Adelaide Trams

[jibb]

At last good news -the new tram extensions will commence tomorrow morning. The timetable(same as July 29th issue) is now available in line at Adelaide Metro.

[Tim Williams]

I have just looked at the new tram timetable and what a "dog's breakfast" it is too. Transport enthusiasts and regular passengers will probably make sense of it - whereas visitors and occasional passengers will not!

The route differences between Mon-Fri is interesting as is the weekend only, half hourly service to the Festival Plaza. As it stands now that modest extension must have cost a fair amount, all for a half hourly weekend service - what a joke. I do hope that the line can be extended to O'Connell St. Nth Adelaide, where it might be useful.

It will be interestingly to see how both these new extensions are patronised.

[Mike M]

I have just looked at the new tram timetable and what a "dog's breakfast" it is too. Transport enthusiasts and regular passengers will probably make sense of it - whereas visitors and occasional passengers will not!

The route differences between Mon-Fri is interesting as is the weekend only, half hourly service to the Festival Plaza. As it stands now that modest extension must have cost a fair amount, all for a half hourly weekend service - what a joke. I do hope that the line can be extended to O'Connell St. Nth Adelaide, where it might be useful.

It will be interestingly to see how both these new extensions are patronised.

The new weekend timetable has reduced the service from the hospital & Adelaide Station to the City Centre & beyond by 50% so that mostly empty trams can run a couple of hundred metres down the hill towards the river. It seems to be a case of because we have built we have to use it even though it will only be of any real use when the footy or special events are on.

[Tim Williams]

I agree with your comments and reiterate that the small Festival Centre stub will only find a real and regular use if and when the line is extended through to North Adelaide.

[tonyp]

I must say that even as a transport enthusiast I couldn't take that timetable in at a glance so I've saved it for future study when I have time!

I see the northern stub as infrastructure that had to be done for a future line to North Adelaide, in order not to cause future disruption at the junction, and a weekend role serving the parklands seems sensible use of it for now. Though I think some saving could have been made by just laying the tracks in the ground and then leaving the wiring and platform (and the service) until when they extend it in the future.

[marc506]

not looking good for the right-hand turn for trams on North Terrace.

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sou ... 9c8fa8b502

though I think Labor's idea to hold the govt to the promise is pretty brain dead. They've been proved right on the issue so take the win and move on.

And the govt confirms "it's dead Jim".

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-18/ ... s/10508610

[Tim Williams]

Our trams here in Adelaide would have take the prize for the scruffiest in the country. It is interesting that original ones arrived here (from Germany) decked out in the wrong shade of yellow, it was too pale and has since faded (further from the correct colour) - obviously poor quality paint!.

Singapore is in the process of taking delivery of 50 Volvo B5LH hybrids with MCV Evora single deck bodies (made and fully assembled in Egypt), a good looking, fully low floor bus. The first few arrived in Singapore in the wrong shade of "lush green", they were promptly repainted into the correct shade of green, before entering service!

The only time our trams see new paint is during accident damage repairs, but I suppose repainting it is not particularly important here, as (nearly) every tram is covered with ugly, all over advertising and as noted previously, all over the windows, as well.

[jibb]

Another thing I have noticed is the Flexities in particular look very dirty,almost as if they are never washed-very shabby looking.

[Tim Williams]

Yes, I totally agree, we took some friends from the country for a tram ride and it was on one the "faded flexities" and we were all amazed how scruffy (incl dirty) the tram on both the inside and outside. The trams are a disgrace and there can be absolutely no excuse for their visual appearance

[TA3001]

In my opinion, the suburban railcars look even worse in the inverted AdMet livery. The original orange livery was fine in my opinion.