Seaford extension

[colinw]

Adelaide Now: Seaford line bridge doesn't go too far - click here.

Seaford line bridge doesn't go too far

# Tom Zed. Transport Reporter
# From: AdelaideNow
# October 21, 2010 4:13PM

WORK on the Seaford rail extension will begin later this year, following the awarding of the contract to a joint venture between construction companies Theiss and McConnell Dowell.

Announcing the contract today Transport Minister Patrick Conlon said major construction work on the $291 million, 5.7km extension of the rail line from Noarlunga Centre to the Seaford District Centre would begin early next year, with final design and preliminary works to start this year.

The Government is expected to announce the winning tender for provision of 70 new electric rail cars in the next few weeks and passenger services should begin operating on the extended line in 2013.

The biggest part of the project will be the construction of the 1.2km Onkaparinga Valley Bridge, which will be the longest bridge in the state.

Mr Conlon said bridge building costs would account for about $250 million of the total $291 million project.

"It's a very big bridge and the most important step in connecting Seaford with our rail system," he said.

"The corridor goes over a meandering part of the Onkaparinga River and was purchased a very long time ago. I think it will be a great sight to see.

Mr Conlon said concerns from indigenous leaders that construction of the bridge, which will be longer than the Sydney Harbour Bridge, would disrupt significant cultural sites had been addressed.

"We've been very careful about the issues around the river," he said.

"Obviously in a state with very few rivers, they've always been a centre of importance to aboriginal people and we've worked very carefully through those issues."

Theiss has worked on projects including Victoria's M80 ring road upgrade, while McConnell Dowell was responsible for the Bakewell Underpass.

Construction of the rail line and sleepers will involve enough steel to build 30 Boeing 747s and 11 hectares of vegetation will be planted along the corridor.

The extension project includes:

SEAFORD Meadows station and park'n'ride facility;

STATION, bus/train interchange and park'n'ride facilities at Seaford;

ONKAPARINGA Valley Bridge and rail bridge over Old Honeypot Rd;

ROAD bridges over the track at Goldsmith Drive, Seaford Rd and Lynton Tce;

NEW accesses and footbridges for cyclists and pedestrians;

LANDSCAPING and urban design features.

[colinw]

ABC News: Southern rail contract awarded - click here

Southern rail contract awarded

Posted Thu Oct 21, 2010 3:54pm AEDT

A contract to build a six-kilometre rail extension to Seaford in Adelaide's south has been awarded to a joint venture, Thiess-MacDow.

The $291 million project involves building two new rail stations at Seaford, three road bridges and a rail bridge more than one kilometre long over Onkaparinga Valley.

South Australian Transport Minister Pat Conlon says concerns have been addressed from a local Aboriginal group that the project would destroy culturally-significant land along the Onkaparinga River.

"We've been very careful about the issues around the river," he said.

"Obviously in a state with very few rivers they've always been a centre of importance to Aboriginal people and we've worked very carefully through those issues.

"My understanding is that all of their concerns have been addressed or we wouldn't be letting the contract now."

[colinw]

"Fast Facts" about the Seaford Rail Extension, on the South Australian DTEI website - click here



Looks a lot like a 160 class IMU!

[#Metro]

SA has not bad rail infrastructure. If they manage to do three things:

1. Electrify it
2. Run more frequent trains (every 15 minutes)
3. Link the bus network to rail

Patronage will go through the roof.

Big infrastructure projects help facilitate good service, but are not a substitute for frequent service, as we in Queensland have found out!
Looking forward to waiting for my brand new, state of the art, security guard & rottweiler protected, high-speed WIFI and Quiet Carriage equipped train covered in the latest shiny new strawberry paint job, turning up to a brand new rail station with the latest award winning architectural designs and gizmo PID information screens, complete with free muffin and water upon arrival at the station

-- sounds great but all I really care about is --

...fixing the terrible service which is every 30 minutes...

[colinw]

It is going to be very interesting watching events unfold in Adelaide over the next few years.

If they do it right, they will reproduce the success of Perth, rapidly exceed Brisbane's service standard, and approach our patronage in 10 or so years.

If they just reproduce what they have now, sped up a bit by electrification, then they will be on a more Brisbane like trajectory.

Although Adelaide already does better than Brisbane in some areas, e.g. the 15 minute "Hi Frequency" stations on the Gawler line (but annoying skip-stop operation), and ditto on Noarlunga, although the quarter hourly on that line is available only at Brighton & Oaklands as it is a two-tier timetable.

That's one of the oddities in the Adelaide timetable - skip stop on Gawler, two-tier on Noarlunga.

The other lines are much more "Brisbane like" in service frequency, including one Doomben-like infrequent line (Tonsley).

cheers,
Colin

[#Metro]

The Tonsley line has HUGE potential.

Extending it a bit further would connect it to Flinders University.
It could follow the route of Main South Road all the way to Huntfeild Heights.

Wire up the bus network ... and there you have Adelaide's version of the Mandurah line.

[colinw]

Agreed.  Rail is the "sleeping giant" of Adelaide public transport.  The wake up call - in 25KV AC electric form - will sound in a couple of years time.

[colinw]

AdelaideNow: Seaford rail extension work uncovers more Aboriginal bones

MORE ancient Aboriginal remains have been found during construction of the $291 million Seaford rail extension, supporting local elders’ beliefs there could be a burial ground in Noarlunga Downs.

The remains were found on a site between Old Honeypot and River roads - where the northern end of the 1.2km rail bridge will stand - on Friday, February 25 and Saturday, February 26, the Southern Times Messenger has reported.

It is the second lot of Aboriginal remains found on the site, with a leg, arm, hip and skull discovered on Thursday, February 17.

A Transport Department spokeswoman said work at the site was temporarily stopped and the area secured while archaeologists, a forensic pathologist, police and Kaurna and Ramindjeri elders visited.

"The Aboriginal groups in attendance were given the opportunity to conduct appropriate ceremonies and to participate in securing the remains, pending burial," she said.

Read the full story and have your say at the Southern Times Messenger.

[colinw]

DTEI "New Connections" newsletter, issue 8 -> click here

Includes details on the electrification project, new trains, and what the new Seaford line timetable will look like.

Full time 15 minutes frequency, with 7.5 minutes in peak, is coming to Adelaide.

Three service patterns will operate on the
extended line to and from Seaford once
passenger services start in late 2013:

1) Every 7.5 minutes (on average) at peak times:
Seaford – Seaford Meadows – Noarlunga –
Hallett Cove Beach – Hallett Cove – Brighton –
Oaklands Park – Adelaide (and reverse).
Duration: 35 minutes.

2) Every 15 minutes: Seaford all stations
to Woodlands Park and then to Adelaide
(and reverse).
Duration: 44 minutes.

3) First and last four services of the day:
Seaford stopping all stations to Adelaide
(and reverse).
Duration: 52 minutes.

[#Metro]

15 MINUTE FREQUENCY 

[O_128]

Wow only $291 for the entire project, and richlands was how much

[colinw]

15 MINUTE FREQUENCY 

Even Adelaide, formerly the suburban rail graveyard of Australia, is getting the message about service frequency.

Brisbane is increasingly out of step, not just with systems around the world, but even the other suburban rail systems in this country.

[colinw]

The Advertiser -> click here.

The Moreton Bay Rail Link in QLD wasn't the only suburban rail winner in this budget.  There is also significant federal funding for the Noarlunga to Seaford extension and the Gawler line electrification.

...

Other big ticket items for South Australia include $430 million for the South Rd Superway, $293.5 million for modernising and electrifying the Gawler rail line, and $291.2 million for extending the rail line from Noarlunga to Seaford.

Mr Albanese said that in the coming financial year, the Federal Government would provide record annual funding of $7 billion to progress a "long list of large and smaller scale projects".

"The Government's unprecedented capital works program now comprises over 120 major road, 32 major rail and six urban public transport projects - including all the commitments we took to last year's election," he said.

He said the Government would implement new reforms to make investing in public infrastructure even more attractive to private capital.

...

[somebody]

15 minute frequency and tiered services 

[skippy]

15 minute frequency and tiered services 

Running 15 mins off peak is more affordable when you only run 2 or 3 car trains. What we people say if we ran 3 car trains on the Shorncliffe line twice as often?

[SurfRail]

Adelaide is not really hamstrung by track capacity problems though the way we are - only by the low numbers of railcars in the fleet.

We have a lot more problems (otherwise known as "excuses") to deal with.

[somebody]

Running 15 mins off peak is more affordable when you only run 2 or 3 car trains. What we people say if we ran 3 car trains on the Shorncliffe line twice as often?

Not really.  15 minutes off peak IS more affordable when you have a 1 man crew rather than 2 man though.

We have a lot more problems (otherwise known as "excuses") to deal with.

Indeed, seems like Adelaide have an authority which is keen to get on with the job.  We don't.  Perhaps the new minister can make some inroads, but it looks like she won't be the minister after the likely change of government next election.

[colinw]

AdelaideNow -> Green light for Seaford Heights expansion

A CONTROVERSIAL development plan for Seaford Heights has been given the green light by the State Government, despite opposition from the adjacent McLaren Vale wine region.

Planning Minister John Rau has approved the Seaford Heights Development Plan Amendment, but has announced the Government has increased the buffer zone around the development by four hectares.

The DPA will allow a $500 million development at Seaford Heights to go ahead -  resulting in 1180 new housing allotments being built at the gateway to McLaren Vale.

Mr Rau said the Government would provide funds to create a green gateway to one of the state's most significant wine districts, "ensuring a rural vista is retained along the northern entrance to McLaren Vale."

The buffer zone between Victor Harbor Road, South Road and the new Seaford Heights development will push any future housing development out of sight of Victor Harbor Road.

Mr Rau said the Seaford Heights DPA had been changed in response to concerns from the community, council and industry.

"The community told me that a key issue was the visual effect of commercial and residential development along the major roads around the proposed development and that this was at odds with the adjacent wine growing area of McLaren Vale," he said.

"The government has understood the concerns raised and delivered a solution that ensures that the character of the region is retained. At the same time, the changes also realise the objectives of the 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide.

The Government also announced it will spend $100,000 to plant indigenous trees and shrubs along the buffer zone.

"Seaford Heights has been zoned residential since 1989, and I believe the solution we have developed will be a win-win for everyone involved."

McLaren Vale Grape, Wine and Tourism Association chair Pip Forrester has vowed to ensure the Seaford Heights DPA is the last residential development for the region.

Ms Forrester said she was disappointed the housing development would go ahead, but accepted the fight was now over.

"As a community we are really unhappy that there is residential development going to go on our doorstep," she said.

"There is a lot of unhappiness and acrimony in the community (but) it is going to be gazetted, that is the reality, so waht we need to do now is make sure its visual impact and its affect on our rural amenity...is minimised."

"We will continue to ensure that this is the last one."