Loxton railway line

Tookayerta grain terminal at the end of the line

The Loxton railway line is the last remaining railway line in the northern Murray Mallee region of South Australia. It runs north-east from Tailem Bend to grain silos near Loxton.^[1] It was gauge converted from broad gauge to standard gauge in 1996 to retain connection to the main line from Adelaide to Melbourne after that line was converted.^[2][3]

Route

Loxton railway line
Track gauge: standard gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Legend
Tailem Bend-Tookayerta (Loxton) Line Blue is Standard Gauge, red was broad gauge  to Adelaide 120.3 km Tailem Bend Loop (Station closed) to Wolseley & Melbourne to Pinnaroo & Ouyen 169.0 km Karoonda Loop & silos Peebinga railway line & Waikerie railway line 215.2 km Mindarie Mine 224.4 km Wanbi Loop & silos Moorook railway lineto Yinkanie 243.6 km Alawoona Loop & silos Barmera railway lineto Barmera at longest extent 271.0 km Tookayerta ABB Grain Terminal Loxton (Closed)

The railway branches off the main line just south of Tailem Bend, and tracks roughly north-east. The Karoonda Highway from Murray Bridge East parallels it after about 24 kilometres at Kulde. The railway and highway continue together 100 kilometres north-east through Karoonda to Alawoona, then both turn north for the final 35 kilometres to Loxton.

The line no longer continues to Loxton station, having been curtailed at a bulk grain facility a few kilometres short of the town. The current end of the main line is the grain terminal at what was originally the Tookayerta siding. The line is expected to close in July 2015.^[4][5]

References