Port Adelaide to get new train station served by 1km rail spur

Work is to start next year on a new rail line into the heart of Port Adelaide with a train station to be built in Baker Street, close to the Dock One residential precinct.

Train services into the centre of the Port were discontinued back in 1981, and the old Port Dock Station was demolished in 1989, making way or a police station and courts on the site.

Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan said a modern train station would give impetus to the rejuvenation of the suburb.

"Better access to public transport will encourage more people to come to live in this unique waterfront district and also encourage people to visit the Port," he said.




Full article: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-24/port-adelaide-new-train-station-rail-spur/8648778

To be paid for by another bank tax

Great news though, I look forward to heading back to Adelaide to take a train to the Museum.

BG

This is an outrageous waste of government money.
Why would anyone build a rail station 600 metres from the existing Port Adelaide station?
I must assume Port Adelaide is a very marginal electorate and the government is buying votes, there is no other logical explanation.
I am sure the money could be better spent on a rail project somewhere else in Adelaide. This project should be cancelled and the money spent building a train station somewhere else, where it would benefit more people.

This is an outrageous waste of government money.
Why would anyone build a rail station 600 metres from the existing Port Adelaide station?
I must assume Port Adelaide is a very marginal electorate and the government is buying votes, there is no other logical explanation.
I am sure the money could be better spent on a rail project somewhere else in Adelaide. This project should be cancelled and the money spent building a train station somewhere else, where it would benefit more people.

IMHO the outrageous bit was closing the old station and line in the first place to build a cop shop and court buildings.

A classic example of short sighted thinking, even in the 1980s a quick look around most major cities in the world would have told you that inner urban renewal / gentrification had started just as it did in the old Working Class suburbs of Port Adelaide, Semaphore etc etc a few years later.

BG

This is an outrageous waste of government money.
Why would anyone build a rail station 600 metres from the existing Port Adelaide station?
I must assume Port Adelaide is a very marginal electorate and the government is buying votes, there is no other logical explanation.
I am sure the money could be better spent on a rail project somewhere else in Adelaide. This project should be cancelled and the money spent building a train station somewhere else, where it would benefit more people.

The state seat of Port Adelaide is what you could call a "safe" ALP seat. It has been held by the ALP continuously since 1938
The 2014 election result was (two party preferred) ALP - 60.6% LIB - 39.4%

From the ABC article it appears the new station would be on the eastern side of the railway museum on the site of the old Jackett's Flour Mill with the "new housing development" being on the old Jackett's site and the adjoining wool stores.
There is already an operational junction on the Outer Harbor line together with BG track into the Railway Museum site.

An interesting proposal, but I'll believe it when I see it.

And when it's converted to light rail there'll be an extension down St Vincent St. Deja vu!

Well it appears this isn't being done to win votes in a marginal seat. Why would the government throw money at a suburb that already has a station 600 metres away? The government is stupid.
The money should be spent building a new station that will benefit more people. There are much better locations such as:
Edinburgh/Direk
Roseworthy
Maslin Beach or McLaren Vale
Any other ideas?

Back to reality. How long will the platform be? Standard length on this line is 120m and at least 3m wide and have lighting. It needs to be fenced so that  people can't just wander into the NRM, it needs CCTV, PA shelter and seating and, of course, a compliant access ramp. Is the track fit for Matro train running.
Who is the Track Owner in the site? Does NRM lease it from the Government? Will all turnouts on the new spur be signalled and interlocked to current required standards or will all or most connections be removed?. Based on site knowledge aided by google earth, I can't see how this station can be built without major disruption to the NRM which I understand already has storage limitations.
I can see where the $16M budget came from and I hope the NRM gain from this project at no expense to the organisation!

Need we say anymore?!

600 metres from the existing Port Adelaide station?
I must assume Port Adelaide is a very marginal electorate and the government is buying votes, there is no other logical explanation.

See: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/port-adelaide-turns-into-marginal-seat/news-story/eff6c734e64e7316210c0d083feae0c0

"PORT Adelaide is now one of state Labor's most vulnerable seats. The party's margin in the former stronghold has been slashed to 2.95 per cent. The Electoral Commission of SA yesterday delivered the final results, which confirmed Labor candidate Susan Close as the winner, edging out independent opponent Gary Johanson. Dr Close won 52.95 per cent of the vote and Mr Johanson 47.05 per cent after preferences."

Click on link above for full article

Need we say anymore?!

600 metres from the existing Port Adelaide station?
I must assume Port Adelaide is a very marginal electorate and the government is buying votes, there is no other logical explanation.

See: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/port-adelaide-turns-into-marginal-seat/news-story/eff6c734e64e7316210c0d083feae0c0

"PORT Adelaide is now one of state Labor's most vulnerable seats. The party's margin in the former stronghold has been slashed to 2.95 per cent. The Electoral Commission of SA yesterday delivered the final results, which confirmed Labor candidate Susan Close as the winner, edging out independent opponent Gary Johanson. Dr Close won 52.95 per cent of the vote and Mr Johanson 47.05 per cent after preferences."

Click on link above for full article

Probably the important thing to note with the Adelaide Now article is that these figures are the margin after the 2012 election, whilst the figures I quoted in my post above (60.6% / 39.4%) are for the most recent election in 2014 and from the AEC website.

Worth pointing out that the 2012 election was a by-election, which always gives a disproportionately poor result to the party of the incumbent government compared to how they would go if a general election was held at that time. According to the Electoral Districts Boundaries Commission, the District of Port Adelaide (which previously didn't even include the whole of the suburb of Port Adelaide!) will be an even safer ALP seat after the 2016 Redistribution with a nominal swing-to-lose of 12.5% compared to the current 10.6%.

So it's probably not about the election then, as the Liberals are doing nowhere near well enough to take a 12.5% swing there. I would suggest it's more about paving the way for future light rail plans, with the ultimate goal of handing over the juicy strip of prime land in the middle of Port Adelaide to developer mates.

In a more short-term outcome, diverting every second Outer Harbor service to Port Dock will release a few DEMU cars to strengthen services elsewhere or account for the reduced availability for maintenance which will occur when weeknight services are stepped up on the Gawler and Outer Harbor lines.

Worth pointing out that the 2012 election was a by-election, which always gives a disproportionately poor result to the party of the incumbent government compared to how they would go if a general election was held at that time. According to the Electoral Districts Boundaries Commission, the District of Port Adelaide (which previously didn't even include the whole of the suburb of Port Adelaide!) will be an even safer ALP seat after the 2016 Redistribution with a nominal swing-to-lose of 12.5% compared to the current 10.6%.

So it's probably not about the election then, as the Liberals are doing nowhere near well enough to take a 12.5% swing there. I would suggest it's more about paving the way for future light rail plans, with the ultimate goal of handing over the juicy strip of prime land in the middle of Port Adelaide to developer mates.

In a more short-term outcome, diverting every second Outer Harbor service to Port Dock will release a few DEMU cars to strengthen services elsewhere or account for the reduced availability for maintenance which will occur when weeknight services are stepped up on the Gawler and Outer Harbor lines.

The 2012 By-election can about after sitting ALP Cabinet member Kevin Foley retired after Jay Weatherill took over the role as premier from Mike Rann (read that how you want!)
There were 9 candidates at the by election with the Liberal Party not even bothering to field a candidate.
Gary Johanson stood as an independent having a large local following having previously served as Mayor of Port Adelaide council
the results van be found at >> http://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2012/ramsayportadelaide/port_result.htm
The interesting part is that Mr. Informal was the fourth highest vote earner (beating the Greens, One Nation, DLP, LDP and other indepenents )

Well it appears this isn't being done to win votes in a marginal seat. Why would the government throw money at a suburb that already has a station 600 metres away? The government is stupid.
The money should be spent building a new station that will benefit more people. There are much better locations such as:
Edinburgh/Direk
Roseworthy
Maslin Beach or McLaren Vale
Any other ideas?

Port Adelaide.

Do some research before you go mouthing off, otherwise people might think you stupid

Roseworthy

Build a couple of hundred new homes and everyone thinks it's a faaaaarken metropolis.

Well it appears this isn't being done to win votes in a marginal seat. Why would the government throw money at a suburb that already has a station 600 metres away? The government is stupid.
The money should be spent building a new station that will benefit more people. There are much better locations such as:
Edinburgh/Direk
Roseworthy
Maslin Beach or McLaren Vale
Any other ideas?

Port Adelaide.

Do some research before you go mouthing off, otherwise people might think you stupid

Roseworthy

Build a couple of hundred new homes and everyone thinks it's a faaaaarken metropolis.

Maslin beach or Mclaren Vale also seem a bit like that too why not build a whole new railway to Victor Harbor thus saving it having it to be extended bit by bit in the future! in the future say 2097 it would pay for itself!

Refreshing to see a new line being built in Adelaide.

600 metres (more like 750 metres) is a significant distance if you are infirm, or otherwise lacking in mobility, or it is stinking hot or raining.

My worry is that it is a line to no-where unless the much promised developments around 1 Dock actually happen.

When I would pick up a car off the Troubridge I would use Ethelton and walk over the Jervois Bridge rather than Port Adelaide Commercial Road.

Agrew the distance is marginal to justify. But if it brings new people to rail then it maybe worth it longterm.

Refreshing to see a new line being built in Adelaide.

The thing is x31 that the track is already there, so effectively they are only proposing to built a station.
The track is used by the Railway Museum for their RedHen (historic, restored railcars) shuttles

600 metres (more like 750 metres) is a significant distance if you are infirm, or otherwise lacking in mobility, or it is stinking hot or raining.

My worry is that it is a line to no-where unless the much promised developments around 1 Dock actually happen.

When I would pick up a car off the Troubridge I would use Ethelton and walk over the Jervois Bridge rather than Port Adelaide Commercial Road.

Yes 600 metres as the crow flies, so you'd need to climb over quite a few buildings and trespass a lot!
It's near on a 250m walk just to get from the platform to ground level (directly below the Platform). Port Adelaide Station is on a viaduct with only ramp access up to the platform - there are not any stairs or lifts.

Agrew the distance is marginal to justify. But if it brings new people to rail then it maybe worth it longterm.

For the eagle eyed people that actually read the ABC story in the OP's link, Stephen Mulligan said
"Having train services close to the new housing development, but also close to where we are relocating 500 public servants to work, will be a huge boost for the centre of the Port."
So the government appears to be providing some passengers!
Maybe they are finally going to make use of the old Marine and Harbours building that they have left empty for years!

Something worth thinking about here could it be that the State Govt still has plans to turn the Outer Harbor line into light rail. There is a chance this could be part of the plan actually.

The state Government in recent transport plans for the tram have said that they plan to build 100 metres or so of Tramline down in front of Festival Theatre. As well as building it along North Terrace in an Easterly direction.

Now later on you take the tramline and extend it down to War Memorial drive to service Adelaide Oval and then build a tram line along War Memorial Drive to almost where the new Dive under for the Outer Harbor line is being built. Convert the now broad gauge tracks on the whole Outer Harbor and Grange line to Standard gauge by simply moving one rail into the inner most position on the sleepers. Now at War Memorial Drive at its closest point to the railway line it could then be connected to this track that has been converted and go down to the new station at Port Adelaide and then go out into the street there and then curve around the courts and police building and then proceed down St Vincent street in a westerly direction towards the Jervois Bridge.

Either go over the existing bridge or build a new tram bridge alongside it and then by doing a bit of street running through Ehelton and Glanville come back and pick up the old rail alignment at or near Glanville with a spur line down Semaphore road if needed still. The other tracks then go all the way down to North Haven and stop there. Outer Harbor would not really warrant going to though.

This would allow the current overhead bridge, station, viaduct and embankments to be flattened and sold off. The railway line then from Port Adelaide Junction to just out of Glanville could all be removed then.


Oh and the Grange line could be made to go to West Lakes if needed and the tram could go over both lanes of Port Road on a over head bridge with a stop on top of it similar to the South Road overpass but built and designed a lot better.

This could be why a double track is slated to be built at Port Adelaide as only one platform is actually going to be provided there and also the tram would take you right into the centre of the Port Adelaide CBD area as well. Could this be the state Governments master plan though.


Check it out on Google Earth or similar it can be done and with very little new bits and pieces needed as most things have now been done or going to be done soon to do this like the new bridge at South Road on the T2T project.

Maslin beach or Mclaren Vale also seem a bit like that too why not build a whole new railway to Victor Harbor thus saving it having it to be extended bit by bit in the future! in the future say 2097 it would pay for itself!

The plan for the Seaford-Aldinga extension does not include either a Maslins station or a spur to McLaren Vale.

Unfortunately it doesn't include a station in the centre of Aldinga either, so people will have to find some other mode of transport to cover the first few kilometres out to the train terminal in the sticks. And if that other mode is a car, expect most people to keep on going straight past the station and on towards Main South Road.

The 2012 By-election can about after sitting ALP Cabinet member Kevin Foley retired after Jay Weatherill took over the role as premier from Mike Rann (read that how you want!)
There were 9 candidates at the by election with the Liberal Party not even bothering to field a candidate.
Gary Johanson stood as an independent having a large local following having previously served as Mayor of Port Adelaide council
the results van be found at >> http://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2012/ramsayportadelaide/port_result.htm
The interesting part is that Mr. Informal was the fourth highest vote earner (beating the Greens, One Nation, DLP, LDP and other independents )

That by-election was the perfect example of why the by-election should be abolished. If the MP dies then give the seat to someone from the same party like they do for a vacancy in the upper house, in any other situation it should go to the candidate who finished second in the seat (or third if the second candidate is unavailable) at the previous general election.

Something worth thinking about here could it be that the State Govt still has plans to turn the Outer Harbor line into light rail. There is a chance this could be part of the plan actually.

As one who uses the OH line to get to Adelaide, a conversion to tram as described is not wanted, it would double the journey and make it useless for commuting. We would end up with one of the longest tram lines anywhere, longer than South Vermont. catch a tram from the city to Glenelg and back, that is shorter.
Maybe continue along Port Road to Woodville interchange then convert Grange and add West Lakes. That is the limit of tram viability but watch people cross from tram to train at Woodville.
I gather Outer Harbor is well used by cruise ship passengers but there are many houses within walking distance.
Please can we drop all talk of trams to Outer Harbor

There is no doubt a new rail station at Edinburgh/Direk is a better use of government $$$ than the proposed station at Port Adelaide. Inner suburbs should have lower priority than outer suburbs in regards to public transport. This is simply bad planning and should be cancelled.

There is no doubt a new rail station at Edinburgh/Direk is a better use of government $$$ than the proposed station at Port Adelaide. Inner suburbs should have lower priority than outer suburbs in regards to public transport. This is simply bad planning and should be cancelled.

So that includes the 3km of track required or do they equip a few railcars with gauge changing bogies and pay ARTC access fees each trip?

In a more short-term outcome, diverting every second Outer Harbor service to Port Dock will release a few DEMU cars to strengthen services elsewhere or account for the reduced availability for maintenance which will occur when weeknight services are stepped up on the Gawler and Outer Harbor lines.

Is that what's happening, it will be Grange/Port Adelaide/Outer Harbor (say) 6 an hour or something like that? I read that the budget contained a very large boost in frequency for the O/H line. I wonder why they didn't use the existing turn back and 3rd platform available at Glanville in that case - its already there.

Something worth thinking about here could it be that the State Govt still has plans to turn the Outer Harbor line into light rail. There is a chance this could be part of the plan actually.

As one who uses the OH line to get to Adelaide, a conversion to tram as described is not wanted, it would double the journey and make it useless for commuting. We would end up with one of the longest tram lines anywhere, longer than South Vermont. catch a tram from the city to Glenelg and back, that is shorter.
Maybe continue along Port Road to Woodville interchange then convert Grange and add West Lakes. That is the limit of tram viability but watch people cross from tram to train at Woodville.
I gather Outer Harbor is well used by cruise ship passengers but there are many houses within walking distance.
Please can we drop all talk of trams to Outer Harbor

I suspect the LR option for the OH & Grange Lines has quietly been dropped or ignored for the level of stupidity it was.

There are far more pressing areas to spend money on in Adelaide expanding PT.