[Dec 2012] SA Transport observations

[Artzy]

Today, I saw an ex Adelaide Metro SL200 with QLD plates at Burden Park, Noble Park, VIC. It was still in the silver livery.

[The Phonj]

About 5pm yesterday, I was on Edward St, waiting a lights at Winston Ave and thought I saw two pure white buses that looked very similar to the B58 Volvos, cross Edward St at South Rd, as well as an 18.280 heading Southbound. Initially thought they were mercs, but they weren't in AdMet livery. Again being some distance away doesn't help, but I figure someone may have a clue, or fresh speculation on what they were.

I saw two Volvo B58/B10M buses (both pure white) heading inbound on Payneham Rd on Saturday (at about 16:30) so I would say it was those that you saw.

[Eagle Eye]

Would also be the same two Volvos and a Merc (R540 I think) that went past St Agnes Depot around 4:10pm on Saturday afternoon!

SG280Hs #353 and #59 have had new SouthLink destos for January programmed into them, but both still reside at St Agnes, soon to go to Elizabeth or Lonsdale.

[TA3001]

Would also be the same two Volvos and a Merc (R540 I think) that went past St Agnes Depot around 4:10pm on Saturday afternoon!

Would this be a hint that an Adelaide Merc has finally made it into local presevation?

[bigrobbo]

The Friday night "shopper" Gawler Central train (9:20pm) ran tonight and I assume will be running all week.

Does anyone else know if other Friday night services are running all this week?

[jibb]

It appears that Light-City Buses is still running a MAN Artic-354-sighted this afternoon on Route 241.

[The Phonj]

I saw MAN SL202 (CNG) 883 running a Torrens Transit service this morning. This means that at least three MAN SL202 buses have moved from Transfield to Torrens Transit; 1601 may have also returned to Torrens; however as it was not in service and I didn't get a clear look at the driver (I think he is a TT driver) I can't verify this at this stage.

[Columbo]

I saw MAN SL202 (CNG) 883 running a Torrens Transit service this morning. This means that at least three MAN SL202 buses have moved from Transfield to Torrens Transit; 1601 may have also returned to Torrens; however as it was not in service and I didn't get a clear look at the driver (I think he is a TT driver) I can't verify this at this stage.

Pretty sure 1601 was sitting at Arndale waiting to start a 100 yesterday afternoon.

[The Phonj]

Passing Mile End depot this afternoon, I saw a bus parked on track, in TfNSW (Transport for New South Wales) livery.

[TA3001]

2857 was in service today. Didn't catch the rego

[retiredbendy]

Spotted both R969 and 1232 on 'Driver Training' in the CBD this afternoon.

Cheers,
Retiredbendy

[busrider]

2858 has also been delivered, so it will enter service soon if it hasn't done so already. It is perhaps worthy of noting that this is the 500th Scania CURRENTLY in Adelaide Metro service... This count excludes the 4 (out of 6) K92s which have been withdrawn, and 1120 which burnt out earlier this year.

[STA 1440]

About 5pm yesterday, I was on Edward St, waiting a lights at Winston Ave and thought I saw two pure white buses that looked very similar to the B58 Volvos, cross Edward St at South Rd, as well as an 18.280 heading Southbound. Initially thought they were mercs, but they weren't in AdMet livery. Again being some distance away doesn't help, but I figure someone may have a clue, or fresh speculation on what they were.

I saw two Volvo B58/B10M buses (both pure white) heading inbound on Payneham Rd on Saturday (at about 16:30) so I would say it was those that you saw.

Can't go anywhere without getting busted these days!

ex-1440, ex-1445 and ex-1466 were out on a play date for most of the day, if that answers any questions.

[jibb]

Additional Bus services for Boxing Day Sales on Wednesday 26th December 2012-with Rundle Mall open from 11am to 5pm.
Go-Zones will have additional services to enable a 15 minute service in the am to the City,with 15 minute services from the City in the afternoon.It appears not all Go Zone Routes will have additional services.Additional Rail services on some lines,but no additional tram services,as there is already a 15 minute daytime service.
The O-Bahn will have a normal Public Holiday timetable
Good initiative by PTS to add in these services,lets hope they are well patronised!

[Eagle Eye]

It's a pity no After Midnight services are running tonight as the City is packed tonight with trading until midnight. Buses on many routes are packed, and many O-Bahn artics having full standing loads coming out of town.

To think that the C1/C1G/C2 timetable hasn't been realigned back to where it should be yet is even more ridiculous tonight, where queues at Grenfell St F2 were seen as far back as stop F1 while people waited 23 minutes between buses, only for 3-4 buses to arrive together within 5-7 minutes, then for the cycle to repeat itself again. Madness.

[jibb]

Maybe suggest to LCB powers that be that they(O-Bahn weekday evening services ) be updated at the next timetable changes-cost would be minimal!

[busrider]

A few things...

- 2859 now delivered and in service, thus completing this order of Scania artics
- The last of the SG280Hs at SouthLink now withdrawn from service, to be used on rail subs only
- 1602 has returned to Torrens Transit
- 5 Ivecos are at Mile End depot, numbered 1307-1311. 1309 is quite a sight to see, wearing TNSW livery with Adelaide Metro stickers!

[jibb]

I understood the Scania Artic orders were for 40 buses.
According to Fleet lists there are 39 in service;-
Torrens Transit 1170-1181=12
Southlink Aldgate 3371-3374 =4
Southlink Elizabeth 2537-2559=23

Will the next lot of Scanias be Rigids and are any more due this year,and if so are they replacements for existing buses or extras?

[busrider]

SG280H 1952 was withdrawn well before the CB80 artics came along, 1015 probably counts as its replacement.

[jibb]

SG280H 1952 was withdrawn well before the CB80 artics came along, 1015 probably counts as its replacement.

1952 has been out of action since its accident many years ago. 1015 was part of original Scania artic order and is nearly 4 1/2 yrs old.
Order for new Scania Artic was only placed in early 2010 for 40 buses.

[Andrew S]

A friend of mine gave to the following list of MAN SG280H artics that are currently down at the Lonsdale Depot, (the one's that he could see) as on Friday 28th December:

R942 (1942), R947 (1947), R 352 (2352), 1956, 1957, R356 (2356), R358 (2358), R361 (2361), R362 (2362) & R968 (1968).

[Douglas]

Will the next lot of Scanias be Rigids and are any more due this year,and if so are they replacements for existing buses or extras?

If I'm not mistaken the Scania contract expires at some point this year, so unless the Government extends it, or Scania retender and get it again, something else might be used instead perhaps?

[Greasyrhys]

Guess it's the end of an era for the MAN artics at Elizabeth, a new lease of life down south & for the Woodville-Adelaide railway substitute.

One thing is certain, for the first time next year, the Footy Express services in the Outer North will be 100% accessible (wheelchairs).

[busrider]

Well actually it means that Elizabeth (and satellite depot Pooraka) is now a 100% wheelchair accessible depot...

As for the SG280Hs, here's a list I wrote with all the SG280Hs, and which Scania artics replaced them. I still believe that 1015 is effectively a replacement for 1952 (or the oldest artic, 1941), - if not, wouldn't it still be on the track?

1941 - Torrens 1941 - RETIRED - 1170
1942 - SouthLink 1942 - RETIRED - 3371
1943 - Torrens 1943 - RETIRED - 1171
1944 - Torrens 1944 - RETIRED - 1172
1945 - Torrens 1945 - RETIRED - 1173
1946 - Torrens 1946 - RETIRED - 1174
1947 - Torrens 1947 - RETIRED - 1175
1948 - Torrens 1948 - RETIRED - 1176
1949 - SouthLink 2350 - RETIRED - 2837
1950 - SouthLink 2351 - RETIRED - 2838
1951 - SouthLink 2352 - RETIRED - 2839
1952 - Torrens 1952 - SCRAPPED - 1177?
1953 - SouthLink 2353 - RETIRED - 2840
1954 - Torrens 1954 - RETIRED - 1178
1955 - Torrens 1955 - RETIRED - 1179
1956 - Torrens 1956 - RETIRED - 1180
1957 - Torrens 1957 - RETIRED - 1181
1958 - Torrens 1958 - RETIRED - ????
1959 - SouthLink 2354 - RETIRED - 2841
1960 - SouthLink 2355 - RETIRED - 2842
1961 - SouthLink 2356 - RETIRED - 2843
1962 - SouthLink 2357 - RETIRED - 2844
1963 - SouthLink 2358 - RETIRED - 2845
1964 - SouthLink 2359 - RETIRED - 2846
1965 - SouthLink 2360 - RETIRED - 2847
1966 - SouthLink 2361 - RETIRED - 2848
1967 - SouthLink 2362 - RETIRED - 2849
1968 - SouthLink 2968 - RETIRED - 3372
1969 - SouthLink 2969 - RETIRED - 3373
1970 - SouthLink 2970 - RETIRED - 3374
1971 - SouthLink 2363 - RETIRED - 2850 (ex 3370)
1972 - SouthLink 2364 - RETIRED - 2851
1973 - SouthLink 2365 - RETIRED - 2852
1974 - SouthLink 2366 - RETIRED - 2853
1975 - SouthLink 2367 - RETIRED - 2854
1976 - SouthLink 2368 - SCRAPPED FOR PARTS - 2855
1977 - SouthLink 2369 - RETIRED - 2856
1978 - SouthLink 2370 - RETIRED - 2857
1979 - SouthLink 2371 - RETIRED - 2858
1980 - SouthLink 2372 - RETIRED - 2859

[retiredbendy]

A friend of mine gave to the following list of MAN SG280H artics that are currently down at the Lonsdale Depot, (the one's that he could see) as on Friday 28th December:

R942 (1942), R947 (1947), R 352 (2352), 1956, 1957, R356 (2356), R358 (2358), R361 (2361), R362 (2362) & R968 (1968).

@ Andrew S-

Did your friend see any of the Mercedes buses there at Lonsdale or are the Mercedes just getting used on the Gawler subs and the MAN SG's are getting used on the Noarlunga train line??