Granite Island Rail Replacement
In early 2022, Council carried out upgrades to sections of the Granite Island rail to ensure our much-loved Horse Drawn Tram could continue transporting passengers for years to come.
Council had previously undertaken preservation work to maintain the rail, however complete replacement was necessary in some areas to ensure longevity of the rail into the future. The City of Victor Harbor planned these important replacement and maintenance works for sections of rail on Granite Island that had naturally deteriorated over time.
What did the project involve?
Two sections of rail were identified as high priority and selected for replacement as part of this project. This included 85m of rail and sleeper near the beginning of the track and 160m of rail and sleeper opposite the Penguin Interpretive Centre. Two rail switches were also repaired.
The project involved a ‘finish level’ design to reduce any existing longitudinal irregularities and improve rideability. The rail line now runs smoother and, as a result of improvements to longitudinal grade, the horses require much less effort to pull the tram.
Council worked closely with representatives from the Friends of Granite Island Group and Flinders University to schedule these track works at a time that mitigates impacts on the fragile Little Penguin colony. Throughout the project, sound attenuation measures were implemented around ecologically sensitive areas.
Horse Tram Terminal
The Rotary Club of Encounter Bay kindly supported this project by donating $20,000 towards the replacement of the Granite Island Horse Drawn Tram terminal. The Rotary Club of Encounter Bay were involved in the planning and delivery of the new shelter, which also has two new bench seats, a disability-compliant ramp and new handrail system.
Project budget and timeline
The Victor Harbor Horse Tram Authority (VHHTA), a subsidiary of the City of Victor Harbor, oversees the operations, business development and marketing of the Horse Tram service. Council continues to support and fund Victor Harbor Horse Tram operations as well as provide capital for improved facilities.
The project was funded by the City of Victor Harbor with a donation to the Horse Tram Terminal from the Rotary Club of Encounter Bay.
Works on the Granite Island rail commenced on 2 May 2022 and were completed in July 2022.
Contact
For more information about this project, please contact the City of Victor Harbor on 8551 0500 or localgov@victor.sa.gov.au.