The Tonsley Rail line and its future

[Tonsley213]

Also district Elder in in the mix as well, not just Mitchell.

[Newcastle Flyer]

At the original poster (runawaybus), in the first paragraph, you have a "[1]", yet you forget to put what the [1] meant.

Back to the previous two posts.
Marginal. That explains it. Let me guess, if the area was a safe seat, then the Tonsley line would have been closed with the other closures?

[LowRider]

It was still used for Mitsubishi workers until they closed the factory, so it carried a helluva lot of people. It still has very good peak loadings, which is the main reason I'd suggest it still exists. Pure and simple, its loadings...

[Stephen Lucas]

But to Stephen Lucas, is the Tonsley rail line in a swinging political seat?

No. Politicians see that it has some potential and recent plans have had it extended as light rail into Flinders University. Where this light rail line would have originated from is another question, it has not been mentioned.

[Alex on the Bus]

Yes, there has been discussion of 'bigger and better things' for the Tonsley Line, although not necessarily as a railway - as well as being adjacent to the route of the previously planned Noarlunga Freeway (which will instead probably be realised as an upgrade of South Road), the route was also intended to be replaced by the Southern O-Bahn. The sense has been that the Tonsley Line has only continued to operate while 'something better' could be devised: the small issue of topography to the south of Darlington ruling out the extension of the line as an viable option (as nice as a rail service to Aberfoyle Park would have been), meaning the most likely outcome would be another mode taking over the branch. The Darlington study suggested that tram-train services similar to those proposed for Semaphore and West Lakes would take over with an extension into Flinders Uni - I presume that services would mix with heavy rail between Tonsley Junction and somewhere near Goodwood Junction, with a curve (possibly as a spur off the Goodwood Flyover) allowing Tonsley services to run to and from the Glenelg Line.

[RAL1981Adelaide]

Personally, I know this will never happen, but, what I like to see is the Tonsley Line to be extended to Flinders Uni/Hosp with a Darlington Interchange. From there do a right then a left(somehow) and build a heavy rail fly over up Flagstaff Hill Road to cover on the suburb's on the eastern side of Happy Valley Reservoir. As in Flagstaff Hill and Aberfoyle Park. Then from there Reynella, Woodcroft, then maybe, Hackham as the very last stop on South Road where Hunypot Road and Penny Hills Road are.

This is just an idea and love to hear what other people think......

[Heardy_101]

I hate these Tram-Train ideas and, like others, I think and KNOW that they weren't thought out at all. Like some of the crap this state has come up with for "Transport" (a certain one-way freeway being one of them), it was thought up overnight with no details.

Our "Transport Planners" (If you can call them that) must be related to the bastards that thought it would be cheaper with NO trams. Yeah right...millions and billions of dollars later plus 50 years and you have the same people wanting to rebuild the network. These "Transport Planners" are also the same ones that closed several suburban railways with potential as well as country services which could have been SA's answer to V/Line. These "Transport Planners" are also the same ones that, instead of taking the opportunity to electrify the network on several occasions in the past, opted to stick with our diesel pieces of junk. Our "rail network" is a disgrace compared to Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. Expansion has never been taken into account, and neither has the peoples voice. We get a raw deal with the Murray, we get a raw deal when it comes to Federal funding and we get a raw deal when it comes to Public Transport.

Just imagine, what if none of the railway closures had occured? what would the Tram network have looked like today? would the O Bahn even exist? what if the MATS idea came into fruition and what would Adelaide have looked like if PEOPLE HAD BRAINS!

Now that I have ranted and raved, if you look at my signature i am developing plans for this states atrocious Rail and Tram network and will not back down until i see something from it come to fruition. Now who wants to join me for a few rounds at the pub??

[Eagle Eye]

Maybe people in certain positions thought that having train lines go beyond Adelaide would encourage people to leave the city and they wanted to stop people leaving in droves lol, pulling up the railway lines a good start....

[Heardy_101]

Oh yes pulling up the railway lines and tram tracks were VERY optimistic

[tramfan70]

A lot can happen in a year of closure.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/travellers-shunted-from-tonsley-and-grange-train-lines/story-e6frea6u-1226261239063

[Tonsley213]

The Tonsley Line won't be re-opened.

What are they doing to the convention centre that requires 2 of nine platforms closed?

[Greasyrhys]

Adding a white elephant to the convention centre I'd say. Just in case it doesen't reopen, I would reccomend taking photos of the line while it's open.

Won't be surprised if someone organized a protest regarding it's future.

And with the Grange line, are they going to run them as shuttles from Woodville to Grange and vice versa?

[witsend]

The tonsley line was needing to be closed when the Oaklands to Adelaide section was done anyways.

[TT]

And what happens to the stations between Adelaide and Woodville (eg Kilkenny) that are only serviced by the Grange train for most of the day? Shuttle buses from Grange, or the Outer Harbor trains become "all stops" instead of express from Woodville?

[Eagle Eye]

And what happens to the stations between Adelaide and Woodville (eg Kilkenny) that are only serviced by the Grange train for most of the day? Shuttle buses from Grange, or the Outer Harbor trains become "all stops" instead of express from Woodville?

The article mentions there will be changes to the Outer Harbor and Noarlunga Centre line timetables, I'd say most Outer Harbor services will become all stop services, with only a handful running express to/from Woodville in peak times.

What are they doing to the convention centre that requires 2 of nine platforms closed?

It also has to do with overhead work at Adelaide Station in preparation for electrification. 2 of the 9 platforms will be closed at all times during the next 12 months on a rolling basis while works are done. I doubt the Convention Centre extension will have much to do with it, but maybe speed restrictions on some of the southern-most tracks.

I certainly think that the last ever Tonsley train will run in three weeks' time. It's a bit strange that only 3 weeks' notice have been given, perhaps to limit the time available for various groups and parties to protest against it?

[jibb]

I assume that Torrens Transit will do "bus substitute services" on Grange line.Possibly Light-City buses doing shuttles on Tonsley line ?
Hopefully both companies have enough spare buses to cover these runs ?

[witsend]

I'm betting JC Minibus, then Southlink.

[LowRider]

What are they doing to the convention centre that requires 2 of nine platforms closed?

It also has to do with overhead work at Adelaide Station in preparation for electrification. 2 of the 9 platforms will be closed at all times during the next 12 months on a rolling basis while works are done. I doubt the Convention Centre extension will have much to do with it, but maybe speed restrictions on some of the southern-most tracks.

Yes, 2 platforms will be closed at a time (7 weeks each approx, and that is required 3 times). Your reason is wrong though. The ONLY reason is because of Convention Centre works. 2 platforms need to be closed so that piles can be driven into the ground to support the new Convention Centre structure. Each pair of platforms requires 3 piles between the existing end of the Convention Centre out to the Morphett St bridge. The new Convention Centre will completely cover the area between the existing centre and the Morphett St Bridge. So long story short, platform closures are ONLY because of convention centre works. Any work on overheads for Adelaide Station is just a matter of convenience, Platform 5 will be the first platform electrified.

[LowRider]

Also that is why the speed in the yard has reduced to 15km/h from about 100m to the west of the Morphett St Bridge.

[Greasyrhys]

Anyone on here thinking about riding on the 'last ever' Tonsley train on Feb 24? I'm a near certainty.

[Heardy_101]

The Tonsley line was always going to be the next one to close permanently (if it does), it was built to service the Chrysler plant and its workers, it really only gets patronage during peak times and it doesn't do weekends or run at night. Other than that it ain't very useful other than it stops when the Noarlunga train doesnt.

[RAL1981Adelaide]

Yeah well I hope no, because it would be better served by being extended to Flindies so people once they come along South Road/Southern Express way can have somewhere to park with out dealing with all the down side with driving all the way in to the city and finding a park there.

[TT]

Couldn't agree more, the govt have talKed about doing this and then shelved it. Another thing that costs too much when money is needed to fund the Adelaide Oval and the new hospital.

[jibb]

Details of all the changes to both Tonsley and Grange services from the 27th February along with new timetables on the Outer Harbour and Noarlunga lines will be released next Monday 13th February as part of an advertising campaign .This was announced today by Transport Services Minister Chloe Fox.

[Busman]

Goes to show how cash strapped the Govt is - the Grange line could continue to run with a shuttle train operating Woodville to Grange M-F 0700-1900 and the Outer Harbour service stopping all stations (with a few peak expresses). It's just a money saving measure and I believe, another reason why the tram extension won't happen.