Adelaide train chaos to continue after electrical fault shuts southern railway services
CHAOS across parts of Adelaide’s train network will continue today, with electric trains replaced by diesel locomotives on the Seaford line.
THOUSANDS of Adelaide commuters face another morning of peak hour chaos on Friday with warnings from the transport department that train services will continue to be compromised by a power blackout.
People were being urged late Thursday night to make alternative travel arrangements as the fallout of disruptions to the Seaford and Tonsley train lines impacts on other train and bus services and forces commuters into cars.
Department spokeswoman Caroline Kelly said it wasn’t known “when the electric trains will be back up and running’’ and “if you can make other arrangements that would be fantastic’’ until further notice.
#UPDATE diesel trains running along full Seaford and Grange lines to regular timetables from 8pm until last service tonight.
— AdelaideMetroSA (@AdelaideMetroSA) April 28, 2016
People for Public Transport president Thanasis Avrami said it was crucial the existing problem was fixed and “it’s absolutely vital to future proof the system’’.
“The people responsible must be held accountable,’’ he said.
Peak hour traffic was thrown into chaos in the southern suburbs on Thursday morning when trains along the Seaford and Tonsley services were halted by a suspected fire at a Lonsdale substation, leaving passengers stranded and motorists caught at level crossings where boomgates remained down.
Seaford passengers directed to Brighton line at Adelaide Train Station. Subs buses at Brighton stop #adelaidemetro pic.twitter.com/hoHG5algkP
— Josephine Lim (@johzlim) April 28, 2016
Some train passengers were stuck between stations, others had to climb down ladders onto rail tracks while those more fortunate alighted at stations and jumped on buses or shared taxis to their destinations.
SA Power Networks said the failed substation provided electricity to the “rail system’s private supply network’’.
The power shutdown hit services before 7am and electricity supply hadn’t been resumed by late Thursday night.
Buses travelling along routes near the train line were diverted to stations to pick up passengers and extra substitute buses were pressed into service.
Diesel trains were also used to push the electric trains downtrack.
As the crisis continued, substitute bus services were provided from the city to Seaford train station and diesel trains did a shuttle run between Adelaide and Brighton stations, with buses continuing onto Seaford, in an effort to cope with Thursday afternoon’s peak travel period.
However, this meant train services between Woodville and Grange were replaced by substitute buses and several bus routes from the city to the southern suburbs via south Rd were cancelled.
Samantha Newell, 29, of Mile End said she avoided the morning chaos but would most likely have to take the bus into the city for work tomorrow.
“Usually three lines were available for me to take it, but now two (Seaford and Grange) are down,” she said.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SEAFORD, TONSLEY AND GRANGE RAIL PASSENGERS FOR TODAY'S AFTERNOON SERVICES pic.twitter.com/OcrgRG2wsM
— AdelaideMetroSA (@AdelaideMetroSA) 28 April 2016
Housemates Nikkita Aldridge and Hollie Ravenscroft said now it would take twice as long to get home to Grange.
“We have to take the bus from Woodville to Grange, which meant take more than an hour now to get home,” Ms Aldridge said.
“I work late tomorrow so I’ll drive in.”
Noarlunga line down Passengers asked to get off train at Clarence Pk station and "make alternative arrangements" pic.twitter.com/wNJHhhWGAx
— David Pisoni MP (@DavidPisoniMP) 27 April 2016
Renee Damiani, 31, of Seaton said she still had not figured out how to get back into the city tomorrow if the trains are down.
Adelaide Metro staff were assisting confused passengers at Adelaide, Woodlands Park, Woodville and Brighton Rail stations.
There were also reports Seaford line passengers alighting at Woodlands Park station at Edwardstown were offered free taxi rides to continue their journey.
BREAKING: Diesel train pushing the electric train blocking Brighton Road, into the city. Road just reopened #9News pic.twitter.com/8fJg5PDLno
— Jarrad Brevi (@JarradBrevi9) 28 April 2016
Department of Transport spokeswoman Caroline Kelly said “these things happen sometimes’’ and “we do try our best.”
“We do know that it has affected a lot of people on the Seaford line and a lot of other road users as well,” she said on Thursday afternoon.
“We know it’s a major inconvenience and we’re going to try to get things back up and running as quickly as we can.’’
Commuters are encouraged to visit www.adelaidemetro.com.au or phone 1300 311 108 for the latest information on services.
Invisible Minister has some explaining to do
By David Nankervis
WHERE was Stephen Mullighan? The Transport Minister was nowhere to be seen during Thursday’s rail chaos, leaving his Opposition counterpart to take the platform.
Within minutes of the Seaford and Tonsley lines being brought to a halt by a power blackout, Opposition transport spokesman and local MP David Pisoni was using Twitter to inform commuters of what was going on.
Mr Mullighan, however, left questions on why the system had broken down and what was being done to fix it to a Transport Department staffer.
While Mr Pisoni continued to tweet updates, department spokeswoman Caroline Kelly fielded media questions. When The Advertiser asked where Mr Mullighan was, we were told he was “indisposed’’.
The minister was happily visible on Tuesday, when he posted a picture of himself and federal Major Projects Minister Paul Fletcher turning a sod to mark the start of the $620 million Darlington Upgrade.
People for Public Transport president Thanasis Avrami said Mr Mullighan should have been explaining “what was being done to fix the problem’’.
Originally published as Adelaide train chaos to continue after electrical fault shuts southern railway services
Major bank flags big risk in rate cut
Australia’s biggest bank says there may be some brief relief for those priced out of owning a home, but there could be a brutal side effect to cutting rates.
ASX 200 hammered on Trump tariffs
Nearly $50bn was wiped off the Australian sharemarket on Monday as fears of a trade war led by US President Donald Trump tariffs ripped through the local market.
Grim truth about Aussie rate cut
Mortgage holders need more than one rate cut to start feeling relief, with only about 53,000 Aussies likely to move away from “at risk” should the RBA cut rates in February.