TasRail

Not to be confused with AN Tasrail, a predecessor to the current company.

TasRail 2100 Class locomotive in May 2011
Locale Tasmania, Australia
Dates of operation 2009–
Predecessor AN Tasrail
Track gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Length 843 kilometres
Headquarters Launceston
Website www.tasrail.com.au

TasRail[1] is a train operator owned by the Government of Tasmania that has operated the mainline railways in Tasmania since September 2009. It only operates freight services, passenger trains having ceased in July 1978.

History

Established under the Rail Company Act 2009,[2] in September 2009 the Tasmanian Government purchased the AN Tasrail business from Pacific National.[3] TasRail combined the above-rail (rollingstock) and business assets with the below-rail assets (track and associated infrastructure), for which the state had assumed responsibility in May 2007,[4] to form a vertically integrated rail operator.[2]

The Tasmanian Government Railways had operated the state's railway network until it passed to the federal government's Australian National in March 1978.[5]

Fleet

As at April 2016, the fleet consisted of 24 operational locomotives.[6][7]

Current locomotive fleet

Class Image Type Built Number Notes
DQ Diesel-electric 1964-1969 12 From Pacific National in 2009. 5 stored.
TR Diesel-electric 2013-2014 17

Former locomotive fleet

Class Image Type Built Number Notes
Ds Steam 2-6-4T 1904-1909 8 From New Zealand Railways
2050 Diesel-electric 1978 4 Purchased from Aurizon in 2011. All stored.
D Diesel-electric 1971 2 From Pacific National in 2009
QR Diesel-electric 1964-1969 3 From Pacific National in 2009. All stored.
DC Diesel-electric 1964 1 From Pacific National in 2009, scrapped in 2011
MKA Diesel-electric 1967-1972 6 From Pacific National in 2009, all stored
ZC Diesel-electric 1966-72 4 From Pacific National in 2009, 3 scrapped in 2012, 1 preserved
Y Diesel-electric 1961-1971 2 From Pacific National in 2009, 1 demotored and used as a driving van
Z Diesel-electric 1973 4 From Pacific National in 2009, all stored
Za Diesel-electric 1973-1976 3 From Pacific National in 2009, 2 stored, 1retained for preservation
ZB Diesel-electric 1973 4 From Pacific National in 2009, all stored
ZP Diesel-electric 1973 1 From Pacific National in 2009, stored
ZR Diesel-electric 1973 1 From Pacific National in 2009, stored

Road crossings

There are 199 level crossings on the TasRail network with active control at 123 crossings and passive control at the remainder.[8] Active control includes flashing lights and warning bells that are activated by approaching trains and passive control includes 'Stop' or 'Give Way' sign which rely on motorists to watch for trains before crossing the railway line. During the period 2003 - 2012, there were 36 reported crashes at level crossings, with 20 resulting in casualties, 3 of which were fatal.[9] Almost two thirds of crashes occurred within urban areas with speed limits 50 or 60 km/hr. Relocation of the Hobart terminal to Brighton during July 2014 means that 29 crossings will become inactive, which is expected to reduce level crossing crashes in Tasmania by 30%.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Tasmanian Railway Pty Ltd Australian Securities & Investments Commission
  2. 1 2 "TasRail - Home". www.tasrail.com.au. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  3. ↑ Rail Sale Agreement Finalised Asciano 7 September 2009
  4. ↑ "Tasmanian Railway Network Declaration Application" (PDF). National Competition Council. 1 May 2007. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  5. ↑ Background - Organisation of Australia's Railways Department of Infrastructure & Regional Development
  6. ↑ "Australia Wide Fleet List" Motive Power issue 96 November 2014 page 73
  7. ↑ "TasRail locomotive and rolling stock update" Railway Digest December 2014 page 20
  8. ↑
  9. ↑ Para 3.1
  10. ↑ Para 4.2
Preceded by
AN Tasrail		 Rail transport in Tasmania
2009- 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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