Seaford and Belair train lines to close for maintenance on several days over summer

TWO train lines on the Adelaide network will temporarily close for several days — and in some sections up to three weeks — over the holiday season for essential maintenance upgrades.

TWO Adelaide rail lines will be without trains for up to three weeks, throwing the travel plans of thousands of people into chaos.

The troubled Belair and Seaford lines will be shut down over the festive season, angering commuters.

The Seaford line will have almost half of its electric cabling replaced because of a manufacturing fault, the State Government says.

Transport Minister Stephen Mulligan is also angry at the latest service interruptions on the recently upgraded Seaford line.

“We are absolutely furious we have invested hundreds of millions of dollars to give the best possible service to commuters and its been interrupted because we have been let down by one of the suppliers on this project,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, the Belair line will be closed for maintenance to provide “better train services’’, Mr Mullighan said.

Although the closures came at the quietest time of the year, he said the service suspensions were still disappointing. A faulty batch of electric “catenary wire’’ on the Seaford line would be replaced at no cost to taxpayers.

“This will take much longer than previously estimated and to minimise risks to ongoing services, the closure in January will reduce the chances of ongoing interruptions to commuters,” he said.

However, the Opposition accused the Government of knowing about cable problems for more than 18 months, with cable failures. Buses will replace trains on the Belair and Seaford lines while they close on various dates in December and January. The full length of the Seaford line will be closed on December 27 and 28 after 8pm. This will be followed by two full-day closures on January 2 and 3 to replace the faulty wiring. The line will also be closed between Seaford and Brighton between January 4 and 25 with trains replaced by buses.

The Belair line closure, from midnight Christmas Day until the first service on December 30, coincides with the shutdown of the parallel freight track. Works on the line include stabilisation of an embankment at Coromandel, signal and communication cable testing, and civil works at three level crossings in preparation for cable replacement.

The rail chaos comes as road upgrades at the busy junction of Richmond and South roads, which were due for completion in October, are delayed until the end of the year.

Full details of the closures and alternative bus services will be available at www.adelaidemetro.com.au

Off the rails

TROUBLES ON THE SEAFORD LINE

June 2015: Overhead wire needs rectification works and is repaired between midnight and 5am.

March 2015: Transport Department chief Michael Deegan said upgrade works were not of a suitable standard, despite a “small fortune” being spent.

March 2014: Track closed for night works for “essential maintenance” a month after upgrade completed.

TROUBLES ON THE BELAIR LINE

September 10-12: Line disrupted twice when the Glenalta boom gates jam.

January 2: Station Rd, Blackwood, boom gates jam for 20 minutes, causing disruption.

October 2013: Lightning damages level-crossing equipment at the boom gates near Glenalta Station, causing boom gates to go down for more than five hours.

CLOSURES

The Belair line will be closed from midnight on Christmas Day until the first service on December 30.

The full length of the Seaford line will be closed on December 27 and 28 after 8pm, followed by two full-day closures on January 2 and 3.

There will be a partial closure of the Seaford line between Brighton and Seaford from January 4 to 25 with the rail line reopening again on Australia Day. However, substitute buses will be operating for both lines.

Originally published as Seaford and Belair train lines to close for maintenance on several days over summer