Outer Harbor and Port Dock lines

Last updated

Outer Harbor and Port Dock lines
Adelaide train logo.svg
AdelaideRail 2.jpg
3100 class railcar crossing the Port River
Overview
Locale Adelaide, South Australia
Termini
Stations23
Service
Type Commuter rail
Operator(s) Adelaide Metro
Rolling stock 3000/3100 class
History
Opened
Technical
Line length21.9 km (13.6 mi)
Number of tracks
Track gauge 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
Route map

Contents

km
BSicon KBHFa.svg
21.9
Outer Harbor
BSicon HST.svg
20.5
North Haven
BSicon BHF.svg
19.6
Osborne
BSicon HST.svg
18.8
Midlunga
BSicon HST.svg
18.2
Taperoo
BSicon HST.svg
17.2
Draper
BSicon HST.svg
16.4
Largs North
BSicon HST.svg
15.5
Largs
BSicon HST.svg
14.6
Peterhead
BSicon BHF.svg
13.8
Glanville Adelaide bus logo.svg
BSicon HST.svg
13.1
Ethelton
BSicon BHF.svg
11.7
Port Adelaide Adelaide bus logo.svg
BSicon vSHI1+l-STR+l.svg
BSicon KINTeq.svg
12.0
Port Dock Adelaide bus logo.svg
BSicon vINT.svg
10.2
Alberton
BSicon vpHST-HST.svg
9.2
Cheltenham
BSicon vBHF.svg
8.6
St Clair
BSicon CONTgq.svg
BSicon vSTR-ABZg+r.svg
BSicon vINT.svg
7.5
Woodville Adelaide bus logo.svg
BSicon vpHST-HST.svg
6.8
Woodville Park
BSicon vpHST-HST.svg
6.0
Kilkenny
BSicon vpHST-HST.svg
5.1
West Croydon
BSicon vpHST-HST.svg
4.2
Croydon
BSicon vpHST-HST.svg
2.4
Bowden
BSicon SPLe.svg
BSicon KINTe.svg
0.0
Adelaide Adelaide bus logo.svg Adelaide tram logo.svg
All services share the same tracks,
separation is for illustrative purposes

The Outer Harbor line is a suburban commuter service in Adelaide, South Australia, that runs from Adelaide station through the north western suburbs to Port Adelaide and Outer Harbor.

The Port Dock line is a service that shares its route with the Outer Harbor line until north of Alberton, where it branches along a short spur to Port Dock station in Port Adelaide. [1]

History

Opening in 1856, the inaugural 11.9 kilometres (7.4 miles) railway between Adelaide and Port Dock railway station — named Port Adelaide until 1916 — was the second railway in the colony of South Australia, and the first government-owned railway in the British Empire.[ disputed discuss ][ citation needed ] Port Adelaide junction was created when the railway was extended to cross the Port River to Le Fevre Peninsula. As industry developed on the west side of the Port River, a deeper harbour was required. Initially, this was at Semaphore, with the railway extended in 1882 as the now-closed Semaphore railway line to service the overseas shipping jetty there. The line was subsequently extended 11.2 kilometres (7.0 miles) to Outer Harbor.

The original Port Dock station was closed in 1981, with part of its site later repurposed for the National Railway Museum. Some land was reclaimed for track leading to, and platforms of, a new-build station in 2024.

21st century renewal

The line between Port Adelaide Junction and Glanville was dual gauge until December 2009, when the standard gauge rails were removed. Outer Harbor was configured as a balloon loop so that trains could make the return journey without shunting, requiring a turntable or triangle, or requiring the driver to change ends. The loop was cut when rail freight moved off the broad-gauge Outer Harbor railway to the nearby standard-gauge line on the eastern side of the peninsula.

Various plans to modify the line have been proposed. In 2008, the state government announced a plan to rebuild the Outer Harbor line in preparation for the line to be electrified with the federal government also to provide funding. [2] In the 2011 budget, it was announced that electrification of the Outer Harbor line had been deferred until 2016. [3] In June 2012, the project was cancelled. [4]

In May 2016, the state government announced that 1.4 kilometres (0.87 mi) of the line would be lowered in a grade separation project to pass below the Adelaide to Port Augusta and Gawler lines; a new Bowden station was also to be built. [5] [6] In 2016 the contract was awarded to a consortium of Laing O'Rourke, AECOM and KBR. [7]

The state government again considered electrifying the line or converting it to light rail. A 2016 report into potential light rail projects in Adelaide considered two options for the future of the line. The first would electrify the heavy-rail line and provide a short spur-line to central Port Adelaide (Port Dock). The option would convert the line to light rail and add a new on-street branch to Semaphore; a light rail conversion would also require the conversion or closure of the Grange line, and several options for the future of that line were also presented. [8] The spur line and a new Port Dock station, after several delays and costing increases, were opened in September 2024. [9] [10]

In January 2017, the line was closed for three weeks alongside the Grange line to building an overpass over South Road and the North–South Motorway. [11] [12]

In 2024, transport minister Tom Koutsantonis flagged another possible electrification and an extension of the line to accommodate workers at the Australian Submarine Corporation at Osborne. [13]

Torrens Junction separation

There are a total of five railway tracks on three bridges in parallel across the River Torrens. North of this bridge, the two tracks of the Gawler line continues north, as does the standard gauge railway track, while the two tracks of the Outer Harbor line swing away northwest. Until late 2017, the Outer Harbor tracks were the pair between the Gawler tracks on the east and the standard gauge track which was built in 1982 on the west. This meant that Outer Harbor and Grange trains had to cross the track that carries rail freight between Melbourne and the main freight terminals in Adelaide, Perth and Darwin. In 2017, the Torrens Junction project worked to remove this operational conflict. The outcome was to make the Gawler trains use the central pair of tracks, while the Outer Harbor line now uses the eastern pair across the bridge, then descends into a trench and passes underneath the Gawler and standard gauge lines and Park Terrace which had previously been a busy level crossing. The Bowden railway station was also demolished and rebuilt at a new lower level. [14]

The Outer Harbor line was closed (and consequently also Grange services) along with a portion of the Gawler line in April, June, July, and August 2017 to work on the Torrens Rail Junction Project. [15] [16] [17] [18] The entire line was closed on 24 September 2017, and reopened on 15 January 2018, having been delayed from a 3 December opening. [19]

Former branch lines

Route

The line is double track from Adelaide to Midlunga, then single for the final three kilometres to Outer Harbor; the spur line to Port Dock is single track with a passing loop. The northern section of the line runs along the middle of the narrow Lefevre Peninsula with stations at regular intervals. [20] The line serves 22 stations in 22 kilometres (14 miles).

Line guide

Outer Harbor and Port Dock Lines
NameDistance from
Adelaide
Year openedServing suburbsConnections
Adelaide 0.0 km1856Adelaide Belair Flinders Gawler
Seaford

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

Bowden 2.4 km1856Bowden
Croydon 4.2 km1888Croydon
West Croydon 5.1 km1915West Croydon
Kilkenny 6.0 km1881Kilkenny, Woodville Park
Woodville Park 6.8 km1936Woodville, Woodville Park
Woodville 7.5 km1856St Clair, Woodville Grange

Adelaide bus logo.svg Bus

St Clair 8.6 km2014St Clair, Woodville
Cheltenham 9.2 km1959Cheltenham
Alberton 10.2 km1856Alberton
Port Dock Line
Port Dock 12.0 km2024Port Adelaide Adelaide bus logo.svg Bus Interchange
Outer Harbor Line
Port Adelaide 11.7 km1916Port Adelaide Adelaide bus logo.svg Bus
Ethelton 13.1 km1916Ethelton, New Port
Glanville 13.8 km1878Glanville, New Port Adelaide bus logo.svg Bus
Peterhead 14.6 km1911Birkenhead, Exeter, Peterhead
Largs 15.5 km1907Largs Bay
Largs North 16.4 km1916Largs North
Draper 17.2 kmUn­knownLargs North
Taperoo 18.2 km1908Taperoo
Midlunga 18.8 km1921Osborne
Osborne 19.6 km1908North Haven, Osborne
North Haven 20.5 km1981North Haven
Outer Harbor 21.9 km1926North Haven, Outer Harbor

Services

The Outer Harbor and Port Dock lines shares part of their route with the Grange line. All passenger train services are operated by 3000/3100 class railcars. Trains run every 30 minutes between 5am and midnight on weekdays and weekends. [21] [22]

Prior to the reopening of Port Dock railway station, most services on the Outer Harbor line stopped at all stations. From 25 August 2024, Port Dock services stop at all stations, while most Outer Harbor services will run express between Adelaide and Woodville while also skipping Cheltenham. [23]

Additional services

During special events, such as AFL matches, Adelaide Metro will typically run extra Osborne services. Unlike the regular weekday peak services, these Osborne services stop at all stations. [24]

As Outer Harbor railway station is in close proximity to the Port Adelaide Passenger Terminal, the Outer Harbor line is regularly utilised by cruise ship passengers during the summer cruise season. When larger cruise ships are in port, Adelaide Metro often runs an express train service between Outer Harbor and Adelaide.

Related Research Articles

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

Adelaide railway station is the central terminus of the Adelaide Metro railway system. All lines approach the station from the west, and it is a terminal station with no through lines, with most of the traffic on the metropolitan network either departing or terminating here. It has nine below-ground platforms, all using broad gauge track. The station is located on the north side of North Terrace, west of Parliament House.

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

Port Adelaide railway station is a commuter railway station located on the Outer Harbor line. It serves the port-side region of Port Adelaide. It originally opened as Commercial Road, the current name of Port Adelaide was given in 1981. Situated in the north-western Adelaide suburb of Alberton, it is 11.7 kilometres from Adelaide station.

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

Woodville railway station is the junction station for the Grange, Outer Harbor and Port Dock lines with the lines diverging immediately north of the station. Situated in the western Adelaide suburb of Woodville, it is 7.5 kilometres from Adelaide station. It has auto pedestrian gates and lights. Platform 3 had a small kiosk, built around 2006, that sells refreshments and tickets, but has not been opened since 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Railways in Adelaide</span> Rail network in South Australia

The Adelaide rail network is a metropolitan suburban rail system serving the city of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. It consists of 89 railway stations across 7 lines, which served a patronage of 15.6 million people over the year 2018-19. Keolis Downer under contract from the Government of South Australia operates the Adelaide suburban rail system. The operations are set to be handed back to the hands of the public by January 2025.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rail transport in South Australia</span>

Rail transport in the Australian state of South Australia is provided by a number of railway operators who operate over the government-owned railway lines. The network consists of 1435 mm standard gauge links to other states, the 1600 mm broad gauge suburban railways in Adelaide, a freight-only branch from Dry Creek to Port Adelaide and Pelican Point, a narrow-gauge gypsum haulage line on the Eyre Peninsula, and both copper–gold concentrate and coal on the standard-gauge line in the Adelaide–Darwin rail corridor north of Tarcoola.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3000 class railcar</span> Diesel railcar used in Adelaide, South Australia

The 3000 class and 3100 class are a class of 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. In total, 70 railcars were built and are expected to be retired between 2030 and 2032.

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

Bowden railway station is located on the Adelaide suburban railway line leading to the Grange, Outer Harbor and Port Dock lines, commonly known as the Port line. Situated in the inner Adelaide suburb of Bowden, it is 2.5 kilometres from Adelaide station. Originally opened in 1856, it was extensively rebuilt as part of a flying junction in 2017 and reopened in 2018.

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

Alberton railway station is the junction station for the Outer Harbor and Port Dock lines. Situated in the north-western Adelaide suburb of Alberton, it is 10.2 kilometres from Adelaide station. The station is listed on the South Australian Heritage Register.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Dock railway station</span> Terminus of spur line at Port Adelaide

Port Dock railway station is the terminus of the Port Dock line, located on Baker Street, Port Adelaide. The first station was located in the commercial centre at the corner of St Vincent Street and Lipson Street and served as the original terminus of the railway between Adelaide and Port Adelaide, which opened in 1856.

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

Ethelton station is located on the Outer Harbor line. Situated in the north-western Adelaide suburb of Ethelton, it is 13.1 kilometres from Adelaide station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dry Creek-Port Adelaide railway line</span> Railway line in Adelaide, South Australia

The Dry Creek–Port Adelaide railway line is an eight-kilometre east–west freight railway line running through Adelaide's north-western suburbs. The line is managed by the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) and is an important link between Port Adelaide, Pelican Point and the main interstate rail routes which link Adelaide with Melbourne, Perth, Darwin and Sydney. Prior to 1988, a limited local passenger service operated, stopping at five intermediate stations along the line. Since May 1988, the line has been freight-only.

<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. It is also the only line to have no other interchange with another line except Adelaide.

<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. It is 13.0 kilometres long.

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

Outer Harbor railway station is the terminus station of the Outer Harbor line. Situated in the north-western Adelaide suburb of North Haven, it is 21.9 kilometres from Adelaide station.

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

Albert Park railway station is located on the Grange line. Situated in the western Adelaide suburb of Albert Park, it is 9.1 kilometres from Adelaide station.

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

Glanville railway station is located on the Outer Harbor line. Situated in the north-western Adelaide suburb of Glanville, it is 13.8 kilometres from Adelaide station.

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

Croydon railway station is located on the Grange, Outer Harbor and Port Dock lines. Situated in the western Adelaide suburb of Croydon, it is 4.2 kilometres from Adelaide station.

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

Dry Creek railway station is located on the Gawler line. Situated in the inner northern Adelaide suburb of Dry Creek, it is 10.6 kilometres (6.6 mi) from Adelaide station.

The Adelaide–Port Augusta railway line is the main route for northbound rail traffic out of Adelaide, South Australia. The line, 315 kilometres long, is part of the Adelaide–Darwin rail corridor and the Sydney–Perth rail corridor.

References

  1. Port Dock Railway Line - Adelaide Metro website, 26 July 2024
  2. South Australian Department of Treasury & Finance (June 2008). "2008/09 State Budget". Archived from the original on 27 February 2015.
  3. Martin, Sarah (10 June 2011). "SA State Budget 11 - $200m in rail revitalisation work delayed". Adelaide Advertiser. Archived from the original on 15 August 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  4. Carter, Mark (8 June 2012). "South Australia cuts back Adelaide electrification". International Railway Journal. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013.
  5. "Torrens Rail Junction Project". Department of Transport, Planning & Infrastructure.
  6. Waldhuter, Lauren (6 May 2016). "Adelaide rail upgrade project to separate passenger and freight lines on Outer Harbor line". ABC News .
  7. Laing O'Rourke (19 December 2016). "Torrens Rail Junction Upgrade" (Press release). Archived from the original on 12 March 2017.
  8. "AdeLINK Multi-Criteria Analysis Summary Report" (PDF). Department of Transport, Planning and Infrastructure. 2016. pp. 11–13.
  9. Kemp, Miles (24 June 2017). "State Budget 2017: Trains return to the heart of Port Adelaide after a 36-year absence" . The Advertiser.
  10. Sutton, Malcolm (21 June 2019). "Adelaide's public transport going back to the future under Stephan Knoll". ABC News. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  11. Premier of South Australia (2 January 2017). "Major works kick off to remove one of Adelaide's worst level crossings". Archived from the original on 13 January 2017.
  12. Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure. "Outer Harbor & Grange line closure January 2 - January 23, 2017". Archived from the original on 12 March 2017.
  13. Adelaide is growing beyond its limits — so could a train revival help steam the city's expansion?
  14. Kemp, Miles (13 September 2017). "Major disruption to Outer Harbor and Gawler train lines as work starts on Park Tce underpass". The Advertiser. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  15. "Outer Harbor, Grange and Gawler rail line closures". Adelaide Metro. Archived from the original on 12 April 2017.
  16. "Outer Harbor, Grange and Gawler train lines temporary closures June long weekend". Adelaide Metro. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017.
  17. "Outer Harbor, Grange and Gawler line July closure". Adelaide Metro. Archived from the original on 7 July 2017.
  18. "Outer Harbor, Grange and Gawler rail line closures August 2017". Adelaide Metro. Archived from the original on 13 August 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  19. "UPDATE 14 NOVEMBER: Outer Harbor and Grange rail line closures until January 2018". Adelaide Metro. Archived from the original on 20 November 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  20. "Outer Harbor & Grange timetable" (PDF). Adelaide Metro. 23 February 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 June 2014.
  21. "More train services, more often from 22 April". Adelaide Metro. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018.
  22. "OUTHA - Outer Harbor to City". Adelaide Metro. 29 March 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  23. Port Dock Railway Line - Adelaide Metro website, 26 July 2024
  24. Metro, Adelaide (16 June 2023). "Transport to Adelaide Oval". Adelaide Metro. Retrieved 29 June 2023.