Onkaparinga Valley Bridge Time-lapse (completed September 2012)

Project overview

The Seaford Rail Extension project will provide a 5.7 kilometre extension of the dual track rail line from Noarlunga Centre Railway Station to the Seaford District Centre, including:

• stations and park'n'ride facilities at Seaford Meadows and the Seaford District Centre
• a bus interchange at the Seaford District Centre
• a 1.2 kilometre elevated rail bridge over the Onkaparinga Valley and a rail bridge over Old Honeypot Drive
• road bridges over the track at Goldsmith Drive, Seaford Road and Lynton Terrace.

Seaford Rail Extension Animation and Timelapse Video of Onkaparinga Valley Bridge Construction

The $291.2 million Seaford Rail Extension project will significantly improve public transport rail services for the community in the rapidly expanding southern suburbs well into the future.  The southern suburbs have experienced rapid growth in population with the Onkaparinga South Coast area the second fastest growing area between 1991 and 2007.

With an additional 9,000 residencies in the southern areas of Adelaide by 2025 there will be greater demand on a number of services including transport.

The extension of passenger rail services to the growing population centre of Seaford will significantly improve public transport access to the area.

1 February 2013 - 1.2 kilometre elevated rail bridge over the Onkaparinga Valley

1 February 2013 - masts installed on the bridge over the Onkaparinga Valley

Click here to view a gallery of construction associated images.

Project Timeframes

Major construction works commenced in early 2011, with the new line scheduled for passenger operation in late 2013 / early 2014.  Key dates as follows:

• majority of construction (civil) works on the Seaford extension is now complete
• arrival of first electric trains for testing along the Noarlunga to Seaford extension – mid 2013
• reopening of the Noarlunga Line for passenger services using diesel trains – September 2013
• first passenger services on the Noarlunga Line extended to Seaford (new ‘Seaford Line’) – late 2013 / early 2014

Benefits

Integrating land use with public transport
Improvements to the reliability and speed of public transport services will attract Transport Orientated Developments (TODs). This in turn will assist higher density living areas along transport corridors. As such, the project is essential to the development of a more efficient, urban form of transport for Adelaide.

Reduced travel time
Providing a rail service to the Seaford District Centre is expected to reduce public transport travel times by up to 10 minutes on a trip to Adelaide. This service is expected to attract approximately 6,000 public transport trips per weekday and around 1.7 million trips per annum. The existing rail line to Noarlunga has the second highest patronage with only the Gawler line having greater patronage.

Improved access to everyday facilities
Extending rail services to Seaford will improve access to everyday facilities such as work, schools and shopping centres for all community members. The extension may assist in reducing community severance and improve general wellbeing for those living in the rapidly expanding southern suburbs.

Reduced pollution
The extended rail line to Seaford is expected to bring about a significant reduction in cars using the road network resulting in reduced air and noise pollution.

Employment
In August 2012 more than 1800 people had been inducted to work on the project since construction started in 2011. Click here to view the Local Employment and Industry Participation information sheet.

1 February 2013 - new Seaford Railway Station