Tonsley railway line, Adelaide
Encyclopedia
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...
, that stems off the Noarlunga Centre railway line to end in Mitchell Park
Mitchell Park, South Australia
Mitchell Park is a suburb south of Adelaide. It shares common boundaries with Marion, Bedford Park, Clovelly Park, and Ascot Park. In recent years it has undergone major redevelopments through a program of urban renewal which included the renovation of many properties owned by the former South...
opposite Science Park and close to the Flinders University
Flinders University
Flinders University, , is a public university in Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 1966, it was named in honour of navigator Matthew Flinders, who explored and surveyed the South Australian coastline in the early 19th century.The university has established a reputation as a leading research...
and the Flinders Medical Centre
Flinders Medical Centre
Flinders Medical Centre is a 580 bed public teaching hospital and medical school, co-located with Flinders University and the 130 bed Flinders Private Hospital located at Bedford Park, South Australia. It opened in 1976. It is one of the major public hospitals operating in metropolitan Adelaide...
. There have been many proposals to extend the line so that it ends closer to the Flinders Campus, but nothing has eventuated. The line was constructed in 1965 to serve the former Chrysler/Mitsubishi plant at Clovelly Park, which closed in March 2008
The line is single track for its entire length from the junction near Ascot Park to the terminus at Tonsley, with two intermediate stations. Services operate hourly on weekdays with trains operating slightly more frequently in peak periods.
Services
No services operate between 7pm-7am or on weekends, and services were only extended to operate during weekday off-peak periods in 2004. Stations between Woodlands Park and Adelaide are also serviced by the Noarlunga Centre railway line, and stations between Goodwood and Adelaide are also serviced by the Belair line.Bus route W90 services the areas surrounding Tonsley, Clovelly Park and Mitchell Park stations 7 days a week, operating more frequently than train services. Various bus routes enable transfers from the rail terminus at Tonsley to services which run frequently to Westfield Marion
Westfield Marion
Westfield Marion is the largest shopping complex in Adelaide, South Australia. The centre, its management and all tenant addresses are located in the suburb of Oaklands Park...
, Flinders University
Flinders University
Flinders University, , is a public university in Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 1966, it was named in honour of navigator Matthew Flinders, who explored and surveyed the South Australian coastline in the early 19th century.The university has established a reputation as a leading research...
and other destinations, however few rail passengers transfer to these services.
None of the stations on the line are staffed, have any ticketing facilities or have upgraded lighting, there not having been any substantial upgrades since initial construction of the line. Most services 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, except for one peak service which is operated with a 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...
.
Possible extension
In July 2008, 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 it would once again investigate the extension of the Tonsley line to the Flinders Medical Centre as an attempt to ease parking pressures. This was in conjunction with a "new" study to extend the Noarlunga line in response to criticism that it was not included in the State Government's $2 billion public transport plan in the 2008 State Budget. It will be a $4 million feasibility study funded by the federal government and will include park and ride facilities based at Flinders Medical Centre
Flinders Medical Centre
Flinders Medical Centre is a 580 bed public teaching hospital and medical school, co-located with Flinders University and the 130 bed Flinders Private Hospital located at Bedford Park, South Australia. It opened in 1976. It is one of the major public hospitals operating in metropolitan Adelaide...
, as well as an investigation into solutions to other structural problems in the suburban train network.