Rail transport in Tasmania
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Rail transport in Tasmania consists of a network of narrow gauge track of 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) (excluding the Launceston to Bellbay route which is standard gauge[1]), reaching virtually all cities and major towns in the island state of Tasmania, Australia. Today, rail services are focussed primarily on bulk freight, with no commercial passenger services being operated.
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[edit] Operators
The railways of Tasmania are currently operated by Pacific National, who also maintain the rollingstock. The track infrastructure is now again owned by the state government (except the ex EBR line, now know as the Melba line) and all the track repairs are contracted out.
The main railways were operated by the Tasmanian Government Railways, which was absorbed into the Australian National Railways Commission in 1975 and renamed TasRail. In November 1997, it was sold to the Australian Transport Network Limited, a partnership of New Zealand based Tranz Rail and United States railroad Wisconsin Central. In 2003 the railway was purchased by Pacific National following the purchase of Tranz Rail by Toll Holdings, and the sale of Wisconsin Central's overseas investments as a result of that railroads takeover by Canadian National. The company later acquired Emu Bay Railway in the north-west of Tasmania.
[edit] Traffic
The Tasmanian system is small and currently carries no regular passenger services and its freight services are not profitable without government subsidies. The main cargo carried is cement, which is carried from Railton to the port at Devonport. Other major commodities carried are coal, logs, containers and newsprint.
[edit] History
A broad gauge (1600 mm) railway line was built between Deloraine and Launceston in 1871 by the private Launceston and Western Railway, on the basis of debt guarantees from landowners who stood to benefit. The line went bankrupt in 1872 and was taken over by the Tasmanian Government, which then attempted to recover the debt from the guarantors, leading to civil unrest.[3]
In 1876, another private railway, the Tasmanian Main Line Company, which was guaranteed by the Tasmanian Government, opened a narrow gauge (1067 mm) line from Hobart to Evandale, near Launceston, where it connected with the Launceston and Western Railway at a break-of-gauge. In 1885, the Launceston and Western Railway was extended to Devonport as a narrow gauge line creating another break-of-gauge. The Launceston - Deloraine was converted to narrow gauge in 1888, creating a single gauge network. In 1890 the Tasmanian Government bought the Tasmanian Main Line Company, creating the Tasmanian Government Railways. In 1901 the Devonport line was extended to Burnie in 1901, connecting with the Emu Bay Railway's line to Zeehan, which was built about 1900. The government railway was extended to Wynyard in 1913 and Stanley and Smithton in 1922.[3]
[edit] Branch lines
A branch line was built from Deloraine (Lemana Junction) to Mole Creek.
A line was opened from Launceston to Scottsdale in 1889 and extended to Branxholm in 1911 and Winnaleah in 1918.
A line was opened from Conara (on the Hobart - Launceston line) to Fingal in 1886 and St Marys in 1888.
A branch line was opened from Oatlands to Parattah in 1885.
A line opened from Bridgewater to New Norfolk in 1887 and was extended to Glenora in 1888.
[edit] Timeline
- 1871 - Launceston and Western Railway opens a broad gauge (1600 mm or 5’ 3”) railway line between Deloraine and Launceston
- 1876 - Tasmanian Main Line Company opens a narrow gauge (1067 mm or 3' 6") line from Hobart to Evandale, near Launceston connecting with a break-of-gauge to Launceston and Western line
- 1885 - Launceston and Western Railway extended to Devonport as a narrow gauge line, creating another break-of-gauge.
- 1888 - Launceston to Deloraine line converted to narrow gauge, creating a single gauge network.
- 1890 - Tasmanian Government buys Tasmanian Main Line Company, creating the Tasmanian Government Railways.
- 1901 - Devonport line extended to Burnie, connecting with the Emu Bay Railway's line to Zeehan
[edit] West Coast
See also Railways on the West Coast of Tasmania
Some of the earlier lines of the West Coast, Tasmania were independent of the main Tasmanian Railway system when built, but most connected to the Emu Bay Railway. The North Mount Lyell Railway and a few other smaller lines were not connected to the Emu Bay line. A number of books have highlighted the system and the connections between the Emu Bay and the earlier form of the West Coast Wilderness Railway at the time of the 1912 North Mount Lyell Disaster.
[edit] References
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This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2007) |
- ^ http://www.comlaw.gov.au/ComLaw/Legislation/LegislativeInstrument1.nsf/0/02126FEE7DB0D881CA2570A500122675/$file/AusLink+NETWORK+DETERMINATION+-+Signed.pdf
- ^ RailTasmania.com: X & XA Class
- ^ a b Chapter 5: The Railway Age, 1874-1920. Linking a Nation. Australian Heritage Council. Retrieved on 2008-04-08.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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