Trans Adelaide impression

["James C" <noemail@emailsux.com>]

Buses and Obahn

Buses overrun the whole city from the 1st impression. Most of the buses are
operate by Serco(is this also the operator of GSR?). Strange enough to get
off the bus you need to <push> the door to get off.   A few people convinced
me taking Obahn so I took a ride. Obahn bus is just like other buses except
it get on a special right of way somewhere near Botany Garden. Immediately
after get on the Obahn driver let go with the steering wheel, grab himself a
chocolate bar and coffee running through parkland, river and reservoir at a
high speed. There are actually 2 intermediate stops so the bus driver takes
back control of the steering wheel after we got off the obahn. Unfortunately
I found Obahn didn't impress me very much at all for someone like me who
used to take St Kilda light rail everyday.

Ticketing system

The first impression Metro ticket serving the same purpose as Metcard in
Melbourne. Metroticket is way smaller then Metcard but thicker. You need to
validate before entry as with Metcard in Melbourne. Daily all line ticket is
fairly cheap at 5.60$ (Included GST?). Trains have ticket machine on board;
strange enough the ticket machine in Adelaide is soooo small
Compared with Melbourne's ticket machine but both serve the same purpose.
The validator is also smaller and more reliable then Melbourne's system. I
accidentally bend the metro ticket but the validator can still read the
ticket. Unlike in Melbourne any stretching to the matcard would result on
error reading.

Trains

Interesting thing about Adelaide's DMU is all of them are very railfan
friendly?. You will be able to see the front view or back view if you seat
closer to the driver's cab. 3000/3100 dominant most of the working. 3020
have a <TransAdelaide smart move> special livery and usually work for Dry
Creek/Grange service. Other feature of the system is the number of railway
crossings! It seems to me they don't like over bridge or under bridge very
much. Jumbo is the most interesting rolling stock of all. Looks like a plane
both interior and exterior, sounds like a plane also?. The motor carriage is
very special with a big engine room at the back and some structures in the
passenger compartment. Personally I reckons Jumbos are more comfortable then
3000/3100 DMUs. Jumbo also uses QR IMU/SMU style push buttom door opening
rather then Comeng style pull open habdle.


Gawler Line

This line runs parallel to SG line until Salisbury, things would interest
railfans are Dry Creek yard and Islington workshop. A few ex-V/line and NR C
class stored along with 1 member of BL class. Some Bluebirds can be seen
from a distance with one of then in V/line colored?.

Salisbury and Elizebath are the big stops on this route with big bus-train
interchange besides the platform. Holden siding looked rarely used. Some
heritage station restoration works is carry out at Gawler and Gawler
Central. Strangely Gawaler have a very unique platform 2 with intresting
roof.

Noarlunga line

This is the only line that has standees all the way from Adelaide station to
Noarlunga Center. The train is very full all the way to Noarlunga and all
the way back to Adelaide, and I didn't travel during peak hour at
all!(1:30pm)
 The line follows closely to the beach after Brighton station. The scenery
somewhat resembles Melbourne's Frankston line. Tonsley line branch away at
Ascot Park but passengers needs to exchange at Woodland Park.

Tonsley line

These short little branch only see trains every peak hour during weekdays,
it's a pity the line terminates only a stone throw from potential customers
at Flinder university and a hospital. Clovell Park is right next to
Mitsubishi factory.

Outer Harbor line

The line can be quite scenic at this time of the year as the tree leafs
along the line turned yellow. Unique station of Port Adelaide been built at
the top of a viaduct. Part of the Outer Harbor line is dual gauge and part
of it has got gauge convertible concrete sleeper.

Grange line

This short branch leaves Outer Harbor line at Woodville (with unique wooden
roof and 2 platforms) Interesting thing about this short little line is it
go right through a middle of a golf course! Did the rail line came here
first or the golf course?

Belair line

I didn't actually travel by TransAdelaide service. Instead I took Overland
from Melbourne which duplicates part of the route.  Altogether there are 5
tunnels in Adelaide Hill area. It seems to me SG platform can be use at
Goodwood. Blackwood and Belair have very beautiful station building. It's
possible to see Spencer Gulf from the line and Mitsubishi factory on Tonsley
line from the Adelaide Hill. Beyond Belair there are lots of big settlements
which have potential for a train service like BridgeWater, Adelaide Hill, Mt
Barker Junction etc, BG would be needed but if BG returns, it would help
Steam Ranger to operate service through to Adelaide as well.


Overall TransAdelaide is not as bad as you think. But passenger information
system is require for sure not just that strange, ugly colored timetable
enquiry system. And shortsighted planners ignore railway developments in
favorite of bus can be seem clearly (Two-Well, Virginia, Barossa Valley,
Bridge water and Mclaren vale without train service, trams still using
vintage 80 years old rolling stock).

A simple LRT line from Adelaide railway station to the airport go through
Keswick terminal and Victoria Square can be very helpful. Extension of
Glenelg tram to Adelaide railway station and Adelaide university or continue
to North Adelaide restaurant district would be great to ease congestion.

Cheers
James