The point was raised earlier, but as the substitute bus services are running until Sunday, I wouldn't be surprised if the opening was held off until Monday. Anyway, lots of tested over the last couple of days, and a fair amount today, will be nice to have the service back on track.

Seldom

The point was raised earlier, but as the substitute bus services are running until Sunday, I wouldn't be surprised if the opening was held off until Monday. Anyway, lots of tested over the last couple of days, and a fair amount today, will be nice to have the service back on track.

The Adelaide Metro website article stated (yes, even though they are worse liars than the Murdoch/Rinehart cartels) that for the first 48 hours of train service, the substitute buses would continue to operate.

Reading between the lines, they are assuming that something will go badly wrong during the first few days of train operation, and that it's consequently better to try running a weekend service first before going for a full weekday service. Based on recent history (two date blowouts) I think that's a safe assumption to make.

Justapax

I think you are being a bit hard.

There are still TSRs which could foul up the new timetable plus crews' unfamiliarity with it, so vital crosses could be missed.

As far as the buses are concerned its a matter of weaning those who did use them back to the trains.

For me to see trains today just be chance both going to and coming from work suggests that they are running a shakedown. Running a few trains over the line will bed it down and may mean some of the TRS can be lifted.

Interesting that over the weeks I have expressed my concern a what I thought was slow progress with the signalling. Unfortunately my concern has proven justified.

Regards
Ian

Hi guys,

I have cleaned this thread of all rubbish.

Enjoy.

FIVE peak-hour Belair train services will terminate at Blackwood under changes announced last week.
While the total number of trains has increased, services to Glenalta, Pinera and Belair stations will be limited between 4.45pm and 7pm weekdays. Of the nine evening peak hour services, only four will travel all the way to Belair.
Some Hills commuters say the changes will put more pressure on parking near Blackwood station, which is already at a premium.
Blackwood resident Gayle, who did not want her last name published, sent a complaint letter to Transport Services Minister Chloe Fox.
"This dramatic reduction of service, in the important peak times, is not acceptable," she said.
"I have patiently put up with the train service being out to see it resume with a reduced service.

"There are very few buses to and from the main road near Glenalta station and the train was the only regular public transport ­option."
She said the change would also have a negative impact on streets surrounding Blackwood Station.
"(It) will result in more people trying to park at Blackwood and Coromandel stations that are already full and overflowing to the neighbouring streets," ­Gayle said.
Coromandel East resident Roma Muzzatti also feared the move would clog up Blackwood streets, or stop people from returning to the train service altogether.
"Usually the (Blackwood Station) carpark is full, even during school holidays,'' she said.
"By cutting those services, the people who are using their cars will just continue to use them, which means getting from Blackwood and Belair through to the city will continue to be difficult."
Frances Corrigan, who uses Pinera Station, was disappointed.
"It appears slightly underhanded to make these significant changes following the long closure of the line without clearly alerting patrons," Ms Corrigan said.
Greens MLC Mark ­Parnell, who alerted the ­Mitcham &Hills Messenger to the timetable changes, said he would speak with users of the three stations about the impact of the new timetable.
"The good aspects (of the timetable changes) are the extra late night services … the Sunday timetable is the same as the Saturday and increase in peak services for most of the line," Mr Parnell said.
"The bad is we're not sure whether the people at Belair, Pinera and Glenalta need their service sacrificed to improve other services."
A Transport Department spokeswoman said the department had received 12 complaints about the new timetable.
She said the timetable had been designed to provide "optimum services for Belair customers".
Meanwhile, services on the Belair line are due to resume tomorrow after a six-month closure to allow for work to separate the commuter and freight lines at Goodwood.

I'd suggest there is a simple solution to this. Given that it is a capacity issue to terminate them at Blackwood, the capacity could be fixed by a loop or roaming bus to Belair from Blackwood, it if ran via Main Rd, Sheoak Rd, Upper Sturt and Laffers Rd, that connects with the intermediate services. In the mornings it could be timed to arrive 5 minutes before the Blackwood Departures. 3 hours of loops isn't unreasonable, and not just that it could be more convenient to some passenger then the stations given that it could set down anywhere it is safe. IIRC, the G22 has a connecting service at Aberfoyle Hub between 3pm and 7pm that can drop people home. As their metroticket/card is valid for two hours, it really isn't an extra stretch.

If it is successful, it could be used a precursor to potential night services (after 7pm) in Hills:
690 - Belair Loop roaming service (via Main Rd, Sheoak Rd, Upper Sturt Rd)
691 - Coromandel Valley Loop roaming service (via Main Rd & Coromandel Parade)
692 - Eden Hills Loop roaming service (via Shepards Hill Rd and Eve Rd)

Obviously, by making it a roaming service, the driver can choose the best route needed to deliver the passengers.

People use their car because it is convenient. Make the alternative more attractive and I'm sure some patronage will come. It definatley will need to be upsold because there is an old mindset that your ticket is a train ticket and that's it. So upselling it at "no extra charge to your train ticket! *( so long as it is valid and within the 2hrs time limit).

These complainers make me sick!

What is not being said is that they have an every 30 minute service, the trains ARE still there.

We have discussed this here previously and resolved that a 15 minute service can't be staged from Belair if the train turns back at Belair.

I haven't graphed it out but it looks like the Blackwood/Belair section only really allows a 20 minute service frequency.

Looking at other options still shows flaws. Trains stabled at Belair to depart  15 minutes after the last would in all likelihood interfere with the down movement which will turn-back to become the next up train. They could leave 10 minutes* after the last and then wait 5 mins at Blackwood to make up the 15 minute schedule; more public outcry about the waiting! (* allows the 20 minute gap for the next down/up movement.) Trains don't have to stable overnight at Belair, earlier trains can be more cars and split at Belair.

Full marks to the time tablers for seeking a 15 minute based schedule. This will interleave with the proposed Tonsley and Seaford services also on a 15 minute frequency.

Note how the Tonsley line is having partial "duplication" to allow increased service frequency.

With its DDA access etc how long before Waywick replaces Goodwood as the transfer stop between Belair and Seaford trains?

Ian

With its DDA access etc how long before Waywick replaces Goodwood as the transfer stop between Belair and Seaford trains?

Ian

That will kill your plan for a tram interchange....

That will kill your plan for a tram interchange....

It sure would but it might be the way to go though, as I am amazed that it was not removed entirely to make the underpass and other works here. Remove two stations and replace with only one and it would save a couple of minutes at most.

Blackwood has some of the most notorious whingers in Adelaide imo.

Every week in the Messenger, there's always some stupid complaints about all manner of things.

Is the line to Belair now open to regular service? I thought I heard mention of a train to there on a return trip early Sat morn.
No mention in either Sat Adv or Sun Mail that I could see.

Is the line to Belair now open to regular service? I thought I heard mention of a train to there on a return trip early Sat morn.
No mention in either Sat Adv or Sun Mail that I could see.

Saw a pair of 3000's with a few passengers, (sorry didn't get numbers) heading to Belair through the Millswood loop early afternoon.

Saw a pair of 3000's with a few passengers, (sorry didn't get numbers) heading to Belair through the Millswood loop early afternoon.

Thanks for that.

As far as I know that was the first time a train has left Adelaide station for many months.
I would have thought that would automatically make it news for the State.
TV news was no better. Nothing last night on Channels 10, 7 or 2

Is the line to Belair now open to regular service? I thought I heard mention of a train to there on a return trip early Sat morn.
No mention in either Sat Adv or Sun Mail that I could see.

The line has been open since yesterday morning

Redadare, there have been test trips running all this last week!

Chloe announced it to the media on Wednesday. No need for subsequent announcements.

The Belair line is only used by a couple of thousand people in one fairly localised area, which makes even the online stories from the ABC and Seven overkill for what is a local news story. The other 1.7 million people couldn't care less.

I've seen test trains running regularly throughout the week and saw passengers on trains into and out of ARS yesterday.
I'm pretty sure that I saw a very quick story on channel 7 news last night, I stand to be corrected though. It was that short that if you blinked, you missed it!

Unfortunately what Justapax says is true.

Small user group, somewhat vocal, with some political clout but little justification for the coverage they get.

They are lucky. There are large slabs of greater Adelaide not served by comfortable and convenient rail and even great numbers of commuters for whom the CBD based rail system is about as much use as a vest pocket in a singlet.

Redadare. Trains have been departing and arriving at ARS since February for such far off climes as Outer Harbour, Grange and Gawler.

I'm pretty sure that I saw a very quick story on channel 7 news last night, I stand to be corrected though. It was that short that if you blinked, you missed it!

I suppose since both the Crows or Power were still yet to play at that point of the weekend, this could have been a good way to fill a few seconds on a very slow news day.

Glad to have the trains back, but I am worried about the viability of the timetable.  Yesterday (Sunday) I caught the 12:37 Up at Mitcham.  The train arrived on time, but it had to wait to cross the Down which arrived thirteen minutes late.  No explanation was given by the driver.  After the Down had departed, my train waited a further five minutes at Mitcham before departing.  Again, no explanation.  Crossed an empty two car pox at 13:08 between the Port Road bridge and Nairne Junction.  Arrival at Adelaide was at 13:11.  The return journey was uneventful.  Departed Adelaide on time at 14:22 and arrived at Unley Park on time at 14:34.

Fortunately, the new timetable is a TEMPORARY timetable.  Just how temporary it is remains to be seen.

I'm gonna say the construction works at Wayville and Goodwood were the cause of your delay the driver was probably told over radio to be stationary at Mitcham and wait or it could've been a signal issue. I had a similar wait time on my trip on the Belair train coming back into the city. Its gonna remain like this until at least September since construction works are gonna slow the trains down.

All the signals are in place at the Millswood Loop though I don't know if it has been commissioned for crossing purposes..

There are still extensive TSRs so it will take a while to shake the timetable down.

Ian

There's a 20 km/h TSR that runs from the Adelaide end of Goodwood Loop right through to Goodwood, then a 200m or so gap then another 20km/h restriction right through the Wayville station site, so that's a fair distance travelling at slow speed... to say nothing of the fact that not all drivers have been put through the new section yet and many prefer to take it pretty easy, especially as there is still a few minor signalling issues that we are just taking it easy with...

Sounds like the whole line is one big TSR

Sounds like the whole line is one big TSR

Wayville to Goodwood loop certainly is NOT the whole line!