News & Discussion: Adelaide Metro Trains

[SBD]

Apparently enforcement has stepped up significantly on ticket/Metrocard validation.

Keolis Downer struggling already?

They'll crack down because it's lost revenue. It's all about the $$$$. Even if they return record profits, they'll still crack down because that means even more money coming in.
They're not a government, they're in it to make money, to turn a profit and return a dividend to their share holders.
The government just wastes tax payers money without thinking.

I see no reason not to enforce the fares. If they are regarded as optional, then why bother having fares at all rather than free public transport?

Do we know what is in the contract? It may be that part of the government's "cost saving" is that the government gets the bonus of either the fines or the increased fare revenue, and KD gets a bonus for increased patronage, as measured by number of fare-paying rides per day.

If the statistics for patronage are collected from the ticket machines, then everyone (except the fare evaders) wins by having higher recorded patronage, leading to a measurable need for more services.

[Saltwater]

Exactly. Even if officers aren't handing out fines, their mere presence will increase the number of fare-paying customers and drive revenue across the system.

[Spotto]

Nine News reporting on the Gawler Line delays. No estimates on how long the full line closures will be extended. But apparently the project is on schedule to reach its opening date later this year?

Also, rail replacement buses are continuing to demonstrate just how much better rail-based transport (trains and trams) is to normal buses along popular corridors which are slow and get stuck in jams and at traffic lights.

https://fb.watch/4grUP2i5eY/

[ChillyPhilly]

Yep, no change to the schedule - just seems like sensationalism.

[Eurostar]

We haven't even got the new EMUs yet

[Spotto]

We haven't even got the new EMUs yet

Do we even have a delivery date? Using the Seaford Line as a guide, would this be a fair assumption?

Seaford Line train contract was awarded in March 2011, first delivery 2 years later in July 2013, first passenger service 7 months later in February 2014.

Gawler Line train order was placed in June 2019. First delivery 2 years later in middle of this year? Project expected completion by the end of this year.

[claybro]

We haven't even got the new EMUs yet

Do we even have a delivery date? Using the Seaford Line as a guide, would this be a fair assumption?

Seaford Line train contract was awarded in March 2011, first delivery 2 years later in July 2013, first passenger service 7 months later in February 2014.

Gawler Line train order was placed in June 2019. First delivery 2 years later in middle of this year? Project expected completion by the end of this year.

BTW, why is SA the only state not manufacturing its own railcars? Surely, if the electrification rollout was managed properly with a slow steady rate of new cars, there would have been enough pipeline of new railcars, with a gradual phase out of the 3000's as the new electric stock became available?

[PeFe]

We haven't even got the new EMUs yet

Do we even have a delivery date? Using the Seaford Line as a guide, would this be a fair assumption?

Seaford Line train contract was awarded in March 2011, first delivery 2 years later in July 2013, first passenger service 7 months later in February 2014.

Gawler Line train order was placed in June 2019. First delivery 2 years later in middle of this year? Project expected completion by the end of this year.

BTW, why is SA the only state not manufacturing its own railcars? Surely, if the electrification rollout was managed properly with a slow steady rate of new cars, there would have been enough pipeline of new railcars, with a gradual phase out of the 3000's as the new electric stock became available?

I think the Outer Harbor, Grange and Belair lines would all have to be electrified to make that within the realms of possibility. The 3000's have just had their engines upgraded so they will be around for another 10 years.

[rev]

We haven't even got the new EMUs yet

Do we even have a delivery date? Using the Seaford Line as a guide, would this be a fair assumption?

Seaford Line train contract was awarded in March 2011, first delivery 2 years later in July 2013, first passenger service 7 months later in February 2014.

Gawler Line train order was placed in June 2019. First delivery 2 years later in middle of this year? Project expected completion by the end of this year.

BTW, why is SA the only state not manufacturing its own railcars? Surely, if the electrification rollout was managed properly with a slow steady rate of new cars, there would have been enough pipeline of new railcars, with a gradual phase out of the 3000's as the new electric stock became available?

You're asking why the state that flew in tradies to work on the new hospital, employed interstate firms to build tram line extensions, doesn't build it's own rail cars?

[SBD]

Do we even have a delivery date? Using the Seaford Line as a guide, would this be a fair assumption?

Seaford Line train contract was awarded in March 2011, first delivery 2 years later in July 2013, first passenger service 7 months later in February 2014.

Gawler Line train order was placed in June 2019. First delivery 2 years later in middle of this year? Project expected completion by the end of this year.

BTW, why is SA the only state not manufacturing its own railcars? Surely, if the electrification rollout was managed properly with a slow steady rate of new cars, there would have been enough pipeline of new railcars, with a gradual phase out of the 3000's as the new electric stock became available?

You're asking why the state that flew in tradies to work on the new hospital, employed interstate firms to build tram line extensions, doesn't build it's own rail cars?

York Civil (founded and based in South Australia) was the prime contractor for the tram extension until it went bust.

Who closed (or significantly downsized) the Islington Workshops? The red hens were the last metro railcars built there. I guess closing them was a consequence of splitting SAR into separate Adelaide (STA) and regional (ANR) businesses run by different governments. Other railway manufacturers in SA had closed much earlier.

The interstate railcar manufacturers are all in privatised former government railway workshops as far as I can tell.

[VLtom]

I've been wondering why GREP has been using steel gantries for the electrification works compared to the concrete ones that dominate much of the the Seaford/Flinders lines?

it seems like difference that is at least a little notable? is it something to do with clearances along the line being tighter? they're a lot more noticeable and don't fit into the surroundings as well as the concrete ones, at least imo. But does that also mean the electrification posts put in on the Gawler line in like 2012 will be replaced with the new steel ones then?

[PD2/20]

I've been wondering why GREP has been using steel gantries for the electrification works compared to the concrete ones that dominate much of the the Seaford/Flinders lines?

it seems like difference that is at least a little notable? is it something to do with clearances along the line being tighter? they're a lot more noticeable and don't fit into the surroundings as well as the concrete ones, at least imo. But does that also mean the electrification posts put in on the Gawler line in like 2012 will be replaced with the new steel ones then?

The use of steel masts was indeed notable from the first masts going up around Islington Works in late 2019. It seems that DPTI/DIT have now opted for steel. All new work at Oaklands and Flinfers was also steel. South of Goodwood concrete predominated and steel was used at junctions or where multiple tracks or station canopies had to be spanned. Out to Salisbury there has been extensive use of cantilevered masts spannibg both tracks. The majority of these are located on the up side of the tracks, avoid the need for masts adjacent to the ARTC track. However portal structure have spanned the ARTC tracks at several locations including the SG access to Islington Works. N of Cormack Rd and at Greenfields and Parafield Gdns. Although there is clearance for double stacked freight under the portals, there would not be room for overhead over the ARTC track.

N of Nurlutta work on mast erection has resumed in the last 2-3 weeks after the abrupt cessation of the early works carried out in 2012. Concrete masts have filled gaps at Elizabeth South amd S of Womma. Aerial photography shows that there is a stockpile of concrete masts in the construction yard on Churchill Rd N which Laing O'Rourke used for the earlier work and LendLease/Acciona are using fot the current project. This past week foundations for steel masts were being poured around Elizabeth.

Over the past few months significant progress has been evident in the electrification. Almost all masts are up from Torrens Bri to Park Terrace, Salisbury. Stringing has been done N Adelaide - Cormack Rd and under Port Wakefield Rd. Axle counters, balises and AWS ramps have also appeared on the signalling work.

[Jacob_ULG3]

I've been wondering why GREP has been using steel gantries for the electrification works compared to the concrete ones that dominate much of the the Seaford/Flinders lines?

it seems like difference that is at least a little notable? is it something to do with clearances along the line being tighter? they're a lot more noticeable and don't fit into the surroundings as well as the concrete ones, at least imo. But does that also mean the electrification posts put in on the Gawler line in like 2012 will be replaced with the new steel ones then?

The use of steel masts was indeed notable from the first masts going up around Islington Works in late 2019. It seems that DPTI/DIT have now opted for steel. All new work at Oaklands and Flinfers was also steel. South of Goodwood concrete predominated and steel was used at junctions or where multiple tracks or station canopies had to be spanned. Out to Salisbury there has been extensive use of cantilevered masts spannibg both tracks. The majority of these are located on the up side of the tracks, avoid the need for masts adjacent to the ARTC track. However portal structure have spanned the ARTC tracks at several locations including the SG access to Islington Works. N of Cormack Rd and at Greenfields and Parafield Gdns. Although there is clearance for double stacked freight under the portals, there would not be room for overhead over the ARTC track.

N of Nurlutta work on mast erection has resumed in the last 2-3 weeks after the abrupt cessation of the early works carried out in 2012. Concrete masts have filled gaps at Elizabeth South amd S of Womma. Aerial photography shows that there is a stockpile of concrete masts in the construction yard on Churchill Rd N which Laing O'Rourke used for the earlier work and LendLease/Acciona are using fot the current project. This past week foundations for steel masts were being poured around Elizabeth.

Over the past few months significant progress has been evident in the electrification. Almost all masts are up from Torrens Bri to Park Terrace, Salisbury. Stringing has been done N Adelaide - Cormack Rd and under Port Wakefield Rd. Axle counters, balises and AWS ramps have also appeared on the signalling work.

Where abouts on Churchill Road N is the site. I was driving over Port Wakefield road today (22nd March) and they were stringing into the Dry Creek rail depot, atleast to that point. That was at 10am this morning. Don't know where that ended but I can assume we now have wires between dry creek and halfway to Mawson lakes. They have put the hanging structures up between Mawson I/C and Greenfields now so not long.

I cannot wait for the 26th April to come around. Then the line will be open to Mawson Lakes and everybody on this forum I believe will be on the train wanting to take photos and etc. Am I right??

Could you possibly share the aerial photographs you have? If it is where I think it is outside cormack road level crossing that area is fenced off, 25kmh speed limit applies and trucks everywhere

[adelaide transport]

Don't bet on the reopening of the line from Adelaide to Mawson Lakes.
It was stated last week that due to shortages of various items, in particular steel the reopening next month is likely to be delayed.

[SBD]

Don't bet on the reopening of the line from Adelaide to Mawson Lakes.
It was stated last week that due to shortages of various items, in particular steel the reopening next month is likely to be delayed.

Where was that statement?

Adelaide Metro still says it will be open between Adelaide and Mawson Lakes (well, actually just says the rest will be closed) through school Term Two.

Department for Infrastructure and Transport doesn't mention any changes to the plan.