TransAdelaide

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TransAdelaide
Transadelaidelogo.png
Man adelaide sst.jpg
A Pressed Metal Corporation South Australia bodied MAN SL200 ca. 1997
Government owned corporation overview
Formed4 July 1994
Preceding Government owned corporation
Dissolved31 August 2010
Superseding Government owned corporation
Jurisdiction Adelaide
Headquarters Adelaide
Employees729 (June 2010)
Website www.transadelaide.com.au

TransAdelaide was a publicly owned cooperation in Adelaide, South Australia, and operated the city's suburban rail, tram and bus services. It took responsibilities from the State Transport Authority in July 1994.

Contents

History

TransAdelaide 3000 class railcar at Adelaide TransAdelaide 3000 class railcar at Adelaide station.jpg
TransAdelaide 3000 class railcar at Adelaide

In June 1994, the government-owned agency State Transport Authority was dissolved (and the 1974 Act repealed) as a consequence of the Passenger Transport Act 1994. These reforms split the STA into the Passenger Transport Board, which coordinated and funded the public transport system, and TransAdelaide, which actually operated metropolitan buses, trains and trams. The formation of TransAdelaide was a prelude to competitive tendering and the introduction of private operators into the Adelaide public transport network.

In April 2000, all metropolitan bus routes were transferred from TransAdelaide to private companies Light-City Buses, SouthLink and Torrens Transit. It continued to operate rail services under the Adelaide Metro brand. It was abolished in August 2010, with its staff and functions transferred to the newly created Office of the Rail Commissioner. [1] [2]

Operations

TransAdelaide operated the suburban rail services on the Noarlunga, Gawler, Outer Harbor, Belair, Tonsley and Grange lines, in addition to maintaining the stations along the lines. The rail services were provided by a fleet of 70 3000 class diesel railcars and 30 2000 class railcars. TransAdelaide inherited some Redhen railcars from the State Transport Authority. The final units were retired in October 1996. It also operated Adelaide's last remaining tram service, the Glenelg Light Rail tram line from Victoria Square to the seaside suburb of Glenelg.

TransAdelaide 2000 class railcar at Gawler 2000 class 4car gawler.jpg
TransAdelaide 2000 class railcar at Gawler

Tram revival

Two coupled Type H trams at Brighton Road tram stop on a city-bound service, 2 months before withdrawal from service in August 2006. Together with no. 364, these two were the last unrefurbished cars to be withdrawn from service. They were subsequently acquired by the Sydney Tramway Museum at Loftus, New South Wales. H types 358 and 357 at Brighton Road, June 2006.JPG
Two coupled Type H trams at Brighton Road tram stop on a city-bound service, 2 months before withdrawal from service in August 2006. Together with no. 364, these two were the last unrefurbished cars to be withdrawn from service. They were subsequently acquired by the Sydney Tramway Museum at Loftus, New South Wales.
Flexity Classic and Alstom Citadis trams on the North Terrace route to the Botanic Garden, near the intersection with Pulteney Street Citadis and Flexity trams cross on North Terrace, Adelaide, 14 Oct 2018 (Henk Graalman).jpg
Flexity Classic and Alstom Citadis trams on the North Terrace route to the Botanic Garden, near the intersection with Pulteney Street

For 77 years, Type H trams were the mainstay of the Glenelg tram line. They operated after the line was converted from a steam railway to an electrified tramway in 1929. In the 21st century, a series of investments were made to improve and extend the line, beginning in May 2003 when the South Australian Government announced an upgrade of the Glenelg line infrastructure and the introduction of new trams. [3]

Major work to upgrade the line took place between 5 June and 7 August 2005. Concrete sleepers were installed and much of the track renewed in an intensive nine-week project. Most of the 21 tram stops were reconstructed with higher platforms to allow level access to the new low-floor trams. The overhead electrical supply was upgraded, and some minor modifications were made to the Type H trams and Glengowrie depot. Tram services were replaced with substitute bus services during this period. The terminus at Moseley Square was reconfigured in September 2005 as part of a general redevelopment of the square. [4] An extension opened to the new City West terminus on 14 October 2007. [5] An overpass crossing South Road was announced in the 2007 South Australian Budget. The project was built in conjunction with the Anzac Highway Underpass. [6] Construction by McConnell Dowell commenced in July 2009. [7] On 8 December 2009, the overpass opened to allow trams to pass over it, however the South Road tram stop was not operational until 15 March 2010. [8] Another new extension was opened to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on 11 May 2009. [9] Testing began in February 2010 and the extension opened on 22 March 2010. [10]

Rail fleet

Between 1994 and 2010, TransAdelaide operated the following classes of rail vehicles.

 Class Image Type  Top speed  Number  Routes operated  Built 
 mph  km/h  Limit 
 mph/h 
 Limit 
 km/h 
2000 Jumbos 2000 class 4car gawler.jpg Diesel multiple unit 87140569011 Gawler, Grange, Noarlunga Centre, Outer Harbor, Tonsley 1980
2100 Jumbos 2kwood.jpg Control car 87140569018 Gawler, Grange, Noarlunga Centre, Outer Harbor, Tonsley 1980
3000 AdelaideRail 1.jpg Diesel-electric multiple unit 87140569030All non-tram routes
1987-
3100 AdelaideRail 9.jpg Diesel-electric multiple unit 87140569040All non-tram routes
1988–96
Bombardier Flexity Classic Adelaide Tram.jpg Tram ----508015 Glenelg–City–Hindmarsh 2006
Alstom Citadis CT 202 glenelg, 2012.JPG Tram --------6
3
Glenelg–City–Hindmarsh 2009
2017

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References

  1. End of the line for TransAdelaide Archived 23 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine ABC News 6 September 2010
  2. Annual Report year ended 30 June 2011 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328035440/http://dpti.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/
  3. New trams for Adelaide Trolley Wire issue 294 August 2003 page 19
  4. Temporary Tram Closure Adelaide Metro
  5. Official opening for tram extension Archived 28 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine ABC News 14 October 2007
  6. "Glenelg Tram Overpass". Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 14 October 2009.
  7. Adelaide - South Road overpass Trolley Wire issue 319 November 2009 page 12
  8. GTO Wins Industry Award Archived 13 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine McConnell Dowell 19 May 2010
  9. "Tram extension works start". The Advertiser/AdelaideNow. 8 May 2009. Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
  10. Adelaide Entertainment Centre Tram Line Opens Trolley Wire issue 321 May 2010 pages 21-23