O-Bahn Busway - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

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...

O-Bahn Busway is a guided busway

Guided bus

Guided buses are buses steered for part or all of their route by external means, usually on a dedicated track. This track, which often parallels existing roads, excludes other traffic, permitting the maintenance of reliable schedules on heavily used corridors even during rush hours.Guidance systems...

located in Adelaide

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. The O-Bahn – from the Latin

Latin

Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...

omnibus ("for all people") and the German bahn (railway, as in S-Bahn

S-Bahn

S-Bahn refers to an often combined city center and suburban railway system metro in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Denmark...

and U-Bahn

U-Bahn

U-Bahn or Untergrundbahn is German for underground rapid transit or metro. Five systems take its name, with only four of them being metro systems:*Berlin U-Bahn*Hamburg U-Bahn*Munich U-Bahn*Nuremberg U-Bahn...

) – was conceived by Daimler-Benz

Daimler-Benz

Daimler-Benz AG was a German manufacturer of automobiles, motor vehicles, and internal combustion engines; founded in 1926. An Agreement of Mutual Interest - which was valid until year 2000 - was signed on 1 May 1924 between Karl Benz's Benz & Cie., and Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft, which had...

to enable buses to avoid traffic congestion by sharing tram tunnels in the German city of Essen

Essen

- Origin of the name :In German-speaking countries, the name of the city Essen often causes confusion as to its origins, because it is commonly known as the German infinitive of the verb for the act of eating, and/or the German noun for food. Although scholars still dispute the interpretation of...

.
The route was introduced in 1986 to service Adelaide's rapidly expanding northeastern suburbs

City of Tea Tree Gully

The City of Tea Tree Gully is in the Australian state of South Australia, in the outer north-eastern suburbs of Adelaide. The city has a estimated population of 100,155 people and is one of the most populous local government divisions in Adelaide...

, replacing an earlier plan for a tramway extension

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...

.

The O-bahn design is unique among public transport systems; busways typically use dedicated bus lanes or separate carriageways, but the O-Bahn runs on specially built track, combining elements of both bus and rail systems. Adelaide's track is 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) long and includes one station and two interchanges: Klemzig Station

Klemzig Station

Klemzig Station is an interchange of the O-Bahn Busway, belonging to the Adelaide Metro in Adelaide, South Australia. It is the first stop when departing from the Adelaide CBD. The next stop is Paradise Interchange....

in Klemzig

Klemzig, South Australia

Klemzig is a suburb of Adelaide in the City of Port Adelaide Enfield. It is the location of the first settlement of German emigrants to Australia in the 19th century and is named after a village near the city of Zuellichau in southeastern Brandenburg in the German state of Prussia, where they...

, Paradise Interchange

Paradise Interchange

Paradise Interchange is an interchange of the O-Bahn Busway, belonging to the Adelaide Metro. This interchange is situated mid-way along the O-Bahn Busway, between Tea Tree Plaza Interchange and Klemzig Station in Paradise, South Australia....

in Campbelltown and Tea Tree Plaza Interchange

Tea Tree Plaza Interchange

Tea Tree Plaza Interchange is an interchange belonging to the Adelaide Metro. It is the terminating station of the O-Bahn Busway, and is a central public transport hub for the north eastern suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia.The interchange is also a popular hangout for students from the nearby...

in Tea Tree Gully

City of Tea Tree Gully

. Interchanges allow buses to enter and exit the busway and to continue on suburban routes, avoiding the need for passengers to change. Buses travel at a maximum speed of 100 km/h (62.1 mph), and the busway is capable of carrying 18,000 passengers an hour, from the Central Business District

City of Adelaide

The City of Adelaide is a local government area in the metropolitan area of Adelaide, South Australia. It covers the original Adelaide city centre settlement, , North Adelaide, and the Adelaide Park Lands which surround North Adelaide and the city centre.Established in 1840, the organisation now...

to Tea Tree Plaza in 15 minutes. Services are operated by Torrens Transit

Torrens Transit

Torrens Transit is a privately owned public transport company which operates a bus service in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. It is part of Transit Systems Australia, which also operates Swan Transit....

under contract from Adelaide Metro

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...

, an agency of the South Australian Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure

Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure (South Australia)

The Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure is a large South Australian government department which provides a range of services across the three key words of its title.-Ministers:...

.

It was planned that bus routes serving the O-Bahn would be enhanced from Hackney Road along Grenfell and Currie streets and extended to West Terrace on the far side of the CBD along dedicated bus lanes. However, the Federal Government announced in January 2011, as part of its response to the 2010–2011 Queensland floods

2010–2011 Queensland floods

A series of floods hit Australia, beginning in December 2010, primarily in the state of Queensland including its capital city, Brisbane. The floods forced the evacuation of thousands of people from towns and cities. At least seventy towns and over 200,000 people were affected. Damage initially was...

, that the extension would be cancelled "as a result of a significant scope reduction of the original project, resulting in only limited transport benefits".

History

Adelaide has had significant population growth since the industrial expansion following World War II, with the population having more than doubled from 312,619 in 1933 to 727,916 in 1966. In addition to the growing population, there was an explosion in the number of new motor vehicle registrations, a 43-fold increase in the period from 1944–65. This was fuelled by nation-wide full employment

Full employment

In macroeconomics, full employment is a condition of the national economy, where all or nearly all persons willing and able to work at the prevailing wages and working conditions are able to do so....

, annual economic growth close to 10%, and the discontinuation of government fuel rationing after World War II. Across Australia as a whole, the car was seen as a personal liberator and what was not long earlier a domain of the wealthy was sought after by mainstream society. Concurrent with this growth, a transport blueprint, developed with American assistance, was presented in 1968: the Metropolitan Adelaide Transport Study

Metropolitan Adelaide Transport Study

The Metropolitan Adelaide Transport Study, or "MATS Plan" as it became known, was a comprehensive transport plan released in 1968 examining the then-current and future needs of transport for the city of Adelaide....

(MATS). The plan envisaged a large network of freeways crossing the metropolitan area, together with an underground city loop railway

Railways in Adelaide

The rail network in Adelaide, South Australia, consists of five lines and 81 stations, totalling 125.9 km. It is operated by Adelaide Metro, and is part of the city-wide Adelaide Metro]public transport system. Apart from the Glenelg Tram, Adelaide's railway system is serviced entirely by...

. One of the freeways to be constructed was the Modbury Freeway, connecting a city bypass route with the then predominantly barren and undeveloped north-eastern suburbs. The freeway was to be built in a linear park

Torrens Linear Park

The Torrens Linear Park was completed in 1997 as the first of its kind developed in Australia where it is the largest hills-to-coast park. It began as a flood mitigation scheme along the River Torrens running from the Adelaide Hills, through the city of Adelaide, to the sea...

alongside the River Torrens

River Torrens

The River Torrens is the most significant river of the Adelaide Plains and was one of the reasons for the siting of the city of Adelaide, capital of South Australia. It flows from its source in the Adelaide Hills near Mount Pleasant, across the Adelaide Plains, past the city centre and empties...

.

The size of the MATS plan resulted in considerable public opposition; several suburbs were to completely disappear under interchanges

Interchange (road)

In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...

, with Hindmarsh

Hindmarsh, South Australia

Hindmarsh is an inner urban suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is located in the City of Charles Sturt.-History:The suburb is named after South Australia's first Governor, Sir John Hindmarsh....

to be removed to make way for a multi-entry interchange. Widespread images of gridlock

Traffic congestion

Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. The most common example is the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is great enough that the interaction...

in similar overseas freeway networks also contributed to this opposition. The plan was abandoned by successive governments, and much of the land held by the Highways Department was sold off for housing developments. However, the land for the Modbury Freeway was retained and later renamed from "Modbury Freeway Corridor" to "Modbury Transport Corridor". The Modbury corridor was left to degrade, eventually becoming landfill

Landfill

A landfill site , is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment...

.

The population of the Tea Tree Gully region

City of Tea Tree Gully

increased from 2,561 in 1954 to 91,921 in 2001, through new housing developments. In 1973, the State Director-General of Transport spoke about using the Modbury corridor for public transport to improve services in the area, initially suggesting a heavy rail line be constructed to connect with the railway system

Railways in Adelaide

. Over the next four years, the Department conducted the North East Public Transport Review (NEAPTR), which considered heavy rail, light rail, busways and freeways as options for the corridor. The study concluded in 1978 that a light rail line or busway were most viable. The governing Australian Labor Party

Australian Labor Party

The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...

, under Premier Don Dunstan

Don Dunstan

Donald Allan "Don" Dunstan, AC, QC was a South Australian politician. He entered politics as the Member for Norwood in 1953, became state Labor leader in 1967, and was Premier of South Australia between June 1967 and April 1968, and again between June 1970 and February 1979.The son of a business...

, decided on a light rail

Light rail

Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...

proposal to extend the historic Glenelg tram

Glenelg Tram

. The new route was to continue along King William Street

King William Street, Adelaide

King William Street is the part of a major arterial road that traverses the CBD and centre of Adelaide . It was named by the Street Naming Committee on 23 May 1837 after King William IV, the then reigning monarch, who died within a month...

beyond the present terminus in Victoria Square

Victoria Square, Adelaide

Victoria Square is a public square in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. The square is in the centre of the city's grid of one square mile, and was named by the Street Naming Committee on 23 May 1837 after Princess Victoria, heir presumptive of the British throne. Less than a month later the...

and weave through the Adelaide Park Lands

Adelaide Park Lands

The Adelaide Park Lands are the parks that surround the centre of the South Australian capital city of Adelaide. They measure approximately 7.6 square kilometres in a green belt encircling the city centre....

to the Modbury corridor.

The light rail system was to connect with feeder buses at stations along the length of the corridor to transfer passengers onto suburban routes. New light rail vehicles were to be bought to replace the ageing 1929 H-Class vehicles. However, public opposition to the project was broad; the Adelaide City Council

City of Adelaide

objected to the plan on the basis that it would interfere with the well-designed layout of the city proper. In response, the Government altered the plan to redirect the line underneath the city, significantly increasing the cost. Residents in inner-city suburbs such as St Peters were concerned about the noise of the light rail vehicles, and protested against any disruption of the Torrens Gorge, which lies in the Modbury corridor. The Liberal

Liberal Party of Australia

The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...

MP for Torrens

Electoral district of Torrens

Torrens is an electoral district of the House of Assembly in the Australian state of South Australia. Located along the River Torrens, and named after Robert Richard Torrens, a 19th century Premier of South Australia, and also the founder of the "Torrens title" land registration system. Torrens is...

, Michael Wilson

Michael Wilson (Australian politician)

Michael Minell Wilson is a former South Australian politician and MP in the House of Assembly from 1977 to 1985, representing the Electoral district of Torrens. He oversaw the construction of the Adelaide O-Bahn Busway whilst in office as Transport Minister.-References:...

, representing the north-eastern suburbs, vocally opposed the project on behalf of his constituents.

Drilling commenced on the tunnel, but the resignation in 1979 of popular Premier Dunstan weakened the Government, along with widespread bus strikes and public dissatisfaction with the light rail project. In elections held that year, the Liberal Party gained government with a swing of 11% in their favour. Wilson became Transport Minister in the new cabinet and construction of the light rail project was halted immediately.

In search of a replacement for the light rail project, the new Government sent experts to examine an innovative guided bus system being developed in West Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

by Daimler-Benz

Daimler-Benz

for use in tram tunnels in Essen

Essen

. After extensive consultations with German authorities, State Transport Department engineers decided the O-Bahn could be used. The system was seen as far superior to previous proposals; it used less land, made less noise, was faster and cost less. In addition, its unique feature of a non-transfer service direct from suburban streets to the city centre made it more attractive. Plans were drawn up for a length of 12 kilometres (7.5 mi): initially only three kilometres (1.8 mi) were to be constructed as O-Bahn, with the rest being conventional busway. However, safety concerns and public opposition led to O-Bahn being used for the entire length. Construction began in 1983 for the first section to Paradise Interchange

Paradise Interchange

. In 1982 the Tonkin

David Tonkin

Dr David Oliver Tonkin AO was the 38th Premier of South Australia, serving from 18 September 1979 to 10 November 1982. He was elected to the House of Assembly seat of Bragg at the 1970 election, serving until 1983. He became the leader of the South Australian division of the Liberal Party of...

Liberal Government that oversaw the O-Bahn's development lost office and was succeeded by the Bannon

John Bannon

John Charles Bannon AO is a former Australian politician. He was the 39th Premier of South Australia, leading the Labor Party to government at the 1982 election. The Bannon Labor government was re-elected at the 1985 election and the 1989 election...

-led Labor Party resulting in uncertainty over the future of the project. The Bannon Government, after consultations, decided to continue with Stage 1 (City to Paradise) and in 1986 proceeded with Stage 2 (Paradise to Tea Tree Plaza). The cost of the project totalled $

Australian dollar

The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...

98 million, including the buses.

The O-Bahn had more than 4 million passenger trips in the year after completion of Stage 1 in 1986, with a 30% increase the following year. When the completed O-Bahn was opened on 20 August 1989, passenger numbers rose another 17%. The Adelaide public transport system was privatised in the 1990s and overall patronage across all systems (bus, rail and tram) dropped 25%. The exception to this was the O-Bahn with no decrease, and there were 19,500 passenger trips daily in 1996 (7.13 million a year). Currently there are 22,000 passenger trips daily (8 million a year).

There have been a number of proposals to extend the O-Bahn to Golden Grove

Golden Grove, South Australia

Golden Grove is an outer north-eastern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia and is within the City of Tea Tree Gully local government area. It is adjacent to Wynn Vale, Surrey Downs, Greenwith, Yatala Vale, Fairview Park, and Salisbury East.- History :...

and to the southern suburbs

City of Onkaparinga

The City of Onkaparinga is a local government area located on the southern fringe of Adelaide, South Australia. It is named after the Onkaparinga River, whose name comes from Ngangkiparinga, a Kaurna word meaning "The Women's River"...

. An extension to Golden Grove would require the acquisition of extensive tracts of private property, in the absence of an available corridor. Population increase in the area is negligible, although sprawl continues from Tea Tree Plaza Interchange

Tea Tree Plaza Interchange

for another eight kilometres to the Adelaide Hills

Adelaide Hills

The Adelaide Hills are part of the Mount Lofty Ranges, east of the city of Adelaide in the state of South Australia. It is unofficially centred on the largest town in the area, Mount Barker, which has a population of around 29,000 and is also one of Australia's fastest growing towns.- History :The...

. The current route was built with an allowance for a station at Grand Junction Road

Grand Junction Road, Adelaide

Grand Junction Road is the longest east-west thoroughfare in the Adelaide metropolitan area, and is located approximately 9 kilometres north of the city centre. Travelling from the Port Adelaide region, it is mostly a double lane sealed road running 21 kilometres to the base of the Adelaide Hills...

but it has not been built.

The southern O-Bahn proposal has attracted the most attention and has been the subject of various studies and Parliamentary Committees as to its viability since 1996. The rail route through Adelaide's far south is off-centre, without the large catchment area of a more central transport route. An O-Bahn running direct through the region would be able to take advantage of an already large population and the continuing growth in the area. The most suggested route for an O-Bahn has been for an alignment adjacent to the Noarlunga rail line

Noarlunga Centre railway line, Adelaide

The Noarlunga Centre railway line is a suburban commuter line in the city of Adelaide, South Australia.-History: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...

from the city to the Tonsley branch line

Tonsley railway line, Adelaide

Tonsley Railway Line is a rail route in Adelaide, South Australia, that stems off the Noarlunga Centre railway line to end in Mitchell Park opposite Science Park and close to the Flinders University and the Flinders Medical Centre. There have been many proposals to extend the line so that it ends...

. The O-Bahn would end there, with buses continuing on an upgraded (dual-carriageway) Southern Expressway

Southern Expressway

The Southern Expressway is the world's longest reversible one way freeway. Originally proposed as 'Noarlunga Freeway', it was built as a corridor to relieve heavy traffic from the major arterial, Main South Road, in Adelaide's south. The expressway was built in two stages — the first...

through the far south. Construction of this O-Bahn would require moving the railway track slightly to fit the O-Bahn alongside. In addition, Emerson Crossing

Emerson Crossing

Emerson Crossing, the 'South Road Overpass' or simply 'the Overpass' are the informal names given to the intersection of South Road, Cross Road and the Noarlunga Centre railway line in Adelaide, South Australia. South Road crosses north-south over both Cross Road and the diagonal railway via a...

and the tram overpass

Glenelg Tram

would require huge alteration. The estimated cost of construction, A$182 million, was considered too expensive, and the proposal was suspended in 2001. The current Labor Government

Australian Labor Party

has focused on road upgrades

South Road, Adelaide

South Road is a major north–south conduit in Adelaide, South Australia. Also known as Main South Road, it is Adelaide's most important arterial road.- Route :...

and an inner-city light rail extension

Glenelg Tram

.

The purchase of 160 buses at a cost of $120 million is to take place over the five years from 2007 to 2012 to replace buses used on the O-Bahn and inner city routes, where the fleet is near its 25-year age limit. With the contract expected to be finalised by June 2007, the first buses are planned to be delivered in 2008. Being replaced are the current $90 million contract for 170 buses won by Scania

Scania AB

Scania Aktiebolag , commonly referred to as Scania AB or just Scania, is a major Swedish automotive industry manufacturer of commercial vehicles - specifically heavy trucks and buses...

with Custom Coaches from 2001 over five years. With the new contract, Adelaide

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...

expects to be at 89% disability

Disability

A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...

accessible by 2013 and fully accessible by 2022, and all buses will be air-conditioned by 2013. There are also plans to upgrade the O-Bahn track and interchanges with a new state of the art ticketing system. It is planned that weekday travel by public transport will double by 2018.

Track

The O-Bahn track is made of concrete; it is elevated above ground because of the poor quality of alluvial soils along the River Torrens

River Torrens

, which frequently move due to seismic shifts due to their high level of plasticity

Plasticity

Plasticity may refer to:Science* Plasticity , in physics and engineering, plasticity is the propensity of a material to undergo permanent deformation under load...

. Large concrete pylons were cast into the ground to ensure stability, to a depth of up to four metres. On top of the pylons are 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 on which the track runs. 5,600 pylons were drilled in place to support 5,600 sleepers and 4,200 prefabricated L-shaped track pieces, sited at 12-metre (40-ft) intervals. The width of both tracks, sitting on the sleepers, is 6.2 metres (20.3 ft). The O-Bahn's concrete tracks were narrower and lighter than those of the initially proposed light rail development, and put less stress on the land. The concrete components were precast and then laid onto piers.

At the city end, the O-Bahn begins at Hackney Road, opposite the East Parklands

Adelaide Park Lands

, where it enters a 60-metre (200-ft) tunnel at a speed limited to 40 km/h (24.9 mph), due to the tight initial corner, ensuring that the rear tyres (especially trailer tyres of articulated buses) do not 'scrub' against the track. Speed is gradually increased to 80 km/h (49.7 mph) for most of the trip to Klemzig Station

Klemzig Station

. Once en route to Paradise Interchange

Paradise Interchange

, the speed limit is 100 km/h (62.1 mph), with 90 km/h (55.9 mph) on tighter corners. The limit on the remaining section to Tea Tree Plaza Interchange

Tea Tree Plaza Interchange

varies between 100 km/h (62.1 mph), 90 km/h (55.9 mph) and 80 km/h (49.7 mph). The average speed including stops is about 60 km/h (37.3 mph). On some sections 115 km/h (71.5 mph) has been easily achieved in tests. On entering interchanges the O-Bahn ends and the speed limit is 40 km/h (24.9 mph). In the interchange area, the speed limit is 20 km/h (12.4 mph). The O-Bahn is officially considered a road, due to a court ruling in the early years of the system's operation. This ruling permits the South Australia Police

South Australia Police

The South Australia Police is the police force of the Australian state of South Australia. It is an agency of the Government of South Australia within the South Australian Department of Justice.-History:...

to install speed cameras and fine speeding drivers.

Cars entering the O-Bahn are deterred by a large number of signs at entrance points and a "sump buster

Sump buster

A sump buster is type of bus trap, a device used in urban areas to restrict traffic access on various routes...

" device that rips out a car's sump

Sump

A sump is a low space that collects any often-undesirable liquids such as water or chemicals. A sump can also be an infiltration basin used to manage surface runoff water and recharge underground aquifers....

(oil pan) if it gets onto the track. An average of four cars per year enter the O-Bahn and must be removed by crane.

Buses

The first buses to enter service on the O-Bahn were specially modified Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...

O305 models

Mercedes-Benz O305

Mercedes-Benz O305 is a rear-engined bus model built in West Germany between 1967 and 1987. The O305 was built as a successor of the O317 and was the Mercedes-Benz adaptation of the first so called "Standard-Linienbus" design, that was produced by many different German bus manufacturers. The...

. A fleet comprising 41 rigid and 51 articulated

Articulated bus

An articulated bus is an articulated vehicle used in public transportation. It is usually a single-deck design, and comprises two rigid sections linked by a pivoting joint...

buses was purchased, their cost included in the original $98 million budget. The chassis were bought from Germany and heavily modified at the Mitsubishi Motors

Mitsubishi Motors

is a multinational automaker headquartered in Minato, Tokyo. In 2009 it was the fifth-largest Japan-based automaker and the 17th-largest in the world measured by production...

plant in Clovelly Park

Clovelly Park, 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. It has a population of around 2,700. The borders are defined by Daws Road to the north, South Road to the east, Sturt Road to...

. The rigid buses had their power increased to 240 hp and the articulateds to 280 hp; they were the first buses to travel at a speed of 100 km/h on suburban routes. Modified Scania

Scania AB

Scania Aktiebolag , commonly referred to as Scania AB or just Scania, is a major Swedish automotive industry manufacturer of commercial vehicles - specifically heavy trucks and buses...

and MAN buses were later introduced. All buses have ABS

Anti-lock braking system

An anti-lock braking system is a safety system that allows the wheels on a motor vehicle to continue interacting tractively with the road surface as directed by driver steering inputs while braking, preventing the wheels from locking up and therefore avoiding skidding.An ABS generally offers...

brakes and are able to stop within two bus lengths.

In the case of breakdowns, a specially designed vehicle nicknamed 'Dumbo' is used to tow buses from the O-Bahn. In the early stages of design it was intended that all buses would have towing ability; however, this was soundly rejected by the drivers' union and 'Dumbo' was purchased. If a bus tyre

Tire

A tire or tyre is a ring-shaped covering that fits around a wheel rim to protect it and enable better vehicle performance by providing a flexible cushion that absorbs shock while keeping the wheel in close contact with the ground...

blows during a trip the guide-wheel prevents the bus from erratic movement, and a smaller aluminium inner tyre allows the bus to be driven to the nearest station at 40 km/h (24.9 mph).

The guide-wheel, which protrudes from the front sides and aligns with the track, is the most important part of the bus when travelling on the O-Bahn. Connected directly to the steering mechanism, it 'steers' the bus while on the track and prevents the main tyres from rubbing against the sides of the track. While it is not strictly necessary for drivers to hold the steering wheel

Steering wheel

A steering wheel is a type of steering control in vehicles and vessels ....

when travelling on the O-Bahn because of the guide-wheel, safety procedures require the driver to be alert to their circumstances at all times. A rumble strip

Rumble strip

Rumble strips, also known as sleeper lines, are a road safety feature that alert inattentive drivers to potential danger by causing a tactile vibration and audible rumbling, transmitted through the wheels into the car body...

before stations is a reminder that they need to resume control. The guide-wheel is the most delicate part of the system and is designed to snap off upon sharp impact; before the O-Bahn was in place, a number of buses were fitted with guide-wheels for their ordinary routes to test their durability. Drivers were forced to be more cautious on their normal trips after numerous guide-wheel-to-kerb impacts.

Interchanges

Klemzig Station

is the first station, three kilometres (1.8 mi) from the city centre in the suburb of Klemzig

Klemzig, South Australia

, Payneham

City of Norwood Payneham St Peters

The City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters is a metropolitan Local Government Area of South Australia. It covers the inner eastern suburbs of Adelaide.-Suburbs:- External links :**...

. It was built as a connector to the city loop 'Circle Line' bus service, which follows the Adelaide outer ring route, not as a bus interchange. Many bus services bypass Klemzig and the station has limited capacity. It contains a "Park 'n' Ride" carpark with 165 parks that is currently being expanded.

Paradise Interchange

Paradise Interchange

is the second station, six kilometres (3.7 mi) from the city centre, in Paradise

Paradise, South Australia

Paradise is a northeastern suburb of Adelaide in South Australia. It is bounded on the north side by the River Torrens. Amongst its neighboring suburbs are Highbury, Dernancourt, Athelstone, Newton and Campbelltown....

, Campbelltown. The terminus before the completion of Stage 2, it is now served by buses from suburban streets, and has 625 carparks.

Tea Tree Plaza Interchange

Tea Tree Plaza Interchange

is the terminus, 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from the city centre, in Modbury

Modbury, South Australia

Modbury is a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia in the City of Tea Tree Gully. Modbury is located at the end of the Adelaide O-Bahn and is home to the Tea Tree Plaza shopping complex and a Hospital.It was named Modbury by R...

, Tea Tree Gully

City of Tea Tree Gully

. Adjacent to the Tea Tree Plaza shopping centre, it is the largest O-Bahn station. Bus services from this interchange connect to areas as far away as Elizabeth

Elizabeth, South Australia

Elizabeth is a northern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is located in the City of Playford.-History:Elizabeth was established in 1955 as part of a planned satellite town by the South Australian Housing Trust on rural land between the older towns of Salisbury and...

and service the Golden Grove

Golden Grove, South Australia

area. It has 500 carparking spaces.

Effects on local development

The O-Bahn has caused a clustering of commercial and community development near the Tea Tree Plaza Interchange, as service-providing organisations and businesses have sought to exploit the area's easy accessibility to public transport and the city centre. Market imperatives have also been aided by the zoning of the land around the area as commercial rather than residential. The area around Tea Tree Plaza is one of five designated regional centres within the Adelaide metropolis. According to Robert Cervero, the O-Bahn has "accelerated the conversion of Tea Tree Gully from a somewhat sterile new town designed around a regional shopping mall to an emerging urban village featuring a wide range of land uses". The large Modbury Hospital

Modbury Hospital

Modbury Hospital is a 174-bed, acute care teaching hospital that provides inpatient, outpatient and emergency services to a population of nearly 200,000 people living primarily in Adelaide’s north-eastern suburbs....

is located adjacent to the interchange, and the Torrens Valley campus of TAFE was built directly to the east of the busway after it opened. One government high school, three primary schools, one Christian school and three retirement villages are within a kilometre of the interchange. In contrast, there has been opposition to the area surrounding Klemzig Station and Paradise Interchange being used for any purpose other than low-density housing and no transit-oriented development has occurred.

Ticketing

The O-Bahn uses the standard Adelaide Metro

Adelaide Metro

ticketing system. Single-trip adult tickets are subsidised by $

Australian dollar

2.90 by the South Australian Government

Government 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...

, compared with the $8.80 subsidy for a journey on the rail system

Railways in Adelaide

. Tickets are sold at interchanges and on buses. There are different fares for students and concession-card holders and at off-peak times.

A standard peak ticket costs $4.60 and an off-peak single-trip ticket costs $2.80 and is valid for two hours. Unlimited day tickets ($8.60) and 10-use multi-trip tickets ($30.00) are available. Single-trip concession tickets are $2.30 peak and $1.20 off peak. Tickets can be used across all Adelaide Metro services, including trams

Glenelg Tram

and trains

Railways in Adelaide

; they require validation upon entry to a vehicle. Failure to produce a ticket incurs a $210.00 fine.

Environment

The construction of the O-Bahn, rather than the previously touted Modbury Freeway, was motivated by a desire to reduce car dependency. $6 million was used for the redevelopment of the Torrens Gorge

River Torrens

, in which the Torrens Linear Park

Torrens Linear Park

was created. About 150,000 trees, plants and shrubs were planted alongside the track for aesthetic, environmental and noise-reduction purposes; planting was completed in 1997. Walking trails and cycling paths were built along the park to encourage public use. Torrens Linear Park rejuvenated the river, which had deteriorated to the extent of being a de facto "urban drain, littered with rubbish and inaccessible to the public". Arising from environmental considerations, the O-Bahn is carbon-neutral

Carbon offset

A carbon offset is a reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide or greenhouse gases made in order to compensate for or to offset an emission made elsewhere....

due to the absorption of carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...

by the trees alongside it. The track itself is situated in a valley due to it being near a riverbed and the elevation was further lowered by digging further depressions in order to reduce the noise impact on adjacent dwellings.

The original buses ran on diesel fuel, but the system allows for buses that run on alternative energy sources. Biodiesel fuel was trialled between July 2005 and May 2006. Buses using natural gas have been trialled, although they have not seen regular usage due to a perceived lack of power, especially on the section of the down track immediately after Paradise Interchange where the track rises sharply. The design of the O-Bahn provides for the installation of overhead wires

Overhead lines

Overhead lines or overhead wires are used to transmit electrical energy to trams, trolleybuses or trains at a distance from the energy supply point...

for trolleybus

Trolleybus

A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...

es.

Route

Geographic map from Adelaide Metro official website.

External links

Adelaide's Freeways – A History from MATS to the Port River Expressway, Ozroads
The Adelaide O-Bahn, Adelaide Metro
Adelaide O-Bahn (Northeast) Busway, Australian Towns, Cities & Highways
Government of South Australia, Legislative Council Hansard, 15 October 1996 (Southern O-Bahn debate)
Government of South Australia, Legislative Council Hansard, 11 April 2000 (Southern O-Bahn debate)
Government of South Australia, Legislative Council Hansard, 3 May 2006 (Mark Parnell
Mark Parnell
Mark Parnell is an Australian politician and the first SA Greens representative in the South Australian Legislative Council, having won a seat in the 2006 state election. His term will expire in March 2014. Since his election, the Greens position in state political opinion polls has approximately...

on MATS
Metropolitan Adelaide Transport Study
The Metropolitan Adelaide Transport Study, or "MATS Plan" as it became known, was a comprehensive transport plan released in 1968 examining the then-current and future needs of transport for the city of Adelaide....

)
Kerb Guided Buses, Citytransport.info website.
North-East Facts, northeast.net.au
On the O-Bahn with Keith Conlon, Postcards
Paradise Interchange, Adelaide Metro
Tea Tree Plaza Interchange, Adelaide Metro
Ticketing Information, Adelaide Metro
Jet Bus Services, to and from Adelaide Airport via City and O-Bahn

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.