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Adelaide–Darwin railway

Adelaide–Darwin railway

The Adelaide–Darwin railway is a 2,979 kilometre south-north transcontinental railway in Australia, between the cities of Adelaide and Darwin. Built in stages in the twentieth century, the line was completed in 2004 when the Alice Springs to Darwin line opened. It is used by The Ghan passenger train and freight trains operated by Genesee & Wyoming Australia.

Adelaide-Darwin Railway
2975Port Darwin - East Arm Wharf
2973Darwin (Berrimah)
-- Darwin to Katherine --
2958Elizabeth River (500m)
2911Darwin River
2891Finniss River
2866Adelaide River West Branch - 1
2865Adelaide River West Branch - 2
2779Union Reef Loop (iron ore)
2712Edith River
2670Katherine River
2667Katherine
-- Katherine to Alice Springs --
2667Katherine Sidings
2627King River
2218Newcastle Waters loop
2154Muckaty triangle & spur
2024Tennant Creek station, loop &sidings
1786Illoquara loop
Opened 2004
Opened 1980
1558Alice Springs yard / abattoir
1557Alice Springs
Heavitree
former Central Australia Railway
-- Alice Springs to border --
1540Bohning Cattle Yards / Roe Creek loop
1535Mereenie siding & triangle
1474Hugh River
1466Hugh River loop, siding & spur
1413Finke River (Larapinta)
1385Impadna loop, siding & spur
1303Kulgera yard
1303Kulgera loop siding & yard
1289
Northern Territory
South Australia
border
-- border to Manguri --
1243Marryat loop & siding
1213Alberga River
1187Chandler loop siding, triangle & spurs
1177unnamed river
1131Marla loop, siding & spur
1052Cadney Park loop and siding
928Manguri loop, platform, siding & triangle
(42)Pre-ordered transport to Coober Pedy
-- Manguri to Tarcoola --
892Rankin Dam loop siding and spur
864Wirrida Iron ore circle
863Wirrida loop, siding and spur
788Carnes loop, siding and spur
777Quarry 555 siding
729Trans-Australian Railway to Perth
to Alice Springs (opened 1980)
Existing lines
727Trans-Australian Railway to Perth
726Tarcoola yard, sidings & triangle
-- Tarcoola to Port Augusta --
691Ferguson loop
648Kingoonya Loop, spur & platform
616Kultanaby loop
565Wirraminna loop
533Burando loop and spurs
495Pimba loop, siding & triangle
464Wirrappa loop
432McLeay loop
398Bookaloo loop & spur
368Hesso loop
337Tent Hill loop
317Whyalla line
316Spencer Junction loop & yards
315to Port Augusta workshops
314Port Augusta
314
Pichi Richi Railway
former Alice Springs Line
307Marree line
293Winninowie loop
267Mambray Creek loop
248Port Germein loop & siding
223to Port Pirie
222Coonamia loop & halt
201Crystal Brook grain circle
200Crystal Brook loop & siding
199Crystal Brook-Broken Hill line to Sydney
-- Crystal Brook to Adelaide --
195Rocky River loop
195Rocky River
174Redhill loop
147Snowtown loop & grain spur
122Nantawarra loop & siding
106Wakefield River
103Bowmans yard, loop & siding
79Long Plains loop & siding
62Mallala Grain circle, loop & siding
55Light River
46Two Wells loop & siding
40Gawler River
33Bolivar loop & siding
24Little Para River
9-17Various yards & Pelican Point line
6Outer Harbor line to Outer Harbor
5Karrawirra Parri (River Torrens)
2to Adelaide station
0kmAdelaide Parklands Terminal
imgimg

History

Elizabeth River Bridge, 17 km south of Darwin

Elizabeth River Bridge, 17 km south of Darwin

Adelaide–Darwin railway line in Darwin

Adelaide–Darwin railway line in Darwin

The Northern Territory Acceptance Act 1910 that saw the Commonwealth Railways assume responsibility for the South Australian Railways' northern narrow gauge lines along with those in the Northern Territory, required the building of a South-North railway although no date was specified.[1][2] Two routes were considered; a standard gauge line branching off the Trans-Australian Railway at Tarcoola or a cheaper narrow gauge extension of the line from Oodnadatta that had opened in 1891. In the end the latter was chosen with the Central Australia Railway (CAR) opening to Alice Springs in August 1929.[3] Meanwhile, the North Australia Railway (NAR) opened in stages south from Darwin to Birdum, the latter being reached in 1929.[4]

As a result of the opening up of the Leigh Creek coalfields in the late 1940s and capacity restrictions on the CAR, a new standard gauge line was built, opening on 17 May 1956 from Stirling North to Marree in July 1957 bypassing the line via Quorn.[5][6]

By 1967, the Commonwealth Railways were looking at an alternative to the often flooded CAR and the current route was suggested as one of three options although the route may be different to the current version.[7] Construction of the current 830 kilometre line from Tarcoola to Alice Springs began in April 1975, opening in October 1980 with the CAR closed shortly after.[8][9] Meanwhile, the NAR had closed in June 1976 following the closure of the iron ore mine at Francs Creek.[4]

In January 1983, the Fraser Government announced its intention to extend the standard gauge line from Alice Springs to Darwin with a projected 1988 completion date.[10][11] However, after a change of government in March 1983, the Hawke Government cancelled the project.[4]

In June 1999, the AustralAsia Rail Corporation (a company owned by the Northern Territory and South Australian Governments) awarded the contract to build and operate the 1,420 kilometre Adelaide to Darwin railway line as a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer project to the Asia Pacific Transport Consortium (APTC).[4][12] The APTC contracted FreightLink to implement the project and to operate the railway. It cost $1.2 billion to build.[13]

The Federal Government contributed $165 million from the Centenary of Federation Fund, the Northern Territory Government contributed $165 million and the South Australian Government contributed $150 million to the AustralAsia Rail Corporation for the construction of assets by the APTC and FreightLink that were later leased for a peppercorn rent to FreightLink in addition, the three governments contributed about $26 million each, a total of $79 million in further funding to support the APTC directly, by way of mezzanine debt financing (subordinated debt), equity, and contingent equity.

Construction began in July 2001 with the line completed in September 2003.[4][14][15] On 17 January 2004 the first freight train reached Darwin.[16] On 4 February 2004 the first passenger train arrived in Darwin from Adelaide, travelling 2,979 km in 47 hours.[17][18]

The FreightLink board, shareholders and lenders on 19 May 2008 agreed to sell its ownership of the Adelaide to Darwin rail link having failed to make a profit since the railway line opened.[19][20] On 6 November 2008, Freightlink went into voluntary administration after failing to reach agreement with creditors on the terms of a sale of the business.[21] Genesee & Wyoming Australia purchased the assets of FreightLink on 10 June 2010 for $334 million including the 50-year lease on the Adelaide–Darwin railway.[13][22]

Infrastructure

The line from Tarcoola to Alice Springs is owned by the Australian Rail Track Corporation and leased on a long term basis to Genesee & Wyoming Australia.[23] The line from Alice Springs to Darwin is owned by Genesee & Wyoming Australia, and will transfer to the state and federal governments in 2054.

The line consists of:

  • 1,420 km; of railline (excl. sidings etc.)

  • 6 major bridges crossing the Katherine, Elizabeth, Adelaide, Cullen, Fergusson and Edith rivers;

  • 87 minor bridges;

  • 1,500 culverts;

  • 145,000 tonnes of rail;

  • 2.8 million tonnes of ballast;

  • 2 million sleepers;

  • 8 million sleeper fastenings.[24]

Services

The Ghan passenger service traverses the line weekly.[25] These are hauled by Pacific National locomotives. Genesee & Wyoming Australia is the only freight operator.[26] The line has facilitated bulk commodity exports from iron ore and copper mines in central Australia, including Oz Minerals' Prominent Hill copper mine.[27] Following a derailment event in December 2011,[28] Oz Minerals elected to use the line to export to the south via Port Adelaide,[29] rather than their previous outport, Darwin.

Dry bulk exports from Port Darwin (serviced by rail) exceeded 3 million tonnes for the first time in financial year 2010-2011 and comprised iron ore, manganese and copper concentrate.[30]

Stations

The original CAR and NAR had many stations and halts along their routes, however the new standard gauge railway only has stations at Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine and Darwin plus passing loops at Illoquara and Newcastle Waters.[31]

See also

  • Central Australia Railway

  • North Australia Railway

References

[1]
Citation Linkwww.legislation.gov.auNorthern Territory Acceptance Act 1910 Federal Register of Legislation
Sep 20, 2019, 5:59 AM
[2]
Citation Linkwww5.austlii.edu.auNorthern Territory Acceptance Act 1910 Commonwealth of Australia Consolidated Acts
Sep 20, 2019, 5:59 AM
[3]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.org"Australian Commonwealth Railway Developments" Railway Gazette 28 January 1927 page 116
Sep 20, 2019, 5:59 AM
[4]
Citation Linkwww.aarail.com.auHistory of the railway AustralAsia Railway Corporation
Sep 20, 2019, 5:59 AM
[5]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgNewland, Andrew; Quinlan, Howard (2000). Australian Railway Routes 1854 - 2000. Redfern: Australian Railway Historical Society. p. 67. ISBN 0-909650-49-7.
Sep 20, 2019, 5:59 AM
[6]
Citation Linkwww.comrails.comPort Augusta to Marree Chris' Commonwealth Railways
Sep 20, 2019, 5:59 AM
[7]
Citation Linkwww.newspapers.com"The Senate - Alice Springs Railway". Fairfax. Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
Sep 20, 2019, 5:59 AM
[8]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.org"In Brief" Railway Gazette International June 1975 page 210
Sep 20, 2019, 5:59 AM
[9]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgStandard Gauge to Alice Springs – Construction of Tarcoola–Alice Springs Railway Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin June 1981 pages 117–139
Sep 20, 2019, 5:59 AM
[10]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.org"Preliminary work starts on 1500km Alice - Darwin link" Railway Gazette International April 1981 page 262
Sep 20, 2019, 5:59 AM
[11]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.org"Premier launches Alice - Darwin line" Railway Gazette International March 1983 page 152
Sep 20, 2019, 5:59 AM
[12]
Citation Linkwww.railwaygazette.comDarwin deal Railway Gazette International July 1999
Sep 20, 2019, 5:59 AM
[13]
Citation Linkwww.abc.net.au"Taxpayer funds sought from new rail owner". The World Today. abc.net.au. 10 June 2010.
Sep 20, 2019, 5:59 AM
[14]
Citation Linkwww.railwaygazette.comIndustry unites at Australian showcase Railway Gazette International November 2003
Sep 20, 2019, 5:59 AM
[15]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.org"Transcontinental link is ready for business" Railway Gazette International January 2004 page 20
Sep 20, 2019, 5:59 AM
[16]
Citation Linkwww.railwaygazette.comAustralia's last frontier is conquered Railway Gazette International February 2004
Sep 20, 2019, 5:59 AM
[17]
Citation Linkwww.abs.gov.au"Completion of the Adelaide to Darwin railway line". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 8 December 2006.
Sep 20, 2019, 5:59 AM
[18]
Citation Linkwww.aarail.com.auFirst Train AustralAsia Railway Corporation
Sep 20, 2019, 5:59 AM
[19]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgVesna Poljak and Michael Smith (19 May 2008). "Banks force sale of $1.2bn Adelaide- Darwin rail link". Australian Financial Review. p. 1 and 19.
Sep 20, 2019, 5:59 AM
[20]
Citation Linkwww.ntnews.com.auCalacouras, Nick (20 May 2008). "Railway up for sale". Northern Territory News. News Ltd. Retrieved 20 May 2008.
Sep 20, 2019, 5:59 AM