Salisbury railway station, Adelaide facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Salisbury
Railway station and bus interchange
Salisbury railway station in 2006
Location	Park Terrace, Salisbury
Coordinates	34°45′47″S 138°38′33″E / 34.7631°S 138.6424°E / -34.7631; 138.6424
Owned by	Department for Infrastructure & Transport
Operated by	Adelaide Metro
Line(s)	Gawler
Distance	20.2 km from Adelaide
Platforms	2
Tracks	2
Connections	Bus
Construction
Structure type	Ground, side platforms
Parking	Yes
Bicycle facilities	Yes
Other information
Station code	16558 (to City) 18548 (to Gawler Central)
Website	Adelaide Metro
History
Opened	June 1857
Rebuilt	17 December 1985
Services
Preceding station Adelaide Metro Following station Chidda towards Adelaide Gawler line Nurlutta towards Gawler Central

Salisbury railway station is a busy place where you can catch trains and buses in the northern Adelaide suburb of Salisbury. It is on the Gawler train line, about 20 kilometers from Adelaide station. Many people use Salisbury station because it has a big car park where you can leave your car and switch to public transport. This makes it one of the busiest stations in the Adelaide train system.

A Look Back: Salisbury Station's Story

The train line through Salisbury first opened in June 1857. It originally went north to Smithfield. Later, the line was made longer to reach Gawler and Kapunda by 1860. By 1870, it even reached Burra. This helped transport copper from the mines in those areas.

Different Train Tracks

The train line through Salisbury became a main route for trains. It was used for local trips and longer journeys. Trains even went to places like Broken Hill and Alice Springs. However, these long trips often needed passengers to change trains. This was because different parts of the country used tracks of different widths. This is called a "break-of-gauge."

In 1941, during World War II, a special short train line was built near Salisbury. It went to a large factory that made war supplies. Many workers used this line to get to the factory. After the war, some trains still went there for a while. But by 1991, these trains stopped running because not many people used them.

Another short train line was built in 1959. This one went to the Holden car factory in Elizabeth. It was mostly used for moving cars and parts. It also carried factory workers during shift changes. This line stopped being used for passengers in 1992.

Who Owns the Tracks?

In 1978, the Australian government took over many train lines outside of cities. But the lines in Adelaide, like the one through Salisbury, stayed with the South Australian government. This meant that trains from the national company had to use the state's tracks when passing through Salisbury.

In 1982, a new, separate track was built through Salisbury. This new track was a "standard gauge" track, which is a different width from the older "broad gauge" tracks. This new track was for long-distance trains and did not have a platform at Salisbury.

A New Look for the Station

On December 17, 1985, Salisbury station became a big "bus/rail interchange." This means it was designed so people could easily switch between trains and buses. It was the second station in Adelaide built specifically for this purpose. Sadly, the old stone station building from 1857 was taken down when the new standard gauge line was built.

In 2002, there was a serious accident at the train crossing near the station. A train called The Ghan crashed with some cars and a bus. After this, the bus routes were changed. Now, buses do not cross the train tracks. Special gates were also put in for people walking across the tracks to keep them safe.

In 2017, new gates were put in at the station. These gates check your ticket to make sure everyone has paid their fare. This helps stop "fare evasion," which is when people try to ride without a ticket.

Train Services and Platforms

Salisbury station has two platforms. Sometimes, trains heading towards Gawler will use Platform 2 instead of Platform 1. This is done during busy times. It makes it easier for passengers to get off the train and directly onto the bus stops without having to cross the tracks.

There used to be a short track north of the station where some trains would end their journey and turn around. But since 2008, most trains now continue all the way to Gawler.

Bus Connections

Adelaide Metro runs many bus routes that stop at Salisbury Interchange. This makes it easy to connect from the train to a bus to reach many different parts of the area.

Images for kids

• 

  Bus interchange; the railway station is to the right.

• 

  The layout of the train tracks at Salisbury Interchange in June 2006.