Overview | |
---|---|
Headquarters | Launceston |
Locale | Tasmania |
Dates of operation | 1 March 1978–2009 |
Predecessor | Tasmanian Government Railways |
Successor | TasRail |
Technical | |
Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
AN Tasrail was an Australian railway operator that operated the Tasmanian rail network from March 1978 until November 2004. Originally a subsidiary of the Federal Government's Australian National, it was sold to Australian Transport Network (ATN) in November 1997. ATN was acquired by Pacific National in 2004 and the AN Tasrail subsidiary was later acquired by the Tasmanian Government in 2009 to become TasRail.
Until March 1978, the Tasmanian Government Railways had operated the state mainline railways since 1890, and had amassed a large and prosperous network over that time, albeit ahead of continued financial losses and the dwindling of freight and passenger workings up into the 1970s.
The Tasmanian and Federal Governments entered into an agreement for the transfer of the Tasmanian railways to Australian National on 1 July 1975, but the Tasmanian Transport Commission's Railways Branch retained responsibility for administering and operating the system as an agent for Australian National, until the latter assumed full control on 1 March 1978.
In November 1997, as part of the privatisation of Australian National, AN Tasrail was sold to Australian Transport Network, a partnership of New Zealand-based Tranz Rail and United States railroad Wisconsin Central. [1] [2]
In April 1998, Tasrail purchased Tasmania's only other rail operator, the Emu Bay Railway in the state's north-west from Pasminco. [3] In February 2004, the company was purchased by Pacific National, owned by Patrick Corporation and Tranz Rail owner Toll Holdings. [1] [2]
In 2009, the operations were taken over by TasRail.
The main cargo carried by AN Tasrail was cement, which is carried from Railton to the port at Devonport. Other major commodities carried were coal, logs, containers and newsprint. Passenger services ceased in June 1978.
The Australian National green and yellow livery was adopted in 1980. Upon privatisation, the Wisconsin Central's maroon and yellow livery was adopted. This was retained during the period of Pacific National ownership.
AN Tasrail inherited all of the Tasmanian Government Railways rolling stock. No new locomotives were ordered, but second-hand locomotives were purchased, some of which were for parts only.
Tranz Rail, formally Tranz Rail Holdings Limited, was the main rail operator in New Zealand from 1991 until it was purchased by Toll Holdings in 2003.
The Melba Line is a 1,067 mm narrow-gauge railway on the West Coast of Tasmania. The line was originally constructed as a private railway line named the Emu Bay Railway and was one of the longest-lasting and most successful private railway companies in Australia. While at present the line travels from Burnie to Melba Flats, it previously ran through to Zeehan carrying minerals and passengers as an essential service for the West Coast community.
Pacific National is one of Australia's largest rail freight businesses.
The DQ and QR class were a class of diesel locomotives in New Zealand and Tasmania, Australia. Originally built by Clyde Engineering in the 1960s as Queensland Rail 1460 and 1502 class locomotives, they were purchased by Tranz Rail in 1995 to be rebuilt, as a cheaper alternative to buying new locomotives.
The Tasmanian Government Railways (TGR) was the former operator of the mainline railways in Tasmania, Australia. Formed in 1872, the railway company was managed by the Government of Tasmania, and existed until absorption into the Australian National Railways Commission in 1978.
Australian Transport Network (ATN) was a freight railway operator in Australia that commenced operating in November 1997. The company operated narrow gauge trains in Tasmania and standard gauge trains in New South Wales and Victoria. It was formed as a joint venture with Tranz Rail owning 67% and Wisconsin Central 33%. In February 2004, ATN was sold to Pacific National.
Rail transport in Tasmania consists of a network of narrow gauge track of 1,067 mm reaching virtually all cities and major towns in the island state of Tasmania, Australia. Today, rail services are focused primarily on bulk freight, with no commercial passenger services being operated. The mainline railways of Tasmania are currently operated by TasRail, a Government of Tasmania-owned Corporation, who owns and maintains both rolling stock, locomotives, and track infrastructure.
The Tasmanian Government Railways Y class is a class of diesel locomotives built by the Tasmanian Government Railways between 1961 and 1971.
Wisconsin Central Ltd. is a railroad subsidiary of Canadian National. At one time, its parent Wisconsin Central Transportation Corporation owned or operated railroads in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia.
The 1300 class were a class of diesel locomotive built by English Electric, Rocklea for Queensland Railways between 1967 and 1972. They were later sold to AN Tasrail.
The 830 class are a class of diesel locomotives built by AE Goodwin, Auburn for the South Australian Railways between 1959 and 1966. The New South Wales 48 class and Silverton Rail 48s class are of a very similar design.
The Emu Bay Railway was a Tasmania, Australian railway company. The railway was significant during full operation, in that it linked the Tasmanian Government Railways system at Burnie with that at Zeehan that further linked to the Mount Lyell railway allowing connection through to Queenstown.
TasRail is a Tasmanian Government state-owned enterprise that has operated the mainline railways in Tasmania since September 2009. It operates only freight services.
The D/DA class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville for the Western Australian Government Railways in 1971-1972.
The 1460 class was a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Eagle Farm for Queensland Railways between 1964 and 1966.
The 1502 class was a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Eagle Farm for Queensland Railways between 1967 and 1969.
The 2350 class were a class of diesel locomotive built by English Electric, Rocklea, for Queensland Railways in 1973–1974. All were later sold to AN Tasrail.
The DQ class were a class of diesel locomotives in New Zealand and Tasmania. Originally built by Clyde Engineering in the 1960s as Queensland Rails 1460 and 1502 class locomotives. They were purchased by Tranz Rail in 1995 to be rebuilt, as a cheaper alternative to buying new locomotives. Tranz Rail rebuilt 16 locos into the DQ class. Tranz Rail then sold the 12 DQs to AN Tasrail. Only eight out of the twelve DQs are still in service today.
The QR class were a class of diesel locomotives in New Zealand and Tasmania. Originally built by Clyde Engineering between 1965 and 1966 as Queensland Rail's 1460 class locomotives. They were purchased by Tranz Rail in 1995 to be rebuilt, as a cheaper alternative to buying new locomotives. Seven were modified into the QR class. Three were leased to AN Tasrail for one year, but the locos were later sold in 2001. All three have since been scrapped.