North Terrace-Glenelg railway line, Adelaide
Encyclopedia
The North Terrace to Glenelg railway line was a railway
in western Adelaide
.
The line started in the city
from the Adelaide Railway Station
, and then headed west. From approximately where Henley Beach Road currently is, the railway then followed an almost direct route to the seaside suburb of Glenelg
.
Today, much of the corridor in which the line ran remains as a rail trail
for cyclists, which is known as the West Side cycleway. Part of the north section of the corridor has been built over as James Congdon Road. A railway platform from the original line Plympton railway station in the suburb of Plympton
near Marion Road. The line was closed in 1929, after which remnants remained for some time including rails across Marion Road in the 1950s.
The line was constructed to compete with the existing Glenelg railway line, (now the Glenelg Tramline), which ran from Victoria Square
. Customer satisfaction on the existing line was becoming low. In response a group which had been attempting to improve conditions on the existing service decided to establish a company and construct a new railway in competition with the existing one.
The Holdfast Bay Railway Company was established and the new line was opened on 24 May 1880. The line proved to be popular due to the convenience of using the existing Adelaide Railway Station
, and trips taking only 20 minutes to Glenelg, which was 5 minutes shorter than the existing line. There were two trains that ran in the morning from Glenelg to Adelaide, and two from Adelaide to Glenelg in the afternoon.
Two years after the line opened, it was realised there was not enough business to support both companies. On 11 May 1882, the two merged to form the Glenelg Railway Company Limited. Both lines continued to run and business assets such as maintenance facilities were shared to reduce costs.
In 1924, William A. Webb
, the railways commissioner, proposed that the two Glenelg railways be given to the Municipal Tramways Trust
(MTT) and be converted from steam
railways into electric
tram
ways. The government, following Mr Webb's recommendation, acquired both Glenelg railways and electrification of the South Terrace
line, which now known as the Glenelg Tram
line, began in 1929, taking nine months to finish. On the day when the South Terrace line conversion was completed in December 1929, South Australian Railways
stopped running trains from North Terrace. After the closure, the MTT began the operation of bus services from the city to Plympton.
The line was originally intended to become electrified with the Glenelg line, and small scale works on its conversion had begun, including drilling holes for power lines
. However, work was halted and the future became uncertain for years. Parts of the remaining corridor were sold to private holders in 1938, and the rest to the South Australian Government in 1940. The MATS
Plan in the 1960s proposed an expressway
be constructed in the corridor.
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Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
in western Adelaide
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...
.
The line started in the city
Adelaide city centre
The Adelaide city centre is the innermost locality of Greater Adelaide, known by locals simply as "The City" or "Town". The locality is split into two key geographical distinctions: the city "square mile", bordered by North, East, South and West Terraces; and that part of the Adelaide Parklands...
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....
, and then headed west. From approximately where Henley Beach Road currently is, the railway then followed an almost direct route to the seaside suburb of Glenelg
Glenelg, South Australia
Glenelg is a popular beach-side suburb of the South Australian capital of Adelaide. Located on the shore of Holdfast Bay in Gulf St Vincent, it has become a popular tourist destination due to its beach and many attractions, home to several hotels and dozens of restaurants.Established in 1836, it is...
.
Today, much of the corridor in which the line ran remains as a rail trail
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
for cyclists, which is known as the West Side cycleway. Part of the north section of the corridor has been built over as James Congdon Road. A railway platform from the original line Plympton railway station in the suburb of Plympton
Plympton, South Australia
Plympton is a suburb of the city of Adelaide, South Australia. The name is believed to have been given by Henry Mooringe Boswarva to a private subdivision in the area, naming after his home town in Devon, England...
near Marion Road. The line was closed in 1929, after which remnants remained for some time including rails across Marion Road in the 1950s.
History
Victoria Square, Adelaide
Victoria Square is a public square in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. The square is in the centre of the city's grid of one square mile, and was named by the Street Naming Committee on 23 May 1837 after Princess Victoria, heir presumptive of the British throne. Less than a month later the...
. Customer satisfaction on the existing line was becoming low. In response a group which had been attempting to improve conditions on the existing service decided to establish a company and construct a new railway in competition with the existing one.
The Holdfast Bay Railway Company was established and the new line was opened on 24 May 1880. The line proved to be popular due to the convenience of using the existing 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....
, and trips taking only 20 minutes to Glenelg, which was 5 minutes shorter than the existing line. There were two trains that ran in the morning from Glenelg to Adelaide, and two from Adelaide to Glenelg in the afternoon.
Two years after the line opened, it was realised there was not enough business to support both companies. On 11 May 1882, the two merged to form the Glenelg Railway Company Limited. Both lines continued to run and business assets such as maintenance facilities were shared to reduce costs.
In 1924, William A. Webb
William Alfred Webb
William A. Webb was an American railroad engineer who was appointed Commissioner of the South Australian Railways in 1923. He retired in 1930.He rejuvenated and modernised this system, amidst a lot of controversy, especially regarding the cost....
, the railways commissioner, proposed that the two Glenelg railways be given to the Municipal Tramways Trust
Municipal Tramways Trust
The Municipal Tramways Trust was established in 1907 to operate Adelaide's street tram network. The MTT ceased to exist in 1975 upon the establishment of the State Transport Authority Bus and Tram Division.-History:...
(MTT) and be converted from steam
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
railways into electric
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
ways. The government, following Mr Webb's recommendation, acquired both Glenelg railways and electrification of the South Terrace
South Terrace, Adelaide
South Terrace is a street on the south side of the city centre of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. It runs from Anzac Highway and connects to Glen Osmond Road. King William Street ends at South Terrace. It is the southern edge of the city centre, and is bounded by parklands to the south,...
line, which now known as the Glenelg Tram
Glenelg Tram
The Glenelg Tram is a route from the centre of Adelaide, South Australia to the beach-side suburb of Glenelg. It is Adelaide's only remaining tramway, running at approximately 15-minute intervals, and is part of the integrated Adelaide Metro public transport network...
line, began in 1929, taking nine months to finish. On the day when the South Terrace line conversion was completed in December 1929, South Australian Railways
South Australian Railways
South Australian Railways built and operated railways in South Australia from 1854 to the incorporation of its non-urban railways into the Australian National Railways Commission in 1975, together with the former Commonwealth Railways and the former Tasmanian Government Railways...
stopped running trains from North Terrace. After the closure, the MTT began the operation of bus services from the city to Plympton.
The line was originally intended to become electrified with the Glenelg line, and small scale works on its conversion had begun, including drilling holes for power lines
Overhead lines
Overhead lines or overhead wires are used to transmit electrical energy to trams, trolleybuses or trains at a distance from the energy supply point...
. However, work was halted and the future became uncertain for years. Parts of the remaining corridor were sold to private holders in 1938, and the rest to the South Australian Government in 1940. The MATS
Metropolitan Adelaide Transport Study
The Metropolitan Adelaide Transport Study, or "MATS Plan" as it became known, was a comprehensive transport plan released in 1968 examining the then-current and future needs of transport for the city of Adelaide....
Plan in the 1960s proposed an expressway
Limited-access road
A limited-access road known by various terms worldwide, including limited-access highway, dual-carriageway and expressway, is a highway or arterial road for high-speed traffic which has many or most characteristics of a controlled-access highway , including limited or no access to adjacent...
be constructed in the corridor.
Stations
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See also
- 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...
- List of Adelaide railway stations
- List of closed Adelaide railway stations