Green Light for New Rail Underpass at Torrens Junction
Expressions of interest will be called to separate the rail corridors at the Torrens Junction and adjacent road and rail level crossing on Adelaide’s Inner Ring Route.
Federal Major Projects Minister Paul Fletcher said the Torrens Junction upgrade was critical for reducing delays experienced where the interstate freight and passenger rail lines intersected.
“The existing rail junction poses a productivity constraint to the Adelaide to Melbourne rail freight line, with freight trains forced to give way to Outer Harbor passenger trains at the junction,” Mr Fletcher said.
“This project will improve the productivity of the national rail freight network by enabling 1800-metre freight trains – about 20-percent longer than the current configuration – to operate between Adelaide and Melbourne.
“It is also vital to reduce traffic delays experienced on one of the busiest sections of the Inner Ring Route road network.
“Almost 50,000 vehicles use Park Terrace every day and are often delayed by the 160 passenger train movements through this level crossing each day.
“It will also speed up freight trains through the Torrens Road and Hawker Street level crossings reducing delays for traffic.”
South Australian Transport and Infrastructure Minister Stephen Mullighan said the first stage has already been completed.
“The Goodwood Junction upgrade has improved rail freight productivity by allowing longer freight trains to access Adelaide from the eastern states and by eliminating the delays caused when the freight line crossed over the passenger line,” Mr Mullighan said.
“Stage 1 also delivered the Adelaide Showground Station in 2014, which caters to more than 100,000 passengers a year.
“As well as the Torrens Junction works, Stage 2 of this project will feature the construction of a new pedestrian and cycling overpass at Goodwood to complete the popular Mike Turtur Bikeway.
“The Mike Turtur Bikeway is the busiest cycling commuter route to the city, used by up to 1000 cyclists a day and this addition will eliminate the need for cyclists to dismount to use the underpass at the Goodwood train station.”
These projects are expected to support on average about 212 jobs a year during construction and will be delivered in line with the State Government’s Industry Participation and Steel Procurement policies.
Source: News Release, Government of South Australia, 06, May, 2016