Trans-Australian
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File:GM36 Cook, 1986.JPG | |
Overview | |
---|---|
Status | Discontinued |
Locale | South Australia Western Australia |
First service | 1917 |
Last service | 27 June 1991 |
Former operator(s) | Commonwealth Railways (1917–1975) Australian National (1975–1991) Western Australian Government Railways (1969–1991) |
Route | |
Start | Port Augusta / Port Pirie / Adelaide |
End | Kalgoorlie / Perth |
Line used | Adelaide-Port Augusta Trans-Australian Eastern Goldfields Eastern |
Technical | |
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
The Trans-Australian (originally known as the Trans-Australian Express) was an Australian passenger train operated by the Commonwealth Railways initially between Port Augusta and Kalgoorlie on the Trans-Australian Railway line, and later extended west to Perth, and east to Port Pirie and Adelaide.
Contents
History
The train commenced operating between Port Augusta and Kalgoorlie in 1917 [1][2] following the completion of the Trans-Australian Railway.[3] It was extended to Port Pirie in 1937 following the conversion of this line to standard gauge.[4]
Initially the train was hauled by G class locomotives and from 1938 by C class locomotives.[4] In 1951 it began to be hauled by GM class diesel locomotives.
Originally it only conveyed sleeping accommodation but aside from a period in the 1960s, it was not until 1981 that seated accommodation was provided.[3] In 1964 Commonwealth Railways purchased 24 carbon steel carriages from Commonwealth Engineering, Granville.[5][6] These were later augmented by stainless steel carriages.[7][8] It also operated with other rolling stock, de-motored Bluebird railcars being used by the late 1980s.
Following the conversion of the line from Kalgoorlie to standard gauge the Trans-Australian was extended to Perth on 15 June 1969 replacing The Westland.[9] For a time from December 1973 the service ran daily with the Trans-Australian combined with the Indian Pacific at Port Pirie on the days the latter ran.[10]
At this stage the service was operating five times per week, with the Indian Pacific operating on the other days to provide a daily service. This had ceased by May 1977 with each operating individually and the Trans-Australian reduced to three times weekly.[9][10]
After the Port Pirie to Adelaide line was converted to standard gauge in 1982, the Trans Australian was extended to Keswick Terminal in Adelaide.
In the wake of a recession and cheaper air fares, the service was reduced from two services per week to one in February 1991 with this too cancelled from June 1991.[3][11]
See also
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Trans-Australian Passenger Train comrail.com
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Commonwealth Railways Passenger Carriage Information Chris' Commonwealth Railways Pages
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ "Railways of Australia (Indian Pacific) Cars" Railway Digest November 1986 page 353
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 A Study of East-West Rail Passenger Services The 'Indian Pacific' and 'Trans Australian' Bureau of Transport Economics May 1977
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ "Interstate cutbacks" Railway Digest July 1991 page 231
External links
Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons
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- Use dmy dates from March 2013
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- Articles that mention track gauge 1435 mm
- Interstate rail in Australia
- Named passenger trains of Australia
- Night trains of Australia
- Nullarbor Plain
- Railway services introduced in 1917
- Railway services discontinued in 1991
- Trans-Australian Railway
- 1917 establishments in Australia
- 1991 disestablishments in Australia