[Feb 2012] SA Transport observations

Post by **The Phonj** » Wed Feb 01, 2012 10:32 am

Already we are into the shortest month of the year; February, with 29 days this year.

Gawler line train substitutes between Mawson Lakes and Gawler Central continue primarily using former O-Bahn Mercedes O305 and O305G buses; there should be a couple of months left before finishing so go out there and get some photos!

Being February, the "silly season" starts to ramp up leading into "Mad March" which includes the Adelaide Cup and Clipsal 500.

So, post your South Australian transport observations here that wouldn't seem to warrant their own thread.

A Reminder: Please post only on-topic related observations - I received a complaint about last month's thread related to the amount of off-topic posts in it. This thread will be monitored and non complying posts will be removed

Crispy! · Post by **Crispy!** » Wed Feb 01, 2012 5:43 pm

1180 is now in service SB 54FH

Post by **The Phonj** » Thu Feb 02, 2012 12:28 am

I don't know if it is a sign of things to come, or just an error... the "Smart Stops" at Henley Square and along Henley Beach Rd between Seaview Rd and Holbrooks Rd have been removed and replaced with regular bus stops. Stop 28 on Seaview Rd (Southbound) has had a red pole (suggesting a Go-Zone goes through there) erected in lieu of the former yellow "Smart Stop" pole. Stop 25 Henley Beach Rd on the other hand hasn't (and I didn't pay any attention to stop 22)

Dave C · Post by **Dave C** » Thu Feb 02, 2012 11:49 am

Just received a new Torrens fleet allocation list.

1320-1325 have been sold to the WA government.

Also 1346-1349, 1352 and 1355 may be the 1st TT buses to get the new MetroCard ticketing system.

TT · Post by TT » Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:34 pm

@Dave, But 1325 is one of the Scanias ex Busways?

Dave C · Post by **Dave C** » Fri Feb 03, 2012 6:38 pm

TT wrote:@Dave, But 1325 is one of the Scanias ex Busways?

Ah yeah 1320-1324

1325 may not see much more service.....

Eagle Eye · Post by **Eagle Eye** » Fri Feb 03, 2012 7:24 pm

While the hot topic of the day is train line closures, it's worth noting that the O-Bahn will be closed for regular routine maintenance this Sunday, February 3 between Paradise Interchange and Park Tce between 6am and 4pm. At least we know the line will reopen, unlike the uncertainty clouding the Grange and (especially the) Tonsley lines!

jibb · Post by **jibb** » Fri Feb 03, 2012 7:49 pm

Grange line is planned to be converted to Light Rail and extended to West Lakes,along with Light Rail to Port Adelaide and Semaphore.This is currently scheduled between 2016-2018.As for train services to Outer Harbour-this is unlikely to happen once the line is converted to Light Rail-I believe that the idea of mixing Light and heavy rail is now not on the "experts" agenda-time will tell.
LRV will be a lot cheaper than heavy rail and more practical.

marshall · Post by **marshall** » Fri Feb 03, 2012 8:00 pm

Today in Grote Street saw one of the Mitsubishi Rosa buses used on the 248 service in the afternoon bound for Marion Shoppingtown.

jibb · Post by **jibb** » Fri Feb 03, 2012 8:17 pm

When I passed Morphettville Depot several times today, there were a lot of buses lined up not only outside the workshops as well as inside the workshops,but on the side fence at least another 12 or so buses waiting obviously for some attention in the workshops.Very unusual to see so many buses needing work done on them.
That probably explains why the Rosa was in service!

LowRider · Post by **LowRider** » Fri Feb 03, 2012 10:06 pm

I thought the Grange line conversion had been scrapped because the West Lakes extension is scrapped due to the upgrade of Adelaide Oval?
I don't believe that line will ever get changed to light rail, seems kind of silly really to convert a long heavy rail route to light rail for no real good reason.

Heardy_101 · Post by **Heardy_101** » Sat Feb 04, 2012 9:21 am

Without going too off topic, What I don't get is why the Tonsley line wasn't done when the Noarlunga line was shut...doesn't make sense to me. If it does remain closed for good, what happens then?

Post by **The Phonj** » Sat Feb 04, 2012 9:51 am

My understanding is that capacity is needed at Adelaide Station in the face of having two platforms closed at a time - Grange and Tonsley being the 'sacrificial lambs'. This is probably owing to the comparitively low partonage on the 'branches' of these services - regular 'express' trains can be altered to be 'all stops' to serve the stations normally served by these trains.

Having said that; there seems to be little reason that Grange trains could not run as a 'shuttle' between Woodville and Grange - prior to 1992, Grange trains were run as shuttles from Woodville on nights, Saturday afternoons, Sundays and Public Holidays connecting with Outer Harbor trains at Woodville.

One would hope that the opportunity is taken of the closure to do work on the branches to reduce the inconvenience to passengers once Adelaide Station resumes normal operations.

Post by **The Phonj** » Sat Feb 04, 2012 9:53 am

The Phonj wrote:I don't know if it is a sign of things to come, or just an error... the "Smart Stops" at Henley Square and along Henley Beach Rd between Seaview Rd and Holbrooks Rd have been removed and replaced with regular bus stops. Stop 28 on Seaview Rd (Southbound) has had a red pole (suggesting a Go-Zone goes through there) erected in lieu of the former yellow "Smart Stop" pole. Stop 25 Henley Beach Rd on the other hand hasn't (and I didn't pay any attention to stop 22)

Stop 22 is a red pole. It should be noted that this was a red pole before for the "Smart Stop" located at this stop; and the original end of the Henley Beach Rd Go Zone.

marshall · Post by **marshall** » Sat Feb 04, 2012 10:39 am

Thank you Jibb for your comments regarding the Mitsubishi Rosa bus,it is unusual to see a large number buses requiring service.

BUS STOP · Post by **BUS STOP** » Sun Feb 05, 2012 10:34 am

Buses get parked over by the fence when they need refuelling. The PM refuellers take them from there. They are not service buses.

TA3001 · Post by **TA3001** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 10:13 pm

Not sure if this has been posted, but Scania 2531 now has one of the new yellow validators installed.

Post by **busrider** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 10:31 pm

Confirms what I heard that SouthLink Elizabeth would be next to get new validators in their buses, and it'd start happening this month...

jibb · Post by **jibb** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 3:34 pm

Notice Mercedes R509,R511 heading South-west along Anzac Highway this morning-maybe to Transport SA disposal yard at Morphettville Depot?

jibb · Post by **jibb** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 3:37 pm

Light-City buses Rosa 1312 running around this afternoon still sporting Torrens Transit signage?

Post by **busrider** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 4:37 pm

It has both TT and LCB signage... In other news, posters about the Clipsal 500 are appearing in some buses, advising of free travel for Clipsal 500 ticket holders. Also, 1753 is now sporting the same Adelaide Fringe AOA that 1754 has got.

jibb · Post by **jibb** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 4:50 pm

It didn't have anything but Torrens Transit on rh side above drivers window.

Post by **busrider** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 5:23 pm

It has the LCB "welcome aboard" sticker next to the door.

News just in, 2831 also has MetroCard equipment. Will be interesting to see how quickly MetroCard rolls out across all Elizabeth buses.

marshall · Post by **marshall** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 5:59 pm

Saw two Mercedes buses outside the Morphettville depot this morning that were used for rail substitute services.

jibb · Post by **jibb** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 6:36 pm

marshall wrote:Saw two Mercedes buses outside the Morphettville depot this morning that were used for rail substitute services.

see my note above re R509/R511.