THE FUTURE
As our population increases the need for a better transport network will be more relied upon. If the 30 Year Plan is anything to go by our reliance on personal cars will decrease and will be used solely for suburban general purpose. There for public transport will be our main mode of transport for work, study etc. Here is how I will see our public transport network in the future.
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The Belair line will be opened back to it's original route through to Bridgewater with all new stations replacing those that closed or destroyed.
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The Gawler line will also be reopened to Tanunda (remaining line has been converted to Barossa Bike Trail).
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Seaford line will extend to Sellicks Beach.
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The O-Bahn will be converted into a rail line which will continue as a subway terminating at Adelaide Railway Station.
* see my blog page for my more current thoughts of what I propose here
Exhibition Jubilee Line
As I was researching into lost railway lines I came across one line in particular which grabbed my attention. This line was of interest because a part of it ran underground, the line ran from the side of the railway station to the exhibition building was only meant for cargo goods but as I looked further I found out at one point the whole network was supposed to a subway (a clue into this is how the Adelaide Railway Station platforms are well below ground level) but of course cost was a major factor as to why this never happened. The line it self was closed and the tunnel part capped up, it was rediscovered in the festival plaza development in the 70's and the government was considering refurbishing it and making it a walkway but the government at the time grossly underestimated the money it would cost so it was filled in.
Currently there are no plans or money set aside but that hasn't stopped the government today talking about a future subway link beneath Adelaide and even the former vice-chancellor of Adelaide Uni, Professor Warren Bebbington letting it slip out in an interview a couple of years back when discussing the new medical centre next to the RAH (VC Interview).
Although the future plans call for a subway loop I was not a fan of it as we already have buses and a new tram network which will no doubt be extended to around the city in the future. However there is a type of line that already exists and would be great for an extension under the city and that is the O-Bahn.
Current tram route and exit for O-Bahn: dots represent future AdeLink extensions.
Possible subway route with potential stops marked in blue.
For the rest of the O-Bahn conversion idea I have created a concept illustration using SketchUp. I chose Paradise interchange but the design can be applied to any of them. Below is the current layout of the interchange.
Interchange concepts. My thought for designing this is based of the Bowden station which has been lowered with the tracks where the grass/fence section in the middle of the photo is and the road on which the buses are would be moved out with linking bridge over the tracks towards the back. Although I think this would be a costly thing the benefits would outweigh this and besides who knows what the future will hold.
Paradise Interchange. Source Marcus Wong.
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