AUSTRALIA: The first electric train in Adelaide ran on February 23, marking the completion of electrification between Adelaide main line station and the newly opened southern terminus at Seaford.
The 1 600 mm gauge line, electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz, was hitherto known as the Noarlunga Line, but has been renamed Seaford Line following the opening of the 5·7 km extension to Seaford, built at a cost of A$291·2m. This includes a 1·2 km bridge over the Onkaparinga Valley and a park-and-ride facility at the intermediate station of Seaford Meadows.
Since July Adelaide Metro has taken delivery of four A-City Class 4000 electric multiple-units from Bombardier’s Dandenong factory. In total, 22 three-car trainsets are to be delivered over 18 months under a A$269m order placed in March 2011. Each air-conditioned train has 240 seats and standing room for 300 passengers.
The Seaford Line is part of the ‘north-south backbone’ that will also see the Gawler and Tonsley lines electrified in the longer term.
- The December 2013 issue of Metro Report International includes a detailed report on The Integrated Transport & Land Use Plan for the Adelaide region.
