If you were the current Transport Minister.

shoofly · Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 4:37 pm

Notwithstanding the economics which always come into the equation.

But the following should be included in any review.

1. Electrify and substantially upgrade Noarlunga & Gawler lines.

2. Convert Outer Harbour and Grange Lines to Light Rail.

3. Close down Belair, Bus Service is superior.

4. Convert the Bus Bahn to Light Rail.

5. Extend Noarlunga to Seaford

6. Extend Tonsley line to Flinders or close it doen.

phower · Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 4:43 pm

BuddyALX · Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 10:05 pm

Okay. I'm gonna take this further on the Jumbos perspective

If we had the $$$

-Overhaul all powercars and trailers mechanically and electrically except for 2009. Plus conversion to Standard Gauge

-Do exactly as point 1 but electrify them too if need be.

-If a Adelaide-Mt Gambier service is feasable, run a few on that line at high speeds.

If we DIDN'T have the $$$

-Instead of scrapping them, sell them to whoever needs them. NRM, Steamranger, LCYPR, Interstate services and so on are possible candidates.

Again, I may be off my rocker, but hey, I think Jumbos still need a future rather than just scrapping the lot.

Daniel Hall.
MSTS STA Driver,

David Peters · Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 10:54 pm

I heard a nasty Rundle Street rumour that the NRM could get a 2 car set one power car and a trailer, but you know how much you can trust a Rundle Street rumour like this! Cool

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ET423 · Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 10:59 pm

Stuff that needs doing:

- electrification + resleepering, will allow for speeds of up to 140-160km/h on all suburban lines (imagine a limited stop service from Adelaide to Gawler in 20-25min)
- rebuilding the city's tram network to: Port Adelaide, Semaphore, North Adelaide, the Airport, Norwood, Unley, Prospect
- New trains, New trams, more buses
- Rebuilding the Northfield Line, extending the Tonsley Line
- New ticketing system
- Installation of tram tracks on the O-bahn (dual usage for bus and tram)
- similarly, make the glenelg line also accessible to buses
- an express bus and tram corridor to the airport

and things that would be nice to have:
- on the weekends; friday, Saturday and sunday the trains should not stop at midnight but keep going till morning running every hour or every 30min.
- More inviting railway stations with staff and security
- Regional rail services to the following places: Mount Gambier, Naracoorte, Robe, Murray Bridge, Mannum, Victor Harbor, Willunga, Aldinga, Mount Plesant, Lobethal, Angaston, Berri, Renmark, Roseworthy, Kapunda, Clare, Yorketown, Maitland, Port Pirie, Port Augusta, Port Lincoln
- A new central station would eventually be needed in Adelaide city, something at ground level with tracks slightly elevated
- An underground rail line through the city (pretty much every other Australian city has one, even PERTH has one!!)
- this is a bit pedantic but; more formal uniforms for railway staff, no fluro vests over t-shirts nd shorts with running shoes, the railway system isn't a fitness center!
- more helpful staff at major railway stations
and this list could go on forever, so i think i'll stop here Razz

but i think we just need a system that we can be proud of, something that is better than what the other capital cities offer cause at the moment the rail system is horrible, improving slowly but still horrible, i'm hoping things get better in the next few years..

fabricator · Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 11:05 pm

Pressman · Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 11:05 pm

409 · Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 11:49 pm

I may as well throw my idea's into the ring. My plan is similar to the current SA Government one but with some differences.

ROLLINGSTOCK:

- Retain the current plan of having 12 diesel poxbox's remain for the Belair line with the rest converted to EMU operation. However, increase the order for the new EMU sets from 50 to 62 allowing for another 6 2 car sets. This will bring the projected total of EMUs in the fleet up from 108 to 120 which will be more suitable to serve the projected passenger numbers that the system will be likely to handle.
- Increase standing room across the entire fleet by introducing 2+2 seating on all rollingstock with the exception of the Belair DMU fleet.
- Install Redhen style strap hangers around the door area on all rollinstock.
- Install concertina's between DMUs/EMUs for through access (and actually have the doors unlocked unlike on 3101/3102 and 3113/3114)!
- Order 6 extra Flexi's in addition to the current 4 on order for use on the Glenelg and Entertainment Centre lines. The 6 extra Flexi's would be ordered/delivered after the 6 leased trams that should be arriving soon are removed from service. This would bring a total tram fleet upto 21 Flexi's and 15 hybrids.

TRACK:

- Install gauge convertable sleepers are per current plan.
- Replace all rail on the Noarlunga Centre and Gawler Central lines to 60kg/m and use some of the displaced rail elsewhere where suitable. For instance, a number of the 53kg/m rail on the Noarlunga Centre line can be used on the Grange line to replace the ancient 80lb/y garbage currently in use. The extra weight rails on the two mainlines would also aid in having higher axle loads and higher speeds.
- Lay deep ballast upto 1m deep on the two mainlines to again aid in increasing speed.
- Increase the top speed on the two mainlines to 110km/h where possible except between Smithfield and Gawler which is suitable for 130km/h operation (due to largely open country running, largely straight track and very few at grade crossings).
- Extend double track on the Grange line to Albert Park station to allow for greater pathing oppurtunities as well as being able to cope with the West Lakes light rail traffic.

INFRASTRUCTURE/STATIONS:

- Upgrade all smaller station 'buildings' to pagoda style shelters for ease of maintenance and protection from the elements.
- New and loader enunciators around the system and RailRealTime that doesn't act as a random number generator.
- Upgrade all bridges that are open deck bridges to close deck ballasted bridges.
- Dual directional signalling on the Noarlunga Centre and Gawler Central lines in their entirety.
- Replace all ex SAR fabricated style point frogs with either the standard STA hybrid cast/fabricated frogs or solid cast frogs like at Brighton station.
- Realign or relocated points where needed to suit higher speed operations.
- Replace all subways on the system with either suitable protected at grade crossings or over bridges should they be needed.
- Expand Glengowrie depot/workshops over the SAJC carpark (which is on land leased from TA) closer to Morphett Road thereby doubling or even tripling the total capacity to take the extra rollingstock. Maintenance facilities would also be upgraded partly to assist in maintaining the hybrids if the main heavy rail workshops don't take them on.
- Rebuild Ascot Park station on the northern end of the Tonsley line junction rather the currently at the southern end. The station would then replace Woodlands Park as the transfer point for the line. You would also have the advantage of a longer length run up to the railway overpass.

EXTENSIONS/NEW SERVICES:

- Construct the Noarlunga Centre to Seaford extension as per current plans while retaining the land corridor to Aldinga.
- Extend Gawler Central services to Gawler East on the current timetable frequency once the extra rollingstock becomes available.
- An interurban diesel service through the Barossa Valley stopping at Sandy Creek, Lyndoch, Tanunda, Nuriootpa and Angaston running on a 40 - 45 minute frequency during peak times and a 1 hour 30 minute frequency outside of peak times and all day on weekends.
- A hybrid tram/train service running down the Tonsley line to Tonsleyand then onto Flinders Uni or atleast the closest practicle point to the Uni. While the gradients may be somewhat stiff for heavy rail, a light rail/hybrid service shouldn't have many issues.
- Re open the Northfield line to the former terminus at Northfield with bus interchanges at Pooraka and possibly Northfield. The terminus would have to be on a slightly different alingment to the old one due to the skate park but there is still space available.

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"I'd use an 830 for my respirator!"

nutbagg · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 12:18 am

David Peters · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 1:45 pm

After reading todays paper it will not belong to B&B Power for long, share trading in this company has been suspended indefinitely, that usually means that the company gets wound up in the end or sold!

Actually the very first thing I would do as Transport Minister would be to issue orders to get that film off, of all 3000 class windows so that commuters can at least see were they are! Laughing

National Railway Museum member.
The opinions expressed by my me in these posts is not the opinion of the N.R.M. and should not be construed as such.
Ferroequinologist and Microferroequinologist.
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2001 · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 2:05 pm

David Peters · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 2:43 pm

The cars will probably be condemned, with it still on the damn windows! It is true it is not doing the state a service, when tourist get back home and say the trains in Adelaide are deplorable, you cannot see out of them. Just imagine the IP or Ghan like this, GSR would go broke overnight!

One the other day at Grange I cannot now remember its number, the window film was that smegged up it look like it had just come from a war zone bits missing and other pieces flapping in the wind and that was just the outside, one could well imagine the burns etc on the inside that one see's on a daily basis.

Not good enough Dave the Transport Minister fix it.
"I will attend to that immediately"! Cool

National Railway Museum member.
The opinions expressed by my me in these posts is not the opinion of the N.R.M. and should not be construed as such.
Ferroequinologist and Microferroequinologist.
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409 · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 3:36 pm

Foggy windows no more! Take a look at this:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/23/2372009.htm

David Peters · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 3:41 pm

OK Pat Conlon we know you are lurking on here, it is only a matter of time till we find you, you have been warned! Laughing

Not before time either! Rolling Eyes

National Railway Museum member.
The opinions expressed by my me in these posts is not the opinion of the N.R.M. and should not be construed as such.
Ferroequinologist and Microferroequinologist.
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phower · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 3:45 pm