Gawler line

The Gawler line, also known as the Gawler Central line, is a suburban commuter railway line in the city of Adelaide, South Australia. The Gawler Line is the most frequent and heavily patronised line in the Adelaide rail network. It is also the only line to have no other interchange with another line except Adelaide.

Gawler line
Gawler railway station
Overview
Locale	Adelaide, South Australia
Termini	Adelaide Gawler Central
Stations	27
Service
Type	Commuter rail
Operator(s)	Adelaide Metro
Rolling stock	3000/3100 class (1987–2023) 4000 class (2022–)
Daily ridership	21,000[1]
History
Opened	1857 (to Gawler) 1911 (to Gawler Central)
Re-sleepered (concrete)	June–September 2010 (to Mawson Lakes) September 2011 – March 2012 (to Gawler Central)
Electrified	2020–2022
Closed	24 December 2020
Reopened	12 June 2022
Technical
Line length	42.2 km (26.2 mi)
Number of tracks	2 (to Gawler) 1 (to Gawler Central)
Track gauge	1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
Electrification	25 kV 50 Hz AC from overhead catenary (2022–)
Route map Legend km to Penrice (Aurizon) Edith Street Murray Street 42.2 Gawler Central end of suburban network King Street (pedestrian only) Howard Street Victoria Terrace 41.4 Gawler Oval South Para River to Roseworthy (Aurizon) Overway Bridge Road 39.8 Gawler Gawler Depot 39.3 Gawler Racecourse Race days only Barnet Road Para Road 38.3 Evanston Gawler Bypass Tambelin (original site) 1947–86 Clark Road 37.4 Tambelin 34.1 Kudla Dalkeith Road Munno Para (original site) 1978–2012 32.2 Munno Para Curtis Road Anderson Walk 30.2 Smithfield Munitions Store 28.2 Broadmeadows Womma Road 27.3 Womma Winterslow Road 25.8 Elizabeth 24.0 Elizabeth South GMH closed 1992 Tugger Way (private road) 21.6 Nurlutta (to Gawler) Commercial Road 21.5 Nurlutta (to Adelaide) Penfield line to Port Augusta (ARTC) Salisbury Highway 20.2 Salisbury Park Terrace 18.6 Chidda Kings Road 17.7 Parafield 16.6 Parafield Gardens 15.5 Greenfields Elder Smith Road 14.3 Mawson Lakes Port Wakefield Road Aurizon Dry Creek North & South Yards Dry Creek Depot and Control Centre formerly Northfield line junction 10.6 Dry Creek to Port Adelaide Cormack Road Grand Junction Road 6.0 Tube Mills Private freight sidings 7.7 Kilburn Adelaide Freight Terminal Islington Works closed 2000 Islington Railway Workshops Regency Road 6.0 Islington Pym Street 4.9 Dudley Park Belford Avenue 3.6 Ovingham Torrens Road Hawker Street Park Terrace 2.5 North Adelaide Outer Harbor and Grange lines River Torrens to Melbourne Belair, Seaford and Flinders lines Adelaide Depot closed 2011 0.0 Adelaide km broad gauge standard gauge This diagram: view talk edit

History

Gawler Central station, one of two terminus stations in the town of Gawler

Elizabeth Interchange in 2023

Salisbury Interchange in 2012

Mawson Lakes Interchange in 2021

Rail Bridge over the Little Para River in Salisbury, built prior to 1889 and still in use^[2]

The line was opened in 1857 from Adelaide to Gawler.^[3][4] It was extended to Kapunda in 1860. Branches were later built from Gawler to termini in Angaston, Truro, Morgan, Robertstown, Peterborough, Spalding and Gladstone. Between Adelaide and Salisbury, the two broad gauge lines are paralleled by one standard gauge line on the Adelaide to Port Augusta line. A little north of Salisbury the standard gauge line heads north-west. From Salisbury to Gawler there are two broad gauge tracks, with a single broad gauge track north of Gawler. Today, none of the lines are used beyond Gawler.

Renewal and electrification

In 2008, the State Government announced a plan to rebuild the Gawler line, in preparation for the line to be electrified with the Federal Government also to provide funding.^[5] The track was removed, and the track bed, sleepers and track renewed. Dual gauge sleepers were laid to allow for the line to be converted to standard gauge at a future date. The line was closed between North Adelaide and Mawson Lakes for four months from June 2010 for this work to be performed, and between Mawson Lakes and Gawler Central stations for seven months from September 2011.^[6][7][8] Following the withdrawal of Federal Government funding by the then newly elected Abbott Liberal-National government, the electrification was postponed in October 2013.^[9]

In February 2011, a new Adelaide Metro railcar depot opened to the east of Dry Creek station, to replace the facility behind the new Royal Adelaide Hospital site and Adelaide station.^[10] The depot is the major maintenance and re-fuelling facility for the diesel train fleet, with capacity to store 70 railcars with over 11 kilometres of track. The depot has been designed to allow future conversion to support electric rolling stock.

To facilitate work on the Torrens Rail Junction in 2017, the Gawler line between Adelaide and Mawson Lakes was closed from 1–15 October and 18 November to 5 December.^[11]

Following a decade of on-again, off-again talks,^[12] electrification of the Gawler line was announced in 2018. The announcement only promised Stage 1 electrification as far as Salisbury with works anticipated to commence in 2018.^[13] A $220 million grant from the Federal Government allowed for Stage 2 electrification for the remainder of the line to proceed.^[14] Works began in November 2019 with completion anticipated in 2021.^[15] Contrary to the Seaford line electrification, which saw the line closed completely for 11 months, from October 2020 onward, main construction on the Gawler line was spread out across a rolling schedule of partial and full line closures across 12 months. Early works before October 2020 were spread across smaller closures, typically at nights and on weekends.

The entire line was closed in December 2020. It was intended to reopen in November 2021 but was delayed due to restrictions regarding the COVID-19 lockdown in July.^[16][17] The line was expected to reopen around 30 April 2022, but following the state election in March, the reopening was pushed back to the end of June.^[18]

The line was reopened on 12 June 2022.^[19] A majority of services on the line are now operated by 4000 class trains, however, 3000/3100 class trains continued to operate select services while the delivery of new 4000 class train sets continued until December 2023 when the last 4000 class set was delivered, effectively replacing the 3000 trains serving Adelaide's north. ^[20]

Torrens Road Overpass

In 2021, the Australian and South Australian governments announced that the Torrens Road level crossing would be removed, at a cost of $196 million.^[21] The Torrens Road level crossing was previously identified as one of the most high risk crossings in Adelaide, in part due to it being both a passenger rail, and freight rail crossing.^[22] Earlier, in 2020, an investigation was launched after a freight train passed through the level crossing without activating the crossing boomgates.^[23]

In 2023, the Torrens Road overpass was officially opened. As part of the project, a new public park was constructed underneath the overpass, and the adjacent Ovingham railway station was rebuilt. ^[24][25]

Former branch lines

• Dry Creek-Port Adelaide railway line: opened 1868 (closed to passengers 1988, now freight only)
• Northfield railway line: opened 1857 (closed to passengers 1987, closed to remaining freight 1995)
• Port Pirie railway line: (closed to passengers 1991, now freight only)
• Penfield railway line: opened 1941 (closed 1991)
• GMH Elizabeth railway line: opened 1959 (closed 1992)

Route

The line runs from Adelaide station north via Prospect, Mawson Lakes, Salisbury, Elizabeth and Smithfield to the town Gawler on the outer northern metropolitan fringe. The line is 42.2 kilometres (26.2 mi) in length and is the longest of the Adelaide suburban railway lines.

Like the rest of the Adelaide suburban passenger rail network, the line is 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge for its entire length. The Australian Rail Track Corporation's standard gauge Adelaide to Port Augusta line runs parallel to the route from the Adelaide Gaol triangle to Salisbury, then turns north west towards Virginia.

Line guide

Gawler Line
Name	Distance from Adelaide	Year opened	Serving suburbs	Connections
Adelaide	0.0 km	1856	Adelaide	Belair Flinders Grange Outer Harbor Port Dock Seaford Bus Tram
North Adelaide	2.5 km	1857	North Adelaide
Ovingham	3.6 km	c. 1880	Ovingham, Renown Park
Dudley Park	4.9 km	1915	Dudley Park, Prospect
Islington	6.0 km	Un­known	Dudley Park, Prospect
Kilburn	7.7 km	1915	Kilburn
Dry Creek	10.6 km	1856	Dry Creek
Mawson Lakes	14.3 km	2006	Mawson Lakes	Bus Interchange
Greenfields	15.1 km	1969	Parafield Gardens
Parafield Gardens	16.6 km	1968	Parafield Gardens
Parafield	17.7 km	1928	Parafield, Parafield Gardens
Chidda	18.6 km	Un­known	Salisbury Downs, Salisbury South
Salisbury	20.2 km	1857	Salisbury	Bus Interchange
Nurlutta	21.5 km	1950	Elizabeth South, Salisbury
Elizabeth South	24.0 km	1955	Elizabeth South
Elizabeth	25.8 km	1960	Elizabeth	Bus
Womma	27.3 km	1950	Edinburgh North, Elizabeth North
Broadmeadows	28.2 km	c. 1950	Davoren Park, Elizabeth North
Smithfield	30.2 km	1857	Smithfield	Bus Interchange
Munno Para	32.2 km	1978	Munno Para	Bus
Kudla	34.1 km	1959	Kudla
Tambelin	37.4 km	1947	Evanston Gardens
Evanston	38.3 km	Un­known	Evanston
Gawler Racecourse	39.3 km	1913	Evanston
Gawler	39.8 km	1857	Gawler South, Gawler West	Bus Regional Coach
Gawler Oval	41.4 km	Un­known	Gawler
Gawler Central	42.2 km	1911	Gawler

Services

Commuter

All suburban rail passenger services are operated by Adelaide Metro. In April 2008, new timetables were introduced on the Gawler line in an effort to boost efficiency. Shorter secondary services that terminated at Dry Creek and Salisbury were withdrawn, new limited express services were introduced, and a new Hi-Frequency station policy adopted.^[26] Nearly all services either start or terminate their journey at Gawler or Gawler Central stations, apart from a morning peak express service that begins its journey at Salisbury.^[26]

Under this policy, the Hi-Frequency stations (Islington, Mawson Lakes, Parafield, Salisbury, Elizabeth, Smithfield, Tambelin and Gawler) have services every 15 minutes from Monday to Friday. All other stations have a 30-minute service, obtained by every other service skipping that station. This is in addition to several peak hour express services that stop only at selected Hi-Frequency stations.^[26]

On weekends and public holidays, services operate with a 30-minute frequency at all stations, with the exception of stations between Dry Creek and Adelaide, which are hourly instead.^[26]

Until April 2008, most services along the line were operated by 3000 class railcars. With the introduction of the new timetable, 2000 class railcars became more frequent, especially during peak hour. The 2000 class railcars were retired in August 2015.^[27]

Freight

Freight is a major factor along this transport corridor, with the Australian Rail Track Corporation's standard gauge Adelaide to Port Augusta line running parallel to the broad gauge track between Adelaide and Salisbury. Since 1984, this line has been standard gauge and had no interface with the suburban lines. Bowmans Rail, One Rail Australia, Pacific National, SCT Logistics, and Journey Beyond operate services via the line. Journey Beyond operates The Ghan and the Indian Pacific passenger trains along this section. Until 2007, grain trains operated from Roseworthy to Port Adelaide. The last freight service on the Gawler line was the Penrice Stone Train, which operated to Penrice until it ceased operating in June 2014.^[28]

References

1. "South Australia launches Gawler line electrification project". International Railway Journal. 29 October 2019. Archived from the original on 29 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
2. Railway bridge over the Little Para River – Photograph Archived 23 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine State Library of South Australia Retrieved 16 December 2019
3. Bassett Town & the Railway Archived 30 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine Town of Gawler
4. "Place ID 6072". Australian Heritage Database. Australian Government.
5. 2008/09 State Budget Archived 27 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine South Australian Department of Treasury & Finance June 2008
6. Gawler Line Reconstruction Archived 30 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine Coleman Rail
7. Gawler Line timetable Archived 30 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine Adelaide Metro
8. Rail Revitalisation Gawler Line Archived 23 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine Department for Transport, Energy & Infrastructure
9. Federal Government pulls plug on $76m Gawler Line electrification Archived 15 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine Adelaide Advertiser 24 October 2013
10. Railcar Depot Relocation Archived 13 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure
11. Miles Kemp (13 September 2017). "Major disruption to Outer Harbor and Gawler train lines as work starts on Park Tce underpass". The Advertiser. Adelaide. Archived from the original on 13 September 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
12. "Liberal MP's 'nana's nightie' remark on Gawler rail electrification steals the spotlight". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 18 January 2018. Archived from the original on 8 July 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
13. Probert, Oliver (22 January 2018). "$615m Gawler electrification deal signed". Rail Express. Archived from the original on 7 July 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
14. Langenberg, Adam (13 July 2018). "$615m Gawler electrification deal signed". The Advertiser. Adelaide. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
15. "Construction begins on SA rail line electrification". Infrastructure Magazine. 4 November 2019. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
16. "Gawler rail line closures – Adelaide Metro". Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
17. "SA's COVID-19 lockdown blamed for another delay to Gawler train line electrification". ABC News. 3 August 2021. Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
18. Boisvert, Eugene (2 April 2022). "Free substitute buses on Adelaide's Gawler train line as delays to electrification work revealed". ABC News. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
19. "Gawler rail line reopens Sunday 12 June". Adelaide Metro. 6 June 2022. Archived from the original on 6 June 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
20. It’s electrifying! Journey’s end for Gawler line project
21. Division, Infrastructure. "Ovingham Level Crossing Removal". dit.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
22. Polychronis, Gabriel (2 March 2021). "Transport Department reveals 31 highest risk level crossing". The Advertiser.
23. Bond, Caleb (8 December 2020). "Investigation after boomgates fail to lower at Ovingham level crossing for freight train".
24. "Ovingham Level Crossing Removal". PTP Alliance. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
25. Oates, Tayla (14 February 2023). "Ovingham Level Crossing Removal Project now complete". Infrastructure Magazine. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
26. Gawler timetable Archived 10 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine Adelaide Metro, 4 February 2013
27. "Limited life for 2000 class Jumbo railcars" Railway Digest January 2015 page 20
28. Penrice soda ash plant at Osborne closing Archived 24 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine ABC News 25 June 2014

External links

• Gawler Central to City – Adelaide Metro website
• Gallery of track refurbishment work: Adelaide to Mawson Interchange 2010 Johnny's Pages
• Gallery of track refurbishment work: Mawson Lakes to Gawler 2011 Johnny's Pages
• Gallery of track refurbishment work: Mawson Lakes to Gawler 2011–2012 Archived 12 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Johnny's Pages
• Gallery of track refurbishment work: Gawler to Gawler Central 2012 Archived 12 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Johnny's Pages
• Gallery of electrification work: Adelaide to Gawler 2012 Johnny's Pages