TasRail
 | |
 A TasRail container train led by a TR Class locomotive in January 2016 | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Launceston |
| Locale | Tasmania, Australia |
| Dates of operation | 2009-present– |
| Predecessor | AN Tasrail |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Length | 843 km (523.82 mi) |
| Other | |
| Website | www.tasrail.com.au |
TasRail[1] is the trading name of Tasmanian Railway Proprietary Limited, a Tasmanian Government state-owned enterprise that has operated the mainline railways in Tasmania since September 2009. It operates only freight services.
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 2017, the fleet consisted of 27 operational locomotives.[6][7]
Current locomotive fleet
| Class | Image | Type | Built | Number | Notes |
| DQ | 
|
Diesel-electric | 1964-1969 | 12 | From Pacific National in 2009. Four stored. |
| DV | 
|
Diesel-electric | 1961-1971 | 1 | From Pacific National in 2009. De-motored and is used as a driving van. |
| TR | 
|
Diesel-electric | 2013-2014 | 17 | Purchased from Progress Rail and have Caterpillar 3512 engines. All are still in operation. |
| Y | 
|
Diesel-electric | 1961-1971 | 1 | From Pacific National in 2009. One in service as a shunter and one de-motored and is used as a driving van. |
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. 2 stored as 2 others Returned to Service. | |
| 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 | |
| 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 June 2014 meant that 29 crossings became inactive, which was expected to reduce level crossing crashes in Tasmania by 30%.[10]
References
- ^ Tasmanian Railway Pty Ltd Australian Securities & Investments Commission
- ^ a b "TasRail - Home". www.tasrail.com.au. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
- ^ Rail Sale Agreement Finalised Archived 11 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine Asciano 7 September 2009
- ^ "Tasmanian Railway Network Declaration Application" (PDF). National Competition Council. 1 May 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 February 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
- ^ Background - Organisation of Australia's Railways Department of Infrastructure & Regional Development
- ^ "Australia Wide Fleet List" Motive Power issue 96 November 2014 page 73
- ^ "TasRail locomotive and rolling stock update" Railway Digest December 2014 page 20
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2] Para 3.1
- ^ [3] Para 4.2