In the late 1970s and 1980s, a significant rail electrification program was completed in the Australian state of
Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, establishe ...
. The electrified
Queensland network is the largest in Australia with over 2,000 kilometres electrified, the next biggest is
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
with 640 kilometres, that is served mainly as passenger operations.
Today all suburban passenger services in
South East Queensland
South East Queensland (SEQ) is a bio-geographical, metropolitan, political and administrative region of the state of Queensland in Australia, with a population of approximately 3.8 million people out of the state's population of 5.1 million. Th ...
are operated by
Queensland Rail
Queensland Rail (QR) is a railway operator in Queensland, Australia. Owned by the Queensland Government, it operates local and long-distance passenger services, as well as owning and maintaining approximately 6,600 kilometres of track and relate ...
electric multiple units, as well as
electric tilt train
The Electric Tilt Train is the name for two identical high-speed tilting trains operated by Queensland Rail on the North Coast line from Brisbane to Bundaberg and Rockhampton which entered service in November 1998.
History
In March 1993, Qu ...
services as far as
Rockhampton
Rockhampton is a city in the Rockhampton Region of Central Queensland, Australia. The population of Rockhampton in June 2021 was 79,967, Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018. making it the fourth-largest city in the state outside of t ...
. An extensive network of freight lines are operated to service the
Central Queensland coal networks is operated by
Aurizon
Aurizon ( ) is a freight rail transport company in Australia, formerly named QR National. it was the world’s largest rail transporter of coal from mine to port. Formerly a Queensland Government-owned company, it was privatised and floated o ...
. The two networks are joined by the electrified
North Coast line from
Brisbane
Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Queensland, and the third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of approximately 2.6 million. Brisbane lies at the centre of the South ...
to
Rockhampton
Rockhampton is a city in the Rockhampton Region of Central Queensland, Australia. The population of Rockhampton in June 2021 was 79,967, Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018. making it the fourth-largest city in the state outside of t ...
, and the entire system is energised at 25 kV AC.
History
In the 1980s, three significant programs were completed:
*
Brisbane
Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Queensland, and the third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of approximately 2.6 million. Brisbane lies at the centre of the South ...
suburban network, opened between 1979 and 1988
*
Blackwater and
Goonyella coal networks (including the
Central West line as far as
Emerald
Emerald is a gemstone and a variety of the mineral beryl (Be3Al2(SiO3)6) colored green by trace amounts of chromium or sometimes vanadium.Hurlbut, Cornelius S. Jr. and Kammerling, Robert C. (1991) ''Gemology'', John Wiley & Sons, New York, p ...
) opened in 1986/87
*
Caboolture
Caboolture () is a town and suburb in Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the suburb of Caboolture had a population of 26,433 people. It is located on the north side of the Caboolture River, which separates the town from Morayfi ...
to
Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone ( ; 29 December 1809 – 19 May 1898) was a British statesman and Liberal politician. In a career lasting over 60 years, he served for 12 years as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, spread over four non-cons ...
section of the
North Coast line opened in 1988/89
Since then there have been a number of new lines opened that have been electrified. As at 2014, 2,033 km of the 7,739 km Queensland network was electrified.
Brisbane Suburban Electification
Earlier proposals
The first
electrification
Electrification is the process of powering by electricity and, in many contexts, the introduction of such power by changing over from an earlier power source.
The broad meaning of the term, such as in the history of technology, economic histo ...
proposal was in 1897 when the chief engineer of the
Queensland Rail
Queensland Rail (QR) is a railway operator in Queensland, Australia. Owned by the Queensland Government, it operates local and long-distance passenger services, as well as owning and maintaining approximately 6,600 kilometres of track and relate ...
ways was sent to study electrified railways in Europe and America. At the time the technology was in its infancy, and the costs outweighed the benefits, with Brisbane having a population of just 120,000. Further studies were carried out in 1915, and three decades later more investigations were carried out.
After
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
the
Brisbane
Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Queensland, and the third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of approximately 2.6 million. Brisbane lies at the centre of the South ...
suburban network had become run down, and coal shortages were affecting the ability to run regular services. A committee was appointed to investigate, delivering their report in November 1947. It recommended the electrification of the suburban network by 1959 with the 1.5 kV DC system. of single track including sidings would be involved, covering the lines to
Shorncliffe,
Yeerongpilly
Yeerongpilly is a southern suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the , Yeerongpilly had a population of 1,934 people.
Geography
Yeerongpilly is south-west of the Brisbane GPO.
A small section of the north eastern boun ...
via
Sherwood
Sherwood may refer to:
Places Australia
*Sherwood, Queensland, a suburb of Brisbane
* Sherwood, South Australia, a locality
*Shire of Sherwood, a former local government area of Queensland
* Electoral district of Sherwood, an electoral district fr ...
,
Ferny Grove,
Petrie,
Pinkenba and
Kingston. The report was adopted in February 1950 and preliminary works started.
However, the General Manager of QR's South Eastern Division decided track amplification was more important, with quadruplication of the line from
Corinda
Corinda is a suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the , Corinda had a population of 5,064 people.
History
The suburb takes its name from the Corinda railway station, which in turn was likely named after a local cattle sta ...
to
Zillmere
Zillmere is a suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the , Zillmere had a population of 8,967 people.
Geography
As at 2008, Zillmere was approximately 60% residential and 40% industrial.
History
The Turrbal people occupie ...
given priority. A cutback in loan funds in 1952-53 slowed the works further, and a change of state government in 1957 saw the scheme abandoned in 1959. The main legacies of the project were the quadruplication of the
Roma Street to Corinda section and the 112 stainless steel locomotive-hauled
SX carriages
The SX carriages were a type of passenger carriages constructed by Commonwealth Engineering for the Queensland Railways in 1961-1962.
History
The SX carriage stainless steel bodyshells were constructed by Commonwealth Engineering, Granville with ...
, that were intended to be converted to
electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple-unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number ...
s at a later date. Built by
Commonwealth Engineering between 1961 and 1963, they replaced older wooden stock and were the first stainless steel carriages in suburban traffic, and improved passenger comfort.
In 1965, a transport study recommended the closure of the entire suburban railway network except for an electrified corridor between
Darra and Zillmere. In 1970, another study recommended the electrification of the entire network with the 1.5 kV DC system, and the construction of a link between
South Brisbane and Roma Street (later realised as the
Merivale Bridge
The Merivale Bridge is a double track railway bridge crossing the Brisbane River. It crosses the Milton Reach of the river, slightly to the west of the William Jolly Bridge. Exclusively a railway crossing, it is located between the stations of ...
).
Construction approved
In 1973, the
Federal Government
A federation (also known as a federal state) is a political entity characterized by a union of partially self-governing provinces, states, or other regions under a central federal government ( federalism). In a federation, the self-gover ...
under
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam (11 July 191621 October 2014) was the 21st prime minister of Australia, serving from 1972 to 1975. The longest-serving federal leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) from 1967 to 1977, he was notable for being the h ...
offered the states a two-thirds subsidy on approved public passenger transport projects. The Queensland Government announced that it intended to electrify and modernize the Brisbane suburban network, but the Federal funding did not materialise and the state ended up funding the project itself. In 1974, Elrail Consultants and
Transmark were engaged to advise of the design of the system, which was changed from 1.5 kV DC to the more efficient 25 kV AC system enabling the number of substations to be significantly reduced. Tenders were called in 1975 for the electrification of 150 route kilometres (250 track kilometres) of lines.
Work to improve overhead clearances for the catenary, and track amplification was also carried out. A new four-track capable tunnel was built between Brunswick Street (now
Fortitude Valley
Fortitude Valley (often called "The Valley" by local residents) is an inner suburb of the City of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. In the , Fortitude Valley had a population of 9,708 people. The suburb features two pedestr ...
) and
Bowen Hills
Bowen Hills is an inner north-eastern suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the Bowen Hills had a population of 3,226 people.
Geography
Bowen Hills is by road from the Brisbane CBD.
Mayne is a neighbourhood within the s ...
stations, and the tunnel floors were lowered between
Central
Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object.
Central may also refer to:
Directions and generalised locations
* Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known a ...
and Fortitude Valley, and Central and Roma Street . A new operations centre was opened at
Mayne and the city sections of the network were
resignalled. A
flyover was built at Mayne for the
Ferny Grove line to eliminate junction conflicts, and to serve the new electric car sidings. Work was also started on the
Merivale Bridge
The Merivale Bridge is a double track railway bridge crossing the Brisbane River. It crosses the Milton Reach of the river, slightly to the west of the William Jolly Bridge. Exclusively a railway crossing, it is located between the stations of ...
to link the two halves of the network, separated by the
Brisbane River
The Brisbane River is the longest river in South East Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay on the Coral Sea. John Oxley, the first European to explore the river, named it after the ...
. The
Petrie to
Caboolture
Caboolture () is a town and suburb in Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the suburb of Caboolture had a population of 26,433 people. It is located on the north side of the Caboolture River, which separates the town from Morayfi ...
section was rebuilt with five deviations to permit 100 km/h running speeds over the entire line, with similar deviation works carried out on the
Beenleigh line
The Beenleigh railway line is a suburban railway line extending east-southeast from Brisbane Central railway station, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. It is part of the Queensland Rail City network.
History
Originally known a ...
.
Construction begins
Work began on erecting catenary on 16 May 1977, with a ceremony for the digging of the first post hole held at
Ferny Grove station. The Ferny Grove to
Darra section of line was chosen to be first due to the steep gradients and frequent stops. The contract for the trains themselves was awarded in 1977 to a consortium of
Walkers Limited
Walkers Limited was an Australian engineering company, based in Maryborough, Queensland. It built ships and railway locomotives. The Walkers factory still produces railway locomotives and rolling stock as part of Downer Rail.
History
In ...
of
Maryborough and
ASEA
''Allmänna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget'' (English translation: General Swedish Electrical Limited Company; Swedish abbreviation: ASEA) was a Swedish industrial company.
History
ASEA was founded in 1883 by Ludvig Fredholm in Västerås a ...
of Sweden. The
EMUs
Emus may refer to:
* Emu
The emu () (''Dromaius novaehollandiae'') is the second-tallest living bird after its ratite relative the ostrich. It is endemic to Australia where it is the largest native bird and the only extant member of the ...
featured acceleration of 0.75
m/s2 (2.46 ft/s
2) and braking of 1.0 m/s
2 (3.28 ft/s
2) enabling an all-stops train to operate a Ferny Grove service in 25 minutes, an eight-minute saving over diesel-hauled services.
On 8 May 1979, the first section of the new system was energized, from
Roma Street to
Corinda
Corinda is a suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the , Corinda had a population of 5,064 people.
History
The suburb takes its name from the Corinda railway station, which in turn was likely named after a local cattle sta ...
to permit testing and driver training. On 17 November the same year, the Darra to Ferny Grove and Mayne Depot sections were officially opened.
Although only four three-car sets were available for traffic at the time, services commenced between Darra to Ferny Grove on 19 November 1979. All off-peak services were able to be provided by the four units, but most peak hour services remained diesel hauled, with additional EMU units introduced as they were delivered.
Further commissioning dates were:
*
Darra to
Ipswich
Ipswich () is a port town and borough in Suffolk, England, of which it is the county town. The town is located in East Anglia about away from the mouth of the River Orwell and the North Sea. Ipswich is both on the Great Eastern Main Line ...
20 September 1980
*
Roma Street to
Fortitude Valley
Fortitude Valley (often called "The Valley" by local residents) is an inner suburb of the City of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. In the , Fortitude Valley had a population of 9,708 people. The suburb features two pedestr ...
(via Normanby and
Exhibition line) 3 March 1982
*
Bowen Hills
Bowen Hills is an inner north-eastern suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the Bowen Hills had a population of 3,226 people.
Geography
Bowen Hills is by road from the Brisbane CBD.
Mayne is a neighbourhood within the s ...
to
Shorncliffe,
Roma Street to
Kingston,
Corinda
Corinda is a suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the , Corinda had a population of 5,064 people.
History
The suburb takes its name from the Corinda railway station, which in turn was likely named after a local cattle sta ...
to
Yeerongpilly
Yeerongpilly is a southern suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the , Yeerongpilly had a population of 1,934 people.
Geography
Yeerongpilly is south-west of the Brisbane GPO.
A small section of the north eastern boun ...
(down line only) all on 18 September 1982
*
Northgate to
Petrie 23 April 1983
*
Park Road and
Dutton Park
Dutton Park is an inner southern suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the , Dutton Park had a population of 2,024 people.
Geography
Dutton Park is located about south of the Brisbane CBD. It is bounded to the north-east ...
to
Thorneside
Thorneside is a coastal urban locality in the City of Redland, Queensland, Australia. In the , Thorneside had a population of 3,761 people.
Geography
The locality is bounded to the north-east by Waterloo Bay (), a part of Moreton Bay. It i ...
15 October 1983
*
Kingston to
Beenleigh
Beenleigh is a town and suburb in the City of Logan, Queensland, Australia. In the , the suburb of Beenleigh had a population of 8,252 people.
A government survey for the new town was conducted in 1866. The town is the terminus for the Beenl ...
,
Yeerongpilly
Yeerongpilly is a southern suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the , Yeerongpilly had a population of 1,934 people.
Geography
Yeerongpilly is south-west of the Brisbane GPO.
A small section of the north eastern boun ...
to
Corinda
Corinda is a suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the , Corinda had a population of 5,064 people.
History
The suburb takes its name from the Corinda railway station, which in turn was likely named after a local cattle sta ...
(up line),
Indooroopilly
Indooroopilly is a riverside suburb 7km west of the Brisbane CBD, Queensland, Australia. In the , Indooroopilly had a population of 12,242 people.
Geography
Indooroopilly is bounded to the south and south-east by the median of the Brisbane Ri ...
to
Chelmer (via
Main line) all on 3 November 1984
*
Petrie to
Caboolture
Caboolture () is a town and suburb in Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the suburb of Caboolture had a population of 26,433 people. It is located on the north side of the Caboolture River, which separates the town from Morayfi ...
28 June 1986
*
Thorneside
Thorneside is a coastal urban locality in the City of Redland, Queensland, Australia. In the , Thorneside had a population of 3,761 people.
Geography
The locality is bounded to the north-east by Waterloo Bay (), a part of Moreton Bay. It i ...
to
Wellington Point
Wellington Point is a residential locality in the City of Redland, Queensland, Australia. In the , Wellington Point had a population of 12,350 people. The suburb is a popular seaside destination within the Brisbane metropolitan area and is nota ...
26 July 1986
*
Wellington Point
Wellington Point is a residential locality in the City of Redland, Queensland, Australia. In the , Wellington Point had a population of 12,350 people. The suburb is a popular seaside destination within the Brisbane metropolitan area and is nota ...
to
Cleveland
Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the United States, U.S. U.S. state, state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along ...
24 October 1987
*
Eagle Junction
Clayfield is a suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the , Clayfield had a population of 10,555 people.
Geography
Clayfield is by road from the Brisbane GPO. Clayfield is bordered to the north by Nundah, to the east by ...
to
Eagle Farm
Eagle Farm is an eastern industrial suburb of the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the , Eagle Farm had a population of 0 people.
The neighbourhood of Whinstanes is located in Eagle Farm ().
Geography
Eagle Farm is situated no ...
6 February 1988 (although services today only operate as far as
Doomben)
The Roma Street to Mayne connection via Normanby enabled the operation of electric trains to the 1982
Brisbane Exhibition. The line to Yeerongpilly enabled the operation of trains between
Sunnybank and Ipswich for the
1982 Commonwealth Games
The 1982 Commonwealth Games were held in Brisbane, Australia, from 30 September to 9 October 1982. The Opening Ceremony was held at the QEII Stadium (named after Elizabeth II), in the Brisbane suburb of Nathan. The QEII Stadium was also the ...
.
Whilst the
Pinkenba line was the final to be electrified under this program, completing the electrification of the Brisbane suburban network as it was at the time, the
Thorneside
Thorneside is a coastal urban locality in the City of Redland, Queensland, Australia. In the , Thorneside had a population of 3,761 people.
Geography
The locality is bounded to the north-east by Waterloo Bay (), a part of Moreton Bay. It i ...
to
Cleveland
Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the United States, U.S. U.S. state, state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along ...
sections were electrified from opening. The original 'rural' branch line to Cleveland (opened 1889) was closed beyond
Lota Lota may refer to:
Places
* Lota (crater), a crater on Mars
* Lota, Chile, a city and commune in Chile
* Lota, Punjab, village in Pakistan
*Lota, Queensland, a suburb of Brisbane, Australia
**Lota railway station, a station on the Cleveland line
* ...
in 1960, but the local government retained the corridor, which allowed the line to be rebuilt to contemporary standards as a suburban line and serve the expanding Greater Brisbane area only a generation later. The new terminal station was the former Raby Bay station, one station before the original Cleveland station, purportedly to facilitate extension of the line to
Redland Bay
Redland Bay is a coastal semi-rural locality in the City of Redland, Queensland, Australia. In the , Redland Bay had a population of 14,958 people.
Since the first European settlers arrived in the mid-19th century, Redland Bay has remained a f ...
in the future.
Despite the introduction of electric trains some diesel hauled services continued, such as to
Pinkenba, which continued beyond the end of the wires on the
Doomben line until September 1993.
The benefits of electrification were soon realised, with patronage increasing 60-65% on most lines in the first full year of operation.
Subsequent expansion
Electrification of the
Main Line west of
Ipswich
Ipswich () is a port town and borough in Suffolk, England, of which it is the county town. The town is located in East Anglia about away from the mouth of the River Orwell and the North Sea. Ipswich is both on the Great Eastern Main Line ...
18 km to
Rosewood
Rosewood refers to any of a number of richly hued timbers, often brownish with darker veining, but found in many different hues.
True rosewoods
All genuine rosewoods belong to the genus ''Dalbergia''. The pre-eminent rosewood appreciated ...
opened in 1993.
In 1983, the State Government announced an investigation into the reconstruction of the
Gold Coast railway as far as
Robina after the lacking interest of rail transport forced the closure of the
South Coast line
The South Coast Line is an intercity rail service operated by NSW TrainLink that services the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. The service runs from , and runs the entire length of the eponymous South Coast railway line to . T ...
. Construction was approved in 1991, the railway being electrified when opened from
Beenleigh
Beenleigh is a town and suburb in the City of Logan, Queensland, Australia. In the , the suburb of Beenleigh had a population of 8,252 people.
A government survey for the new town was conducted in 1866. The town is the terminus for the Beenl ...
to
Helensvale
Helensvale is a suburb of the City of Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. In the , Helensvale had a population of 16,862 people.
Geography
Helensvale is bounded by the Pacific Motorway to the west, by the Coomera River to the north, by ...
in 1996, and was extended to Robina in 1997, and to
Varsity Lakes in 2009. This was another situation of a contemporary replacement for a former line (the
South Coast line
The South Coast Line is an intercity rail service operated by NSW TrainLink that services the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. The service runs from , and runs the entire length of the eponymous South Coast railway line to . T ...
), though in this case there was a new alignment adopted allowing 160 km maximum speed, though units currently operate at 140 km/h. There are plans to extend the line to
Gold Coast Airport
Gold Coast Airport (formerly known as Coolangatta Airport) is an international Australian airport located at the southern end of the Gold Coast and approximately south of centre of Brisbane, within South East Queensland agglomeration. Th ...
, though not until 2025 at the earliest.
The growth in patronage as a result of electrification resulted in the quadruplication of the
Roma Street to
Northgate section in 1996, including two pairs of single track tunnels and the realisation of the use of the Bowen Hills tunnel widened 20 years earlier. Some of the roadbed and bridge abutments had been built in the 1950s before the original scheme was abandoned. A third line has been added to
Petrie as part of the construction of the
Redcliffe Peninsula line which opened in October 2016.
A third line has also been added from
South Brisbane to
Kuraby
Kuraby is an outer southern suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the , Kuraby had a population of 8,108 people.
Geography
Kuraby is situated approximately by road south-east of the city of Brisbane.
Beenleigh Road is ...
, including the
dual gauging of the
standard gauge line to
Acacia Ridge, with proposals to extend it to
Kingston.
The
Airport line opened from
Eagle Junction
Clayfield is a suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the , Clayfield had a population of 10,555 people.
Geography
Clayfield is by road from the Brisbane GPO. Clayfield is bordered to the north by Nundah, to the east by ...
to the
Brisbane Airport
Brisbane Airport is the primary international airport serving Brisbane and South East Queensland. The airport services 31 airlines flying to 50 domestic and 29 international destinations, in total amounting to more than 22.7 million passe ...
in 2001. The
Springfield line opened from
Darra to
Richlands in 2011, being extended to
Springfield Central in December 2013. In October 2016, the
Redcliffe Peninsula line opened from
Petrie to
Kippa-Ring
Kippa-Ring is a suburb in the Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , Kippa-Ring had a population of 9,790 people.
Geography
Kippa-Ring is located in the centre of the Redcliffe Peninsula, by road west of Redcliffe and by roa ...
With the introduction of the
TransLink integrated electronic ticketing system, electric services on the
North Coast line to
Nambour
Nambour is a rural town and locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Nambour had a population of 11,187 people.
Geography
Nambour is north of the state capital, Brisbane. The town lies in the sub ...
and
Gympie
Gympie ( ) is a city and a locality in the Gympie Region, Queensland, Australia. In the Wide Bay-Burnett District, Gympie is about north of the state capital, Brisbane. The city lies on the Mary River, which floods Gympie occasionally. The ...
, and on the
Main Line west of
Ipswich
Ipswich () is a port town and borough in Suffolk, England, of which it is the county town. The town is located in East Anglia about away from the mouth of the River Orwell and the North Sea. Ipswich is both on the Great Eastern Main Line ...
to
Rosewood
Rosewood refers to any of a number of richly hued timbers, often brownish with darker veining, but found in many different hues.
True rosewoods
All genuine rosewoods belong to the genus ''Dalbergia''. The pre-eminent rosewood appreciated ...
are considered part of the Brisbane suburban network.
Coal System scheme
The efficiencies shown by the suburban electrification, and the fact the diesel locomotive fleet was due for renewal, led to an investigation of the potential benefits in electrifying the
Central Queensland coal networks in 1979. A four-stage scheme was approved in 1983, the stages being:
*Stage 1 -
Gladstone to Blackwater and associated coal lines
*Stage 2 -
Hay Point (near Mackay) to Goonyella and associated coal lines
*Stage 3 -
Burngrove to Emerald
*Stage 4 -
Abbot Point (near Bowen) to Newlands
The
Blackwater system was given priority because it would achieve greater fuel savings, as its coal trains were interrupted by general traffic, and the first section was commissioned in September 1986.
The first section of the
Goonyella system, from
Hay Point to
Peak Downs Mine
Peak Downs Mine is a large open cut coking coal mine in Queensland located 31 km SSE of Moranbah. Peak Downs is one of seven mines in Bowen Basin owned by BHP Mitsubishi Alliance, Australia's largest coal miner and exporter. Production ...
, was commissioned on 29 May 1987, and extended to
Saraji coal mine
The Saraji Coal Mine is a coal mine located near Dysart in the Central Queensland region of Australia. The mine has coal reserves amounting to 648 million tonnes of coking coal, one of the largest coal reserves in Asia and the world. The ...
on 4 June 1987 and the balance to Gregory Junction in September that year.
The
Emerald
Emerald is a gemstone and a variety of the mineral beryl (Be3Al2(SiO3)6) colored green by trace amounts of chromium or sometimes vanadium.Hurlbut, Cornelius S. Jr. and Kammerling, Robert C. (1991) ''Gemology'', John Wiley & Sons, New York, p ...
extension was to enable goods traffic from further west to be electrically hauled, and in anticipation of coal mines developing in the area. It involved relaying the entire section with 50 kg/m rail, some curve easing and replacing all timber bridges with concrete structures.
Stage 4 was subsequently amended to be the
Caboolture
Caboolture () is a town and suburb in Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the suburb of Caboolture had a population of 26,433 people. It is located on the north side of the Caboolture River, which separates the town from Morayfi ...
to
Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone ( ; 29 December 1809 – 19 May 1898) was a British statesman and Liberal politician. In a career lasting over 60 years, he served for 12 years as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, spread over four non-cons ...
project covered below, and
Newlands line coal trains remain diesel hauled.
Implementation
The
Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone ( ; 29 December 1809 – 19 May 1898) was a British statesman and Liberal politician. In a career lasting over 60 years, he served for 12 years as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, spread over four non-cons ...
to
Rockhampton
Rockhampton is a city in the Rockhampton Region of Central Queensland, Australia. The population of Rockhampton in June 2021 was 79,967, Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018. making it the fourth-largest city in the state outside of t ...
section opened on 6 September 1986, and was extended to
Curragh coal mine on 29 May 1987, with the remaining coal lines being commissioned over the remainder of 1987. Some upgrading of the lines was undertaken as part of the scheme, such as realigning any curves sharper than 600m radius so a constant 60 km/h speed for loaded trains could be achieved. Empty trains travel at 80 km/h.
The
Hay Point to
Coppabella coal mine section opened in May 1987, and the entire system was in operation by the end of that year. This stage included electrifying the connection to the
Blackwater system, providing an alternative route in situations of line disruption, but the two systems otherwise operate independently.
The Emerald section was opened on 30 October 1987 after the line was extensively upgraded, including being relaid with 50 kg/m rail, the first use of rail of this weight in Queensland. To date no electric coal trains use this section, and the Minerva mine on the Springsure branch is served by diesel locomotives.
Included in the scheme was the order of 146 3000 kW
tri-bo 3100/3200 and
3500/3600 class locomotives, later increased to 166 to include the
North Coast line requirements. Additional
3800 class locomotives have since been added to the fleet with a power output of 4000 kW.
The advances in diesel locomotive development in the 1990s changed the cost-benefit aspects of electrification, and the 107 km Bauhinia line from Kinrola to Rolleston was not electrified when opened in 2006. Due to increased tonnage being hauled, it was electrified in December 2014.
Electrification of Bauhinia rail line complete
''Central Queensland News
The ''Central Queensland News'' is an online newspaper located in Emerald, Queensland, Australia.
From 1937 to 2020, the ''CQ News'' was published as a print edition, providing coverage of local news and events from the Central Highlands and I ...
'' 17 December 2014
North Coast line scheme
In 1986, the Queensland government announced it had deferred the electrification of the Abbot Point to Newlands line and would instead electrify the Caboolture
Caboolture () is a town and suburb in Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the suburb of Caboolture had a population of 26,433 people. It is located on the north side of the Caboolture River, which separates the town from Morayfi ...
to Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone ( ; 29 December 1809 – 19 May 1898) was a British statesman and Liberal politician. In a career lasting over 60 years, he served for 12 years as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, spread over four non-cons ...
section (469 km) of the North Coast line connecting the Brisbane and Central Queensland electrified systems.
In addition, four major deviations were undertaken to improve the rail alignment, at Eumundi
Eumundi is a rural town and locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Eumundi had a population of 2,221 people.
Eumundi is very popular on the coast for its bi-weekly farmers' markets. The marketpl ...
, a bypass of Gympie
Gympie ( ) is a city and a locality in the Gympie Region, Queensland, Australia. In the Wide Bay-Burnett District, Gympie is about north of the state capital, Brisbane. The city lies on the Mary River, which floods Gympie occasionally. The ...
, at Maryborough West
Maryborough West or West Maryborough () is a barony in County Laois (formerly called ''Queen's County'' or ''County Leix''), Ireland.
Etymology
Maryborough is the former name of the town of Portlaoise, established in 1548 and named after Que ...
and at Benaraby. The Eumundi Range deviation eased the grade from 1 in 48 (~2.1%) to 1 in 90 (1.1%) and reduced the minimum curve to 550m radius. The Gympie bypass removed the steepest grade on the entire North Coast line, reducing the grade from 1 in 45 (~2.2%) to 1 in 100 (1%). The Maryborough West project eliminated the need for passenger trains to back into or out of Baddow station. The realigned Benaraby bank crossed the original sharply curved alignment eight times.
Electrification works commenced from Caboolture, and opened to Nambour
Nambour is a rural town and locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Nambour had a population of 11,187 people.
Geography
Nambour is north of the state capital, Brisbane. The town lies in the sub ...
on 28 April 1988 in time for World Expo 88
World Expo 88, also known as Expo 88, was a specialised Expo held in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia, during a six-month period between Saturday, 30 April 1988 and Sunday, 30 October 1988, inclusive. The theme of the Expo wa ...
. The electrification was opened to the new Gympie North station on 4 February 1989, and to Gladstone on 3 July 1989.
A 120 km/h Intercity Express
The Intercity Express (commonly known as ICE ()) is a system of high-speed trains predominantly running in Germany. It also serves some destinations in Austria, Denmark (ceased in 2017 but planned to resume in 2022), France, Belgium, Switzerla ...
service was introduced from Brisbane to Rockhampton, reducing the journey by three hours, and all express freight trains were electrically hauled. An interesting outcome of this was the decision by QR to purchase larger diesel locomotives for use north of Rockhampton, in order to avoid the need to divide the freight trains there, as there was an imbalance between the maximum load the existing diesels could haul.
A further improvement to the Brisbane to Rockhampton passenger service occurred with the introduction of the Tilt Train in 1998, reducing the journey time by another two hours.
As coal export volumes grew significantly in the early 2000s, the 3900 class locomotives utilised on the North Coast linewere transferred to the Blackwater system, though as they had been geared for 100 km/h operation compared to the 80 km/h gearing for the coal locos, they were only considered to be a stop-gap measure. However, although new locomotives have since been put into service on the electrified coal systems, the locomotives have not returned to the line and are in storage. All freight trains to Brisbane are currently diesel hauled, with the Tilt Train being the only electrically powered service between Gympie North and Gladstone.
See also
* Rail electrification in Australia
*Rail transport in Queensland
The rail network in Queensland, Australia, was the first in the world to adopt narrow gauge for a main line, and now the second largest narrow gauge network in the world, consists of:
*the North Coast Line (NCL) extending from Brisbane to R ...
References
*
External links
Queensland Rail
{{Railway electrification
Rail infrastructure in Queensland
Electric railways in Australia