Dismissed because it would be futile. Electrification and straightening some of the long diversions wouldn't be enough to make it competitive with the freeway even without a tunnel to the City. The railway is MUCH longer snd its route into the City too indirect. Even a new line up the Brownhill Creek valley (which would not be environmentally acceptable, but was once considered as a long term option to serve Monarto) would not be sufficient.claybro wrote:Im a bit confused and perhaps you guys can enlighten me. We are happy for a vision of toll tunnels under the length of Glen Osmond and Greenhill Roads etc, but the idea of a similar distance of tunneling in the hills and electrification to straighten some of the long diversions and ultimately speed up the train from mt Barker is dismissed.Aidan wrote:There are many things rail's well suited to. This is not one of them - withut going to the expense of an entirely new line (mostly in tunnel) the train jouney times would not even be competitive with bus jouney times on the freeway/tollway.
Complicating the fare structure would not be a good ideaeven before you consider that few people would be willing to pay extra for a slow option. As for freight, what's really needed is a line further north to avoid the Adelaide Hills altogether.A toll on the fare from Mt Barker and railfreight toll could be set to help pay for this.
You're absolutely right about the need for a decent public transport option, but provision of a good bus service is much cheaper than rail tunnel contsruction. Buses can provide the capacity as long as there are enough of them. As for congestion of the tollway exits, there's no reason why it should be worse with buses than any other vehicles. Having said that, I do think there should be provision for a bus only entrance/exit in the City and also one to/from a bus interchange at Glen Osmond (though some buses would be express all the way and therefore wouldn't use it).The bus servce up there is already a nightmare in peak. I believe a Glen OSmond tollway although great for transport will not resolve commuter issues as busses do not have the capacity of trains and will further conjest the city end of the tollway exits. A decent public transport option is a must in conjunction with the tollway.
Don't get me wrong - I'm strongly in favour of rail tunnels, and I'd rate then as a higher priority than any road tollway. But they should be under the City and inner suburbs, where demand is highest.