Flinders line

Last updated

Flinders line
Adelaide train logo.svg
Flinders Station Adelaide.jpg
Flinders station with a 4000 class EMU in the background
Overview
Locale Adelaide, South Australia
Termini
Stations11
Service
Type Commuter rail
Operator(s) Adelaide Metro
Rolling stock 4000 class
History
Opened1966
Re-sleepered
(concrete)
February 2012–13
ElectrifiedFebruary–September 2013
Technical
Line length13 km (8.1 mi)
Number of tracks
Track gauge 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
Electrification 25 kV 50 Hz AC from overhead catenary
Route map

Contents

km
BSicon KBHFa.svg
0
Adelaide Adelaide tram logo.svg Adelaide bus logo.svg
BSicon dCONTgq-.svg
BSicon udvCONTgq.svg
BSicon exv-STR+rg.svg
BSicon STRr-.svg
BSicon SHI1l.svg
BSicon uvSTR+rf-.svg
BSicon udSTR.svg
BSicon edABZgl.svg
BSicon exdKDSTeq.svg
Adelaide Depot
closed 2011
BSicon lvMKRZu.svg
BSicon RGq.svg
BSicon umvSTR.svg
AUS Alphanumeric Route R1.svg
BSicon umvSKRZ-G4o.svg
Glover Avenue
BSicon exCONTgq.svg
BSicon uemdKRZ.svg
BSicon edABZgr.svg
BSicon umvSTR-HST.svg
2.0
Mile End
BSicon lvMKRZu.svg
BSicon RGq.svg
BSicon umvSTR.svg
AUS Alphanumeric Route A6.svg
BSicon exlv-HST.svg
BSicon umvSTR.svg
2.9
Mile End Goods
closed 1994
BSicon umvBHF-STR.svg
Adelaide Parklands Terminal BSicon LDER.svg
BSicon exlv-HST.svg
BSicon umvSTR.svg
Keswick
closed 2013
BSicon lvMKRZu.svg
BSicon RGq.svg
BSicon umvSTR.svg
AUS Alphanumeric Route A5.svg
BSicon umvSTR-BHF.svg
4.0
Adelaide Showground
BSicon exlv-HST.svg
BSicon umvSTR.svg
Showground Central
2003–2013
BSicon umvBUE.svg
Leader Street
BSicon uedINT-L.svg
BSicon dINT-R.svg
5.0
Goodwood
BSicon uCONTgq.svg
BSicon udKRZlu.svg
BSicon mdKRZru.svg
BSicon uCONTfq.svg
BSicon uv-STR.svg
BSicon vSHI2gl-.svg
BSicon umvBUE.svg
BSicon dSKRZ-G2u.svg
Victoria Street
BSicon v-STRlg.svg
BSicon uvSTRlf-.svg
BSicon ldMKRZvu.svg
BSicon dSTRq-.svg
BSicon ud-STRq.svg
BSicon dSTR.svg
BSicon dCONTfq-.svg
BSicon udvCONTfq.svg
BSicon v-SHI2r.svg
BSicon BUE.svg
East Avenue
BSicon HST.svg
6.3
Clarence Park
BSicon HST.svg
7.1
Emerson
BSicon hSTRaeq.svg
BSicon RGq.svg
BSicon BUE.svg
AUS Alphanumeric Route A3.svg
AUS Alphanumeric Route A2.svg
Cross Road (level crossing)
South Road (overpass)
BSicon HST.svg
7.9
Edwardstown
BSicon BUE.svg
De Laine Avenue
BSicon BUE.svg
Angus Avenue
BSicon BUE.svg
Raglan Avenue
BSicon INT.svg
9.1
Woodlands Park Adelaide bus logo.svg
BSicon BUE.svg
Dunorlan Road
BSicon CONTgq.svg
BSicon ABZgr.svg
BSicon BUE.svg
BSicon RP4q.svg
Daws Road
BSicon BUE.svg
Celtic Avenue
BSicon HST.svg
11.5
Mitchell Park
BSicon eHST.svg
12.1
Clovelly Park
closed 2020
BSicon BUE.svg
Alawoona Avenue
BSicon HST.svg
12.2
Tonsley
BSicon eHST.svg
13.0
Tonsley (original site)
1966–2019
BSicon hSKRZ-G4a.svg
Sturt Road
BSicon hSKRZ-G4.svg
Flinders Drive
BSicon hSKRZ-G2.svg
Laffer Drive
BSicon hSKRZ-Be.svg
AUS Alphanumeric Route M2.svg
BSicon KBHFe.svg
13.6
Flinders Adelaide bus logo.svg
km

BSicon STRq.svg
BSicon exSTRq.svg
BSicon uSTRq.svg
BSicon uexSTRq.svg

The Flinders line is a suburban commuter line in Adelaide, South Australia, that branches off the Seaford line at Mitchell Park, and ends opposite Science Park, close to the Flinders University and the Flinders Medical Centre. The line is single track for most of its length, from Celtic Avenue, near Mitchell Park station, to its terminus.

History

The railway was constructed between 1965 and 1966, as a branch line from Woodlands Park railway station on what was then the Willunga railway line, to serve the new Chrysler assembly plant at Clovelly Park. Construction of the plant had commenced in 1963, and the assembly line was opened in October 1964, remaining operational until it was closed in March 2008. [1] Upon opening, the Tonsley line served three stations: Mitchell Park, Clovelly Park, and the original Tonsley station.

Re-sleepering and electrification

From 27 February 2012, the line between Woodlands Park and Tonsley was closed for reconstruction. [2] [3] During the closure, the line was duplicated between Tonsley Junction and Mitchell Park station, the track was re-sleepered with dual gauge sleepers to allow for the line to be converted to standard gauge at a future date, and the entire line electrified. [4] The closure, initially planned to last one year, was extended until September 2013, to allow the electrification of the line, along with the Noarlunga Centre line. [5] In late 2013, a plan was announced to convert the line to a double-track railway, to be funded through joint State and Federal initiatives, but the incoming Federal government announced it would be changing their focus to roads, and cut funding. Accordingly, with $18 million having been spent on the project, the future of the line was unclear. [6] It eventually reopened on 5 May 2014, more than two years after closure. [4]

Flinders extension

In July 2008, a feasibility study was commissioned by the government to extend the line to Flinders Medical Centre. [7] On 13 May 2016, as part of its 2016 federal election campaign, the Liberal pledged $43 million for the project. The State Labor Party committed $42 million towards the project, the estimated cost of which was $86 million. [8] The extension, referred to as the Flinders Link Project, would extend the line by 650 metres (2,130 ft) and replace the Tonsley station terminus on Sturt Road with a new terminus station adjacent to Flinders Medical Centre. An elevated single track, with a pedestrian and bike path, was to begin just north of the original Tonsley station site, and cross Sturt Road, Laffer's Triangle and Main South Road, before terminating at Flinders station. [9] Clovelly Park station would be replaced by a relocated Tonsley station as part of the extension project. [10] [11]

The original Tonsley station was closed after the final service on 28 June 2019, allowing construction of the rail overpass at the station site. Services terminated at Clovelly Park station until the extension was completed. [12] Built concurrently with the adjacent Darlington Upgrade for the Southern Expressway, [13] [14] major works took place from July 2019 to October 2020. [15] [16] The line was temporarily closed after the last service on 20 November 2020 for the extension to be commissioned, and fully reopened on 29 December. The operating hours of the line were expanded to include weekday nights and weekends. Before that, the line only ran between 6:30 am and 7:30 pm on weekdays, and was closed on weeknights and weekends. [17] [18]

Line guide

Flinders Line
NameDistance from
Adelaide
Year openedServing suburbsConnections
Adelaide 0.0 km1856Adelaide Gawler Grange
Outer Harbor Port Dock

Adelaide bus logo.svg Bus Adelaide tram logo.svg Tram

Mile End 2.0 km1898Mile End
Adelaide Showground 4.0 km2014Keswick, Wayville
Goodwood 5.0 km1883Forestville, Goodwood Belair
Clarence Park 6.3 km1913Black Forest, Clarence Park
Emerson 7.1 km1928Black Forest, Clarence Park
Edwardstown 7.9 km1913Edwardstown
Woodlands Park 9.1 km1925Ascot Park, Edwardstown Seaford

Adelaide bus logo.svg Bus

Mitchell Park 11.5 km1966Clovelly Park, Mitchell Park
Tonsley 12.4 km2020Mitchell Park, Tonsley
Flinders 13.7 km2020Bedford Park Adelaide bus logo.svg Bus

Former stations

Services

Trains to and from Adelaide operate every 20 minutes during weekday peak periods, every 30 minutes off-peak on weekdays, and on weekends into the late evening. [19] [20] Before the extension to Flinders, services operated between 6.30 am and 7.30 pm on weekdays only. [21] Services were only extended to operate during weekday off-peak periods in 2004. Stations between Adelaide and Woodlands Park are also served by Seaford line trains, and stations between Adelaide and Goodwood are also served by Belair line trains. Prior to 2014, most trains were operated by 3000 class railcars, augmented at times by 2000 class railcars. Following the electrification of the line, the latter were no longer authorised to operate on the line [22] and they were retired from service in 2015. The line is now operated by 4000 class electric multiple units.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adelaide Metro</span> Public transport system around Adelaide, Australia

Adelaide Metro is the public transport system of the Adelaide area, around the capital city of South Australia. It is an intermodal system offering an integrated network of bus, tram, and train services throughout the metropolitan area. The network has an annual patronage of 79.9 million, of which 51 million journeys are by bus, 15.6 million by train, and 9.4 million by tram. The system has evolved heavily over the past fifteen years, and patronage increased dramatically during the 2014–15 period, a 5.5 percent increase on the 2013 figures due to electrification of frequented lines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonsley railway station</span> Railway station in Adelaide, South Australia

Tonsley railway station is located on the Flinders line in the south-western Adelaide suburb of Tonsley, 12.2 kilometres from Adelaide station. The original station was 13 kilometres from Adelaide and was the terminus of the line from its opening in 1966 until the station's closure in 2019; the station was then relocated to its current position and opened in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goodwood railway station</span> Railway station in Adelaide, South Australia

Goodwood railway station is the junction station for the Belair, Seaford and Flinders lines. The Belair line diverges south-east towards Millswood, while the Seaford and Flinders lines diverge south-west towards Clarence Park. The Glenelg tram line crosses over the railway lines at the south end of Goodwood station. The station services the Adelaide inner-southern suburb of Goodwood, and is 5.0 km from Adelaide station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Railways in Adelaide</span> Regional rail network

The rail network in Adelaide, South Australia, consists of four lines and 89 stations, totalling 132 km (82 mi). It is operated by Keolis Downer under contract from the Government of South Australia, and is part of the citywide Adelaide Metro public transport system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oaklands railway station</span> Railway station in Adelaide, South Australia

Oaklands railway station is located on the Seaford railway line in Adelaide, South Australia. It is in the south-western suburb of Oaklands Park, 13 kilometres from Adelaide station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3000 class railcar</span>

The 3000 class and 3100 class are diesel railcars that operate on the Adelaide rail network. Built by Comeng and Clyde Engineering between 1987 and 1996, they entered service under the State Transport Authority before later being operated by TransAdelaide and Adelaide Metro. Trains are typically coupled as multiple units, though the 3000 class are also able to run as single units when needed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outer Harbor line</span> Railway line in Adelaide, South Australia

The Outer Harbor line is a suburban branch line in Adelaide, South Australia. It runs from Adelaide station through the north western suburbs to Port Adelaide and Outer Harbor. It is 21.9 kilometres (13.6 mi) in length, and shares part of its run with the Grange and Port Dock lines. It is operated by Adelaide Metro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gawler line</span> Commuter railway line in Adelaide, South Australia

The Gawler line, also known as the Gawler Central line, is a suburban commuter railway line in the city of Adelaide, South Australia. The Gawler Line is the most frequent and heavily patronised line in the Adelaide rail network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grange line</span> Railway line in South Australia

The Grange line is a suburban branch line in Adelaide, South Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seaford line</span> Railway line in Adelaide, South Australia

The Seaford line is a suburban commuter line in Adelaide, South Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belair line</span> Rail line in Adelaide, South Australia

The Belair line is a suburban rail commuter route in the city of Adelaide, South Australia, that runs from the Adelaide station to Belair in the Adelaide Hills via the Adelaide-Wolseley line using diesel 3000/3100 class railcars. Prior to 1995, this part of Adelaide-Wolseley was a two-track broad gauge line. In 1995, Adelaide-Wolseley was converted to standard gauge meaning Adelaide to Belair is now effectively two separate single-track lines running in parallel: the Belair commuter line and the Adelaide-Wolseley standard gauge freight line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clovelly Park, South Australia</span> Suburb of Adelaide, South Australia

Clovelly Park is an inner southern suburb of Adelaide in the local government area of the City of Marion. Before becoming an 'advanced' suburb, it was a farm and vineyard. The suburb is bordered by Daws Road to the north, South Road to the east, Sturt Road to the south, and a combination of Percy Avenue and the Flinders railway line to the west. It is situated approximately 20 minutes from the Adelaide city centre, and about 2 minutes from Flinders University, Flinders Medical Centre and Westfield Marion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mile End railway station, Adelaide</span> Railway station in Adelaide, South Australia

Mile End railway station is located on the Belair, Seaford and Flinders lines adjacent to the inner western Adelaide suburb of Mile End in South Australia. It is located 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the Adelaide station. There is easy access from Ellis Park, Adelaide Park Lands, but access from Mile End is limited.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woodlands Park railway station</span> Railway station in Adelaide, South Australia

Woodlands Park railway station is the junction station for the Seaford and Flinders lines. Situated in the inner south-western Adelaide suburb of Edwardstown, it is 9.1 kilometres from Adelaide station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clovelly Park railway station</span> Railway station in Adelaide, South Australia

Clovelly Park railway station was a railway station located on the Flinders line in the south-western Adelaide suburb of Mitchell Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noarlunga Centre railway station</span> Railway station and bus interchange in Adelaide, South Australia

Noarlunga Centre railway station is a railway station on the Seaford line, and for almost 36 years it was the terminus of the line. Situated in the southern Adelaide suburb of Noarlunga Centre, it is 30.2 kilometres from Adelaide station. The station has a bus interchange directly alongside and is adjacent to a large commuter park & ride facility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adelaide Metro 4000 class</span> Class of electric multiple unit trains

The Adelaide Metro 4000 class, also referred to as A-City trains, are electric multiple unit trains built by Bombardier Transportation in Dandenong, Victoria for the electrified Adelaide rail network. They are the only class of operational electric trains in South Australia, running services on the Gawler, Seaford and Flinders lines.

Tonsley is a southern suburb of Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flinders railway station</span> Railway station in Adelaide, South Australia

Flinders railway station is the terminus of the Flinders line in the southern Adelaide suburb of Bedford Park. It serves the adjacent Flinders Medical Centre precinct and Flinders University.

References

  1. "Mitsubishi could announce Adelaide closure today". Australian Car Advice. Archived from the original on 12 April 2008. Retrieved 28 April 2008.
  2. Two Adelaide rail lines facing disruption Archived 5 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine ABC News 3 February 2012
  3. Novak, Lauren (3 February 2012). "Travellers shunted from Tonsley and Grange train lines". Adelaide Now. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  4. 1 2 Rail revitalisation Tonsley line Archived 13 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure
  5. Rail Network Closures 2013 Adelaide Metro
  6. Marion Council lobbies for state and federal governments to put Tonsley rail upgrade ahead of politics Archived 29 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Guardian Messenger 3 October 2013
  7. Government looks at extending Noarlunga, Tonsley rail lines Adelaide Advertiser 3 July 2008
  8. Yaxley, Louise (13 May 2016). "Coalition's $43m Adelaide rail funding pledge aimed at shoring up marginal seat, Anthony Albanese says". News. ABC. ABC. Archived from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  9. "Flinders Link Project". Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure. Government of South Australia. Archived from the original on 26 September 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  10. "Flinders Link Project - Report and Attachments" (PDF). Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  11. Etheridge, Michelle. (28 February 2018). "New station on track", CoastCity Weekly , p5.
  12. "Tonsley station closing". Adelaide Metro. Government of South Australia. 6 June 2019. Archived from the original on 6 June 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  13. "Darlington Upgrade Project". Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure. Government of South Australia. Archived from the original on 25 May 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  14. "Green light for $85.5m Flinders Link rail extension". Premier of South Australia. Government of South Australia. Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  15. Wills, Daniel (29 April 2019). "Tonsley rail line extension to Flinders to be complete next year, price tag blows out to $125m". The Advertiser. Adelaide. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  16. Henson, Elizabeth (19 July 2019). "Construction work begins on $125m 'Flinders Link', a 650m extension of old Tonsley line". The Advertiser. Adelaide. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  17. "More services for the Adelaide passenger rail network". Adelaide Metro.com.au. Adelaide. 12 October 2020. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  18. "New Flinders Railway Line". Adelaide Metro.com.au. Adelaide. 20 November 2020. Archived from the original on 30 November 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  19. "Flinders & Seaford proposed train timetable - Adelaide Metro" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  20. "New Flinders Railway Line". Adelaide Metro. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  21. Seaford & Tonsley timetable Archived 23 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine Adelaide Metro 20 July 2014
  22. "Limited life for 2000 class Jumbo railcars" Railway Digest January 2015 page 20