COM: Glenelg Tramline Upgrade

[sam]

Real grass between the tracks, WOW! How long is that going to last?

It's a shame there is only a little bit of grass on that side of the square - I pictured the whole bit through the southern half of victoria square (including the station itself) being grassed, like this DTEI image:

[Will409]

You may have noted that at the new Victoria Square stop, there is a slump in the middle and there is a drain in the concrete. If it was just grassed over, the water would have just seeped to the bottom and create what in railway terminology would be a 'mudhole'. Basically, the track will bounce up and down like a trampoline when a vehicle goes over it. That is probably the reason why the track was concreted in at the new stop. If it was on a dead level, then it wouldn;t have been a problem and indeed has been done at Box Hill terminus in Melbourne.

Never fear though, the whole northern half of the square will have grass laid between the tracks. Atleast half the southern half has had this done and looks a treat.

[jk1237]

I just had a quick look on the way back from town. The grassed patches look great. Because of the point crossover and tram stop, the southern end of Vic Sq wont have as much grassed patches as the yet to be constructed northern side of the square.

[Ho Really]

This lawn between the tracks is it going to be watered or is it going to be sustained by rain alone?

Cheers

[Pistol]

From The Advertiser

August 06, 2007 02:15am
A PARTY will mark the opening of the $31 million tramline extension, Transport Minister Patrick Conlon announced yesterday.

Work was running to schedule with the new track expected to be in use by the end of September, although an exact launch date was not available, he said.

"I'm sure it will be modest, but one of the things we're hoping to do is get some of the people who last caught the trams down North Tce to catch the new ones," he said.

Any excuse for a party...

[BillD]

Here's Flexity 101 on the first scheduled run into the new Victoria Sq stop. Following an uneventful trip we arrived just before 6am on Monday the 6th of August. There was a decent fog and no lighting on the platform although some generator lights arrived shortly afterwards.

[rhino]

Hi,

I've just registered, been following the forum for a while now.

I remember a mention in the Advertiser of the new tramline bridge crossing South Road and it came up in BillD's post again.

Tried to search the forum but found nothing more on it. Does anyone have any further info?

Cheers.

This is being done so that when southbound traffic on South Road exits the new tunnel under Anzac Highway, it won't be immediately held up by a tram needing to get across the road. The other option would have been to extend the South Road tunnel under the tramline, but that would have involved buying up a lot more real estate and the tramline bridge was the cheaper option.

[Norman]

Here's Flexity 101 on the first scheduled run into the new Victoria Sq stop. Following an uneventful trip we arrived just before 6am on Monday the 6th of August. There was a decent fog and no lighting on the platform although some generator lights arrived shortly afterwards.

Cheers Bill. I was going to come on this morning, but decided not to, the dark would not have produced a lot of good shots I would have thought... but you seemed to knock it off.

Well done

[Howie]

Here's Flexity 101 on the first scheduled run into the new Victoria Sq stop. Following an uneventful trip we arrived just before 6am on Monday the 6th of August. There was a decent fog and no lighting on the platform although some generator lights arrived shortly afterwards.

Nice work BillD! Thanks for the great photo.

[duke]

Just went for a walk to see the tram line. It looks good.
I think the grass looks stupid though. Should be all or nothing. I wonder how long it will last..

[Norman]

Just went for a walk to see the tram line. It looks good.
I think the grass looks stupid though. Should be all or nothing. I wonder how long it will last..

They have a similar setup in Stuttgart, and the grass there has lasted for over 13 years thus far.

[crawf]

Great shot

[Norman]

A few pictures I took today (Just more photospam )

http://photos.galoresoftware.net/main.php?g2_itemId=312

Oh, and if you people have any suggestions on how I can improve my shots, tell me (I love feedback )

EDIT: Also, a story on the Temporary Tram Disruption here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvU9q49CdJ0

[stelaras]

This is being done so that when southbound traffic on South Road exits the new tunnel under Anzac Highway, it won't be immediately held up by a tram needing to get across the road.

So, as it stands, the cars come out of the tunnel, avoid the tram and stop at the set of traffic lights 300m up the road (traffic lights at the blackforest primary school and shopping precint) doesn't seem like much of a fix for me!!

The other option would have been to extend the South Road tunnel under the tramline, but that would have involved buying up a lot more real estate and the tramline bridge was the cheaper option.

I would much rather have seen that happen that way you ahve a continuous flow of traffic up south road over the cross road bridge (extra 1 or 2 kms) and a lot safer too!

[rhino]

1 or 2 extra kilometres of tunnel? Are you printing money out in your shed?