Belair railway line, Adelaide
Encyclopedia
The Belair railway line is a suburban rail commuter route within the City of Adelaide
, South Australia, that runs from the Adelaide Railway Station
to Belair
in the Adelaide Hills
.
/ Bridgewater
opened in 1883. In 1987, passenger services to Bridgewater ceased, mainly due to low patronage, the terminus becoming Belair.
In 1995, one track of the double track
main line from Adelaide to Belair
was converted from Broad Gauge (1600mm) to Standard Gauge (1435mm) as part of the Adelaide to Melbourne standardisation project. The broad gauge passenger services were thus restricted to a single track
with crossing loops located at Mitcham Station
, Blackwood Station, Eden Hills and Sleeps Hill. At the same time, the stations at Millswood, Hawthorn
and Clapham
were closed despite criticism from local residents.
. Until June 2007, on weekends some services were run with a 2000 class railcar
modified to incorporate increased bike capacity. In 2005, trains ran the route every 30 minutes on weekdays (hourly after 7pm) and every 60 minutes on weekends and public holidays. From 2006, because of the single line, this was downgraded to every 36/24 minutes on weekdays.
On weekends, the route is popular with downhill mountain bike riders who catch the train up the hill and returned via one of the many downhill mountain biking trails and roads, hence the use of a modified 2000 class railcar. However, since downhill mountain biking has been prohibited on some trails in the Belair area, (such as Anderson's Reserve, Lynton Dump Reserve and Sleeps Hill reserve), the Adelaide mountain biking community's patronage has slightly declined.
The standard gauge track is used by The Overland passenger train to Melbourne, which runs three times a week, and a number of freight train
s.
s and rail will provide a smoother and faster trip for commuters using the line.
The project has been named "the Belair Line Renewal". The rail line closed on 26 April 2009 and reopened on 23 August 2009. During this shutdown, the following works occurred:
A substitute bus
service, operated during the closure, covering all railway stations between Goodwood and Belair, then express between Greenhill Road
and Government House
.
According to the Belair Line Renewal web page, "The substitute bus service is unable to cater for bicycles. A separate arrangement has been made in collaboration with Bicycle SA for a temporary bicycle trailer service to be offered on a trial basis for the first month. Continuation of the service beyond this time will be based on the demand and benefits of the service. The dedicated trailer service for cyclists will be operated by Bicycle SA and will use a bicycle trailer capable of holding up to 11 bikes at any one time. It will transport bicycles (and their riders) up the hill from Mitcham station to the Belair triangle each week night from 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm and on weekends between 10 am and 4 pm." Cyclists will need to make their own way south from the city to Mitcham, and again south from Belair. There is no service for northbound cyclists.
Interchange Key:
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, that runs from the Adelaide Railway Station
Adelaide Railway Station
Adelaide Railway Station is the central terminus of the Adelaide Metro railway system. It is at on the north side of North Terrace, west of Parliament House. The Adelaide Casino is in part of the building that is no longer required for the station....
to Belair
Belair, South Australia
Belair is a suburb situated in the southern foothills of Adelaide, South Australia.-Geography:A leafy suburb, Belair was established during the settlement of Adelaide as a source of timber. Parts of Belair have views of the city of Adelaide, the Adelaide Plains and the coast...
in 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...
.
History
The Bridgewater railway line from Adelaide to BelairBelair, South Australia
Belair is a suburb situated in the southern foothills of Adelaide, South Australia.-Geography:A leafy suburb, Belair was established during the settlement of Adelaide as a source of timber. Parts of Belair have views of the city of Adelaide, the Adelaide Plains and the coast...
/ Bridgewater
Bridgewater, South Australia
Bridgewater is a town in the Adelaide Hills, southeast of Adelaide in South Australia.It is the former end of the Adelaide-Bridgewater railway line; this route was closed in 1987...
opened in 1883. In 1987, passenger services to Bridgewater ceased, mainly due to low patronage, the terminus becoming Belair.
In 1995, one track of the double track
Double track
A double track railway usually involves running one track in each direction, compared to a single track railway where trains in both directions share the same track.- Overview :...
main line from Adelaide to Belair
Belair, South Australia
Belair is a suburb situated in the southern foothills of Adelaide, South Australia.-Geography:A leafy suburb, Belair was established during the settlement of Adelaide as a source of timber. Parts of Belair have views of the city of Adelaide, the Adelaide Plains and the coast...
was converted from Broad Gauge (1600mm) to Standard Gauge (1435mm) as part of the Adelaide to Melbourne standardisation project. The broad gauge passenger services were thus restricted to a single track
Single track (rail)
A single track railway is where trains in both directions share the same track. Single track is normally used on lesser used rail lines, often branch lines, where the traffic density is not high enough to justify the cost of building double tracks....
with crossing loops located at Mitcham Station
Mitcham railway station, Adelaide
Mitcham railway station is located on the Belair railway line in Adelaide, South Australia. It is located 8.5 km by rail from Adelaide Railway Station, and is actually located in Lower Mitcham...
, Blackwood Station, Eden Hills and Sleeps Hill. At the same time, the stations at Millswood, Hawthorn
Hawthorn railway station, Adelaide
Hawthorn railway station on the Belair Railway Line, located in the inner southern suburb of Hawthorn 7.5 km by rail from Adelaide Railway Station, was closed in 1995. It runs parallel to Egmont Terrace. It is 500m south of the Unley Park railway station, and consists of two earth-filled concrete...
and Clapham
Clapham railway station, Adelaide
Clapham railway station was a railway station on the Belair railway line in suburban Adelaide, South Australia, which was closed in April 1995. Its remains are located on the north side of the Springbank Road overpass in the inner southern Adelaide suburb of Clapham. It was located 10.0 km by...
were closed despite criticism from local residents.
Operations
The motive power used for suburban passenger trains is now exclusively 3000 and 3100 class railcars3000 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....
. Until June 2007, on weekends some services were run 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...
modified to incorporate increased bike capacity. In 2005, trains ran the route every 30 minutes on weekdays (hourly after 7pm) and every 60 minutes on weekends and public holidays. From 2006, because of the single line, this was downgraded to every 36/24 minutes on weekdays.
On weekends, the route is popular with downhill mountain bike riders who catch the train up the hill and returned via one of the many downhill mountain biking trails and roads, hence the use of a modified 2000 class railcar. However, since downhill mountain biking has been prohibited on some trails in the Belair area, (such as Anderson's Reserve, Lynton Dump Reserve and Sleeps Hill reserve), the Adelaide mountain biking community's patronage has slightly declined.
The standard gauge track is used by The Overland passenger train to Melbourne, which runs three times a week, and a number of freight train
Freight train
A freight train or goods train is a group of freight cars or goods wagons hauled by one or more locomotives on a railway, ultimately transporting cargo between two points as part of the logistics chain...
s.
Resleepering
In the 2008/09 State Budget, re-sleepering of the line was announced. Electrification is not planned for the line in the near future due to extra engineering work and complications with the Standard Gauge line. However, the new concrete sleeperConcrete 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 and rail will provide a smoother and faster trip for commuters using the line.
The project has been named "the Belair Line Renewal". The rail line closed on 26 April 2009 and reopened on 23 August 2009. During this shutdown, the following works occurred:
- upgrading the track formation and ballastTrack ballastTrack ballast forms the trackbed upon which railway sleepers or railroad ties are laid. It is packed between, below, and around the ties. It is used to facilitate drainage of water, to distribute the load from the railroad ties, and also to keep down vegetation that might interfere with the track...
; - improving drainage;
- improving the track geometry and alignment within the existing corridor; and
- installing over 20,000 new gauge-convertible concrete sleepers and new rail.
A substitute bus
Bustitution
The word bustitution is a neologism sometimes used to describe the practice of replacing a passenger train service with a bus service either on a temporary or permanent basis. The word is a portmanteau of the words "bus" and "substitution"...
service, operated during the closure, covering all railway stations between Goodwood and Belair, then express between Greenhill Road
Greenhill Road, Adelaide
Greenhill Road is a major road in Adelaide, South Australia, that provides a vital transport artery for those living in the eastern and hills suburbs. In Adelaide's early days, trams used to run up and down the road...
and Government House
Government House, Adelaide
Government House, located in Adelaide on the corner of North Terrace and King William Road, is the official residence of the Governor of South Australia.-History:The original 'Government Hut' was a thatched hut constructed by the seamen of the HMS Buffalo...
.
According to the Belair Line Renewal web page, "The substitute bus service is unable to cater for bicycles. A separate arrangement has been made in collaboration with Bicycle SA for a temporary bicycle trailer service to be offered on a trial basis for the first month. Continuation of the service beyond this time will be based on the demand and benefits of the service. The dedicated trailer service for cyclists will be operated by Bicycle SA and will use a bicycle trailer capable of holding up to 11 bikes at any one time. It will transport bicycles (and their riders) up the hill from Mitcham station to the Belair triangle each week night from 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm and on weekends between 10 am and 4 pm." Cyclists will need to make their own way south from the city to Mitcham, and again south from Belair. There is no service for northbound cyclists.
Line guide
West Terrace tram stop will become Royal Adelaide Hospital when Hospital is constructed.Interchange Key:
| Image | Service | Operator(s) | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Suburban Trains Transfers | TransAdelaide | Adelaide Adelaide Railway Station Adelaide Railway Station is the central terminus of the Adelaide Metro railway system. It is at on the north side of North Terrace, west of Parliament House. The Adelaide Casino is in part of the building that is no longer required for the station.... , Goodwood |
 |
Lightrail Transfers | TransAdelaide | Adelaide Adelaide Railway Station Adelaide Railway Station is the central terminus of the Adelaide Metro railway system. It is at on the north side of North Terrace, west of Parliament House. The Adelaide Casino is in part of the building that is no longer required for the station.... |
 |
Suburban Bus Transfers | Torrens Transit Southlink |
see Bus Routes |
 |
Interstate Trains Transfers | GSR Great Southern Railway (Australia) Great Southern Railway , owned by Serco Asia Pacific, is a tourism business and rail transport operator in Australia.GSR operates interstate passenger trains aimed at the tourist market:* The Indian Pacific... |
Keswick Keswick railway station, Adelaide Keswick railway station is a station on the Belair, Noarlunga Centre and Tonsley railway lines, and is located in the inner western Adelaide suburb of Keswick. It is located by railway from the Adelaide Railway Station.... |
 |
Bus or Rail Interchange | n/a | Adelaide Adelaide Railway Station Adelaide Railway Station is the central terminus of the Adelaide Metro railway system. It is at on the north side of North Terrace, west of Parliament House. The Adelaide Casino is in part of the building that is no longer required for the station.... , Goodwood, Blackwood |
See also
- List of Adelaide railway stations
- List of suburban and commuter rail systems
- Railways in AdelaideRailways in AdelaideThe 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...
- Rail transport in South AustraliaRail transport in South AustraliaThe first railway in colonial South Australia was a horse-drawn tramway from the port of Goolwa on the Murray River to an ocean harbour at Port Elliot in 1854...