TransAdelaide operates the entire Adelaide metropolitan rail system, comprising five rail lines - Gawler, Belair, Noarlunga, Grange and Outer Harbor.

History

In 1856, the South Australian Government opened the first railway line from Adelaide to Port Adelaide. The rail system was consolidated in the late 1870s and 80s and continued to grow and spread to Gawler, Aldgate and Brighton throughout the next century to form the foundation of today's metropolitan system.

For the first 70 years of operation, steam cars were used on Adelaide's rail system until they became inadequate in speed and reliability.

In 1924, Brill railcars were introduced and these dominated until the Redhens were brought into operation in 1955, after a bid to electrify the rail system failed in favour of these diesel cars. The Redhens became a favourite with rail passengers and weren't phased out until 1996, when the newer 2000/2100 and 3000/3100 class railcars operated across the whole network.

Adelaide's first railway station was built in 1856. However by 1900, it proved inadequate to cope with the progress and popularity of rail in South Australia. The rail business continued to grow and the current Adelaide Railway Station on North Terrace was completed in 1928 - a major achievement at a time of deepening economic depression.

Our fleet

TransAdelaide currently operates four types of rail cars, the 2000 class, 2100 class, 3000 class and 3100 class.

The 2000 class rail car is a power car that pulls or pushes the 2100 class cars. These cars cannot operate as a single unit because each car has only one driving compartment.

The 3000 class rail car has a driving compartment at each end of the carriage, enabling it to be used as a single unit if required. However, the 3100 class cars must operate as a joint consist because they have only one driver's cab per railcar.

TransAdelaide trains provide a fast, reliable and economical way to travel for thousands of passengers each day.

TransAdelaide's rail system carries around 13 million passengers each year. This means around 40,000 people pass through the Adelaide Railway Station each week day, with half of these travelling in the busy morning and afternoon peak periods.