Our new trams

This is one of Adelaide's new trams; a French-built Citadis. It made its first public run on Proclamation Day; a return trip from Glenelg to the City.

This tram is one of six recently purchased from the Mintra, the Spanish Rail Authority. They will supplement our existing fleet of eleven German built Flexcity Classic trams.

Overpass progress

Last Monday the South Road overpass tram track was reconnected. There is still a lot to do, but commuters can once again travel between the City and Glenelg.

South Road Tram Overpass

This is one of the last trams to use the temporary diversion track. Over the weekend the existing track will be connected to the new one.

The tram bridge has been built at a cost of $32 million; another part of a major upgrade to the South Road corridor. This will compliment the recently completed Gallipoli Underpass.

Trams will then use the overpass, but more work is yet to be done; the completion of tram stops on the top and access lifts from the street. A pedestrian/cycle path is also being built along its northern side.

Semaphore Road

A bit of nostalgia for me. When I was a young lad, I regularly visited Semaphore to see my Grandparents who lived in a small upstairs apartment just along from where I took this photo.

In those days a train from Adelaide terminated here; where the median strip is now. Not only did the train service the seaside suburb, but so did electric trolley buses. My grandfather was a bus driver so I had a few free rides from time to time.

The train has gone and so have the buses; but now there is talk of running a tram to here from the City.

Moseley Square

Moseley Square, the site of the monument featuring a model of the Buffalo I showed yesterday, is at the end of Jetty Road at Glenelg. It is here that the Adelaide tram to Glenelg terminates.

ABC Wednesday - T for Trams

This is a tram travelling along King William Street in the City.

In the past Adelaide had an extensive tram network, but only the City to Glenelg line was retained and it terminated in the centre of the city in Victoria Square. Last year the line was extended along King William Street and along North Terrace, past the Railway Station.

So we have gone the full circle; here we have horse drawn trams travelling along King William Street in the 1900's.

It is now planned to extend the tram network next year another 2.8 km north-west of the City to the Entertainment Centre.

To find out more about ABC Wednesdays and see other participants' contributions go to the ABC Wednesdays' Anthology or to see direct links to their own sites go here.

Maylands Tram Barn

Today I went on a "history bicycle ride" in the Norwood-St Peters area; one of the many activities on offer as part of History Week.

In the early days of South Australia an Adelaide and suburban network of horse drawn trams was built. This tram shed, built in 1882, is on Magill Road and was part of the depot at Maylands. On the site there was also a foreman's office and stables.

In the 1980's the site was redeveloped to incorporate residential town houses. The original facade and main structure has been retained.

Tram on Granite Island

Click on the photo to enlarge

One of Victor Harbor's main attractions is Granite Island. The island is connected to the mainland by a causeway. You can walk to the island or ride on the horse drawn tram. The tram has been serving the island for over a hundred years.

Click here to see another view of the tram.

'Tour Down Under' Tram

Click on the photo to enlarge

Some of our new trams have had a new coat of paint already; full scale advertising along the side. This one is advertising the 2008 Tour Down Under (20th - 27th January). This is a major event for South Australia and this year even more so. It is having its 10th birthday and this year is being included on the UCI ProTour calendar.

The 2008 Tour Down Under will be the first ever ProTour cycling race to be held outside of Europe.

Today it was announced that Australian cyclist Cadel Evans will be a special guest at the event. Cadel was the 2007 Tour de France runner-up and the 2007 UCI ProTour champion.

Click here to see a more detailed photo of the artwork.

Glenelg tram

Last Sunday I spotted one of our old H type trams and remembered this photo I took last January at the Glenelg terminus. New Flexity trams were introduced last year, but one heritage tram runs on weekends as a tourist attraction.