Belair railway line, Adelaide

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Railways in Adelaide
	Belair
	Gawler
	Grange
	Noarlunga
	Outer Harbor
	Tonsley

Belair Railway Line is a rail route in Adelaide, South Australia, that runs from the Adelaide Railway Station to Belair in the Adelaide Hills.

1 History
2 Operations
3 Stations
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] History

The line from Adelaide to Belair / Bridgewater opened in 1883.

In 1987, passenger services to Bridgewater ceased mainly due to low patronage, the terminus becoming Belair.

In 1995, the one track of the double track main line from Adelaide to Belair was converted from Broad Gauge (1600mm) to Standard Gauge (1435mm) as part of the Adelaide to Melbourne standardisation project. This meant that the broad gauge passenger services were restricted to a single track with crossing loops located at Mitcham Station, Blackwood Station and Sleeps Hill. As part of this conversion the stations at Millswood, Hawthorn and Clapham were closed against criticism by local residents.

[edit] Operations

The motive power used for passenger trains is exclusively 3000 and 3100 class railcars , except on weekends where some services are run with a 2000 class railcar modified to incorporate increased bike capacity.

A number of freight trains can be seen on the standard gauge track as well as the 4 times a week Overland passenger train to Melbourne.

In 2005 the route ran with an approximate frequency of 30 minutes on weekdays (hourly after 7pm) and 60 minutes on weekends and public holidays.

On weekends the route is popular with downhill bike riders.