TasRail
 | |
 TasRail 2100 Class locomotive in May 2011 | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Launceston |
| Locale | Tasmania, Australia |
| Dates of operation | 2009– |
| Predecessor | AN Tasrail |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) |
| Length | 843 kilometres |
| Other | |
| Website | www.tasrail.com.au |
TasRail (legally Tasmanian Railway Pty Ltd) 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,[1] in September 2009 the Tasmanian Government purchased the AN Tasrail business from Pacific National.[2] 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,[3] to form a vertically integrated rail operator.[1]
The Tasmanian Government Railways had operated the state's railway network until it passed to the federal government's Australian National in March 1978.[4]
Fleet
Current locomotive fleet
| Class | Image | Type | Built | Number | Notes |
| 2050 | Diesel-electric | 1978 | 4 | Purchased from Aurizon in 2012. | |
| D | Diesel-electric | 1971 | 2 | From Pacific National in 2009. | |
| DQ | 
|
Diesel-electric | 1964-1969 | 12 | From Pacific National in 2009. |
| MKA | 
|
Diesel-electric | 1967-1972 | 6 | From Pacific National in 2009. |
| QR | Diesel-electric | 1964-1969 | 3 | From Pacific National in 2009. All stored. | |
| TR | Diesel-electric | 2013-2014 | 17 | ||
| 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. 1 stored. | |
| Za | Diesel-electric | 1973-1976 | 2 | From Pacific National in 2009. 1 stored and retained for preservation. | |
| ZB | Diesel-electric | 1973 | 4 | From Pacific National in 2009. 1 stored. | |
| ZP |
|
Diesel-electric | 1973 | 1 | From Pacific National in 2009. |
| ZR | Diesel-electric | 1973 | 1 | From Pacific National in 2009. |
Former locomotive fleet
| Class | Image | Type | Built | Number | Notes |
| DC | Diesel-electric | 1964 | 1 | From Pacific National in 2009. Scrapped in 2011. | |
| ZC | Diesel-electric | 1966-72 | 4 | From Pacific National in 2009. 3 scrapped in 2012, 1 preserved. |
Road crossings
There are 199 level crossings on the TasRail network with active control at 123 crossings and passive control at the remainder.[5] 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.[6] 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%.[7]
References
- ^ a b "TasRail - Home". www.tasrail.com.au. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
- ^ Rail Sale Agreement Finalised Asciano 7 September 2009
- ^ "Tasmanian Railway Network Declaration Application" (PDF). www.ncc.gov.au. 1 May 2007. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
- ^ Background - Organisation of Australia's Railways Department of Infrastructure & Regional Development
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2] Para 3.1
- ^ [3] Para 4.2