Noarlunga Centre railway line, Adelaide
Encyclopedia
The Noarlunga Centre railway line is a suburban commuter line in the city of Adelaide
, South Australia
.
Before the extension of the line to Noarlunga Centre line in 1978, the Willunga line
ran from Hallett Cove station on a different route through Reynella, Morphett Vale and Hackham to Willunga
(southeast of Noarlunga). It closed in 1969 and in September 1972 a track-removal train removed the tracks. For six years Noarlunga had no train service.
The South Australian Railways and its successor, the State Transport Authority
(STA), extended the railway southwards in stages from Hallett Cove to cater for increasing residential development in the southern area. Opening dates for passenger services were:
south west via the suburbs of Edwardstown, Oaklands Park and Marion to the coast at Brighton, where it turns south towards Noarlunga Centre in the southern suburbs. The line was known as the Marino and Hallett Cove line when it finished at Hallett Cove. Most trains terminated at Marino, with only about a quarter going to Hallett Cove.
Like the rest of the Adelaide network, the line is broad gauge (1600mm). It is approximately 30.2 kilometres long and is the second longest of the Adelaide suburban railway lines. Signalling is controlled remotely from TransAdelaide’s computerised train control centre at Adelaide station. The line is double track.
The ARTC
standard-gauge main line crosses this line just south of Goodwood station.
and from the Tonsley branch line on weekdays.
Most trainss are operated by 3000 class railcar
s off-peak, at weekends and at night. Single cars operate off-peak trains to Brighton, and all trains to Noarlunga Centre are at least two cars. 2000 class railcar
s (usually three-car sets) operate most Monday to Friday peak trains, sometimes on weekends, plus a few off-peak trains on weekdays.
A number of railcars needed for peak-hour services are stabled overnight in secure sidings at Port Stanvac, around 4 km (2½ miles) north and just beyond Lonsdale station.
There are no freight trains on the line, oil freight trains to/from Port Stanvac ceased operation during the 1990s
. This will include a viaduct over the Onkaparinga River
, a railway station at Seaford Meadows and the Seaford Terminus next to the Seaford Shopping Centre on Lynton Terrace. Construction is expected to be started in mid 2010 and the extension completed by 2013.
announced in 2005 that the line would be extended. This was cancelled in 2007 after a study revealed that the extension could not be justified. The government announced that they would retain the corridor to Aldinga for a possible extension further south in the future. A feasibility study was commissioned by the government in 2008 in response to criticism that the extension was not included in the $2 billion public transport plan in the 2008 State Budget.
This extension was finally given approval after Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan
announced a $291 million investment in the project as part of the 2009/10 Federal Budget.
announced a $209.7 million plan to electrify the line as part of the Government's 10-year $2 billion plan to revitalise Adelaide's public transport network
. This was in addition to the electrification of the Outer Harbor and Gawler rail corridors and the extension of the Glenelg Tramline
.
In late 2009 Stage 1 of the Noarlunga line upgrade was completed. This involved upgrading the base layer, refurbishing/replacing rail and installing concrete sleeper
s between Brighton
and Adelaide
.
Stage 2 was announced to commence in early 2011 to continue the upgrade works between Noarlunga
and Oaklands. This section of the track has been closed from 6 February 2011 for approximately 6 months, with substitute buses
operating in lieu of the train. Most stations got a minor upgrade due to most stations' shelters has asbestos in them and they got new shelters. These stations were: Brighton, Seacliff, Marino, Marino Rocks and Lonsdale.
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
.
History
Willunga railway line, Adelaide
The Willunga railway line ran through the southern Adelaide suburbs from Hallett Cove to Willunga, over long . The line reached Willunga in 1918, and had 16 stations. It closed in 1969 and was dismantled in 1972, but the corridor remains as the long Coast to Vines Rail Trail...
ran from Hallett Cove station on a different route through Reynella, Morphett Vale and Hackham to Willunga
Willunga, South Australia
Willunga is a town south of Adelaide, South Australia in the City of Onkaparinga local government area. It is 5 km away from the wine growing region of McLaren Vale and is approx. 47 km from the Adelaide CBD...
(southeast of Noarlunga). It closed in 1969 and in September 1972 a track-removal train removed the tracks. For six years Noarlunga had no train service.
The South Australian Railways and its successor, the State Transport Authority
State Transport Authority (South Australia)
The State Transport Authority was the government agency which controlled public transport within the State of South Australia between 1974 and 1994....
(STA), extended the railway southwards in stages from Hallett Cove to cater for increasing residential development in the southern area. Opening dates for passenger services were:
- Hallett Cove Beach on 30 June 1974.
- Christie Downs on 25 January 1976. This was a temporary terminus just north of Beach Road and adjacent to Hyacinth Crescent, Christie Downs. It was a different location from today’s Christie Downs station, which opened in November 1981.
- Noarlunga Centre on 2 April 1978.
- SeafordSeaford railway station, AdelaideSeaford railway station is under construction while the Noarlunga Centre line is getting extended to Seaford. This is where line will terminate.The station will be the youngest station in Adelaide as well as Seaford Meadows station when built....
, under construction, expected to be completed 2013.
Route
The line runs from the Adelaide Railway StationAdelaide Railway Station
Adelaide Railway Station is the central terminus of the Adelaide Metro railway system. It is at on the north side of North Terrace, west of Parliament House. The Adelaide Casino is in part of the building that is no longer required for the station....
south west via the suburbs of Edwardstown, Oaklands Park and Marion to the coast at Brighton, where it turns south towards Noarlunga Centre in the southern suburbs. The line was known as the Marino and Hallett Cove line when it finished at Hallett Cove. Most trains terminated at Marino, with only about a quarter going to Hallett Cove.
Like the rest of the Adelaide network, the line is broad gauge (1600mm). It is approximately 30.2 kilometres long and is the second longest of the Adelaide suburban railway lines. Signalling is controlled remotely from TransAdelaide’s computerised train control centre at Adelaide station. The line is double track.
The ARTC
Australian Rail Track Corporation
Australian Rail Track Corporation is a federal government owned corporation established in 1997 that owns, leases, maintains and controls the majority of main line standard gauge railway lines on the mainland of Australia, known as the Defined Interstate Rail Network .-History:The Interstate...
standard-gauge main line crosses this line just south of Goodwood station.
Services
Trains to and from Adelaide operate every 30 minutes off-peak Monday to Friday, and through the day on Saturday and Sunday. Before 11am and after 2pm on weekdays the frequency is increased to one train every 15 minutes. In the evening, trains run every hour. Some stations are also serviced by trains from BrightonBrighton railway station, Adelaide
Brighton railway station on the Noarlunga Centre railway line in the south-western Adelaide suburbs is 16.0 km by railway from Adelaide Railway Station...
and from the Tonsley branch line on weekdays.
Most trainss are operated by 3000 class railcar
3000 class railcar
The "3000" class railcar is the main workhorse of TransAdelaide's suburban passenger operations in Adelaide, South Australia. There are two variants: 3000 series, featuring a cab at each end, and 3100 series with one cab....
s off-peak, at weekends and at night. Single cars operate off-peak trains to Brighton, and all trains to Noarlunga Centre are at least two cars. 2000 class railcar
2000 class railcar
The "2000" class railcars are self-propelled diesel railcars which are used by TransAdelaide on the Adelaide metropolitan rail network. The body shell design was based on the Budd SPV2000, Metroliner and Amfleet cars but the 2000 class railcars have a slightly different curve to the Amfleet. They...
s (usually three-car sets) operate most Monday to Friday peak trains, sometimes on weekends, plus a few off-peak trains on weekdays.
A number of railcars needed for peak-hour services are stabled overnight in secure sidings at Port Stanvac, around 4 km (2½ miles) north and just beyond Lonsdale station.
There are no freight trains on the line, oil freight trains to/from Port Stanvac ceased operation during the 1990s
Seaford extension
Geotechnical work has started on a 5.5 km extension to the southern suburb of SeafordSeaford, South Australia
Seaford is a metropolitan suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It lies within the City of Onkaparinga.-History:Seaford, a coastal suburb to the near south of Port Noarlunga, was set out on Sections 334 and 340, Hundred of Noarlunga, in 1954 by the Wakefield Land Company Pty Ltd...
. This will include a viaduct over the Onkaparinga River
Onkaparinga River
The Onkaparinga River runs from its source between Mount Torrens and Charleston in the Mount Lofty Ranges, and flows south westerly to an estuary at Port Noarlunga. The catchment is over 500 km² in area, and is in part located in the Onkaparinga River National Park.The Onkaparinga River is the...
, a railway station at Seaford Meadows and the Seaford Terminus next to the Seaford Shopping Centre on Lynton Terrace. Construction is expected to be started in mid 2010 and the extension completed by 2013.
Funding for the extension
The State GovernmentGovernment of South Australia
The form of the Government of South Australia is prescribed in its constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then...
announced in 2005 that the line would be extended. This was cancelled in 2007 after a study revealed that the extension could not be justified. The government announced that they would retain the corridor to Aldinga for a possible extension further south in the future. A feasibility study was commissioned by the government in 2008 in response to criticism that the extension was not included in the $2 billion public transport plan in the 2008 State Budget.
This extension was finally given approval after Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan
Wayne Swan
Wayne Maxwell Swan is the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and an Australian politician. He has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1993 to 1996, and then re elected in 1998 till today , representing the Division of Lilley, QLD...
announced a $291 million investment in the project as part of the 2009/10 Federal Budget.
Resleepering and electrification
When delivering the 2008 South Australian State Budget, Treasurer Kevin FoleyKevin Foley
Kevin Owen Foley , Australian politician, is the current Minister for Industry and Trade and Minister for Federal/State Relations in the Rann Labor government. He previously served as Treasurer of South Australia and Deputy Premier of South Australia from 2002 until his resignation in 2011...
announced a $209.7 million plan to electrify the line as part of the Government's 10-year $2 billion plan to revitalise Adelaide's public transport network
Adelaide Metro
Adelaide Metro is the public transport system of the South Australian capital of Adelaide and the brand name of the Public Transport Division of the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure. It is an intermodal system with services provided by bus, tram or commuter rail throughout the...
. This was in addition to the electrification of the Outer Harbor and Gawler rail corridors and the extension of the Glenelg Tramline
Glenelg Tram
The Glenelg Tram is a route from the centre of Adelaide, South Australia to the beach-side suburb of Glenelg. It is Adelaide's only remaining tramway, running at approximately 15-minute intervals, and is part of the integrated Adelaide Metro public transport network...
.
In late 2009 Stage 1 of the Noarlunga line upgrade was completed. This involved upgrading the base layer, refurbishing/replacing rail and installing concrete sleeper
Concrete sleeper
A concrete sleeper is a railroad tie made out of steel reinforced concrete.-History:Concrete sleepers were first made in Germany in 1906 for use between Nuremberg and Bamberg.-Types:...
s between Brighton
Brighton railway station, Adelaide
Brighton railway station on the Noarlunga Centre railway line in the south-western Adelaide suburbs is 16.0 km by railway from Adelaide Railway Station...
and Adelaide
Adelaide Railway Station
Adelaide Railway Station is the central terminus of the Adelaide Metro railway system. It is at on the north side of North Terrace, west of Parliament House. The Adelaide Casino is in part of the building that is no longer required for the station....
.
Stage 2 was announced to commence in early 2011 to continue the upgrade works between Noarlunga
Noarlunga Centre Interchange
Noarlunga Centre Interchange is the terminus of the Noarlunga Centre line, a part of the suburban railway system in Adelaide, South Australia....
and Oaklands. This section of the track has been closed from 6 February 2011 for approximately 6 months, with substitute buses
Bustitution
The word bustitution is a neologism sometimes used to describe the practice of replacing a passenger train service with a bus service either on a temporary or permanent basis. The word is a portmanteau of the words "bus" and "substitution"...
operating in lieu of the train. Most stations got a minor upgrade due to most stations' shelters has asbestos in them and they got new shelters. These stations were: Brighton, Seacliff, Marino, Marino Rocks and Lonsdale.