answer my question.

OK, I looked at Google Maps and Adelaide Metro. Route 281 appears to be one you are looking for - Paradise interchange to North Terrace without using the busway. It serves stops on Botanic Road and Hackney Road that would be bypassed by using the tunnel, and the Hackney Road stop will not be accessible from the bus-only lane. Route 273 is similar, but uses Melbourne Street and Frome Road. Route 208 is Melbourne Street and King WIlliam Road. I have not found one that comes from Hackney Road to Grenfell Street but not from the busway.

Was I more help now?

[timtam20292]

I’m a frequent user of the 281. Wish it went further into the city instead of just along North Terrace.

[AG]

The 281 is about the only existing non-OBahn route that could benefit from the new tunnel. W90 could potentially as well, but that would require rerouting through narrow College Park streets to reach the existing Sixth Avenue stops (and skipping the Harrow Road stops), which isn't likely.

The other 20x and 27x routes that run up Melbourne Street are effectively north-south routes that run to the city or King William Street and through to other cross town routes.

[The Scooter Guy]

Ornamental arching is now being installed on both ends.