Rail transport in Brunei

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''Brooketon Colliery'', end of 19th century Muara-Colliery-1900.jpg
''Brooketon Colliery'', end of 19th century

Rail transport in Brunei highlights its role in industrial and wartime efforts, beginning with the Brooketon Colliery's 19th century coal railway to Muara's harbour, which aided steamship routes. Later, Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) built a line from Seria to Badas in the 1930s for water and pipeline transport, reactivated briefly by Australian forces in the Second World War. Today, Brunei LNG uses a rail system to transport equipment offshore, and plans for a Trans Borneo Railway aim to enhance trade by linking Brunei with neighbouring regions, underscoring rail’s lasting impact on Brunei's economy and connectivity.

Contents

Narrow gauge railway of Brooketon Colliery

Brooketon Colliery in the sub-district Serasa operated a 2.5 km long narrow gauge railway with the unusual gauge of 711 millimetres (2 feet 4.0 inches) from the colliery to the deepwater harbour near Muara. Wooden rails were used, until steel rails were laid, [1] so that two 0-4-0 steam locomotives of Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. could be used.

The locomotive with the serial No 696 was built in 1891 and had an inner frame, a wheel diameter of 559 millimetres (1 foot 10.0 inches), outer cylinders with a capacity of 178 mm × 356 mm (7.0 in × 14.0 in) and a height of only 1,753 millimetres (5 feet 9.0 inches), to be used in the1,829 mm (6.001 ft) high mine shaft. She had the name MARGUERITE REINE after Sir Charles Brookes' French wife Margaret de Windt. An identical Barclay locomotive with the serial No 815 was built in 1897 and was named BROOKETON. It was despatched in January 1898 from Glasgow. [2]

The rail track was nearly completely lifted, but there are some mine shafts, overgrown remains of tracks and locomotives, which are protected under the Antiquities and Treasure Trove Act of Brunei Darussalam. The department of museums of Brunei plans, to exhibit them in an open-air museum, to support eco-tourism. [1]

Between 1888 and 1924 approximately 650.000 t of Brooketon coal was transported, which was on high demand by the steam boats during their stop-over on the lucrative trip from India to China. [3] The colliery and its railway were decommissioned by 1924. [4] During World War II the Japanese operated the coal mine once again for local use. [3]

Narrow gauge railway Seria–Badas

Australian soldiers operating the narrow gauge railway in Seria, 1945. Railway in Seria, Borneo, 12 July 1945.jpg
Australian soldiers operating the narrow gauge railway in Seria, 1945.

Since the 1930s existed a 19.3 kilometres (12.0 miles) long narrow gauge railway with a gauge of mit 600 mm from Seria to Badas. [5] [6] [4] [7] [8] The alignment of the railway with wooden rails was built by the British Malayan Petroleum Company (now BSP), to transport water from a pumping station in Badas, which was operated by George William Percival Clark at the Sungai Belait River, to Seria. [9] It was subsequently used, to transport pipeline tubes. [10]

The employees of BMP hid during World War II the most important parts of the railway from the Japanese, who consequently couldn't operate it. After liberation by the 9th Division of the Australian Army the hidden parts re-appeared in July 1945, and the railway was quickly re-commissioned, to transport two 25-pound howitzers and their ammunition to Badas, to disperse Japanese troops, which were still in the area. [9]

According to some reports, the railway was still being used in 1999. [4] [5] The tracks are still (2013) in use for transporting trees and as a walkway. [11] [12] [13]

Industrial railway of Brunei LNG

The loading pier of Brunei LNG plant (foreground) in Lumut. Lumut Coast (02052022-2).jpg
The loading pier of Brunei LNG plant (foreground) in Lumut.

In the LNG loading pier of Brunei LNG (BLNG) plant in Lumut, Brunei, a Joint Venture of the government of Brunei (50%), Shell Overseas Trading (25%) and Mitsubishi (25%), a broad gauge industrial railway is used with the unusual gauge of 1533 mm (60+1⁄3 in).

Bemo Rail of Warmenhuizen in the Netherlands laid the track onto the pier for transporting workers and equipment to the platform, which is 4 km away from the coastline, at which tankers can be filled with LNG, because they cannot come closer to the coast because the water is very shallow. Bemo also supplied two battery operated rail vehicles made in 1993 and 1997/98, as well as a motorless passenger car and some flat cars for tools. The locomotives get their energy from batteries and are explosion proof, for instance with stainless steel wheels. They can transport 10 passengers each. The original description was RCE-15 (Rail Car Electric, 15 kN (1,5 t) pulling force). Now it has been renamed to BRE-15 (Bemo Rail Electric). The maximum speed is 15 km/h. In 1999 the first locomotive was equipped, similarly to the second locomotive, with an AC asynchron motoro instead of the DC motor. [14] Two older explosion proof rail cars and trailers were delivered by Alan Keef in England. [15] [16] [17] [18] [19]

Trans Borneo Railway

The 4,400 kilometres (2,700 miles) long Trans Borneo Railway is still being planned. Sarawak, Brunei, Sabah and Kalimantan shall be connected, investing a budget of 33 billion US Dollar. Thereby coal, timber and other agricultural produce could be transported from the hinterland of Borneo to the harbour in Bandar Seri Begawan, and from there to world-wide destinations. [20] [21]

Mass rapid transit

Initial plans for a metro in Brunei have so far not been completed. The government of Brunei invited the Malaysian government-owned company Prasarana Malaysia on 18 April 2017, to develop a concept for a metro network. [22]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brunei</span> Country in Southeast Asia

Brunei, officially Brunei Darussalam, is a country in Southeast Asia, situated on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. Apart from its coastline on the South China Sea, it is completely surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak, with its territory bifurcated by the Sarawak district of Limbang. Brunei is the only sovereign state entirely on Borneo; the remainder of the island is divided between its multi-landmass neighbours of Malaysia and Indonesia. As of 2023, the country had a population of 455,858, of whom approximately 180,000 resided in the capital and largest city of Bandar Seri Begawan. Its official language is Malay and Islam is the state religion of the country, although other religions are nominally tolerated. The government of Brunei is a constitutional absolute monarchy ruled by the Sultan, and it implements a fusion of English common law and jurisprudence inspired by Islam, including sharia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belait District</span> District of Brunei

Belait District or simply known as Belait, is the largest as well as the westernmost district in Brunei. It has an area of 2,727 square kilometres (1,053 sq mi) and the population of 65,531 as of 2021. The administrative town is Kuala Belait, located at the mouth of the 32 kilometres (20 mi) long Belait River. The district is commonly associated with the oil and gas industry of the country, mainly concentrated near the town of Seria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brunei–Muara District</span> District of Brunei

Brunei–Muara District or simply known as Brunei–Muara, is the smallest as well as the most populated district in Brunei. It has an area of 571 square kilometres (220 sq mi) and the population of 318,530 as of 2021. The district is also home to its administrative centre is Bandar Seri Begawan, as well as the Brunei International Airport and Muara Port, the country's only international airport and deep-water port respectively. The Brunei River flows within this district and is home to Kampong Ayer. As the administrative center of Brunei is located in the district, it remains the most developed in the country with the most up-to-date infrastructure, despite not being the center of Brunei's main economic activity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kuala Belait</span> Town in Brunei

Kuala Belait or officially the Kuala Belait Town, and colloquially referred to as KB, is the administrative town of Belait District, Brunei. The population of the town proper was 4,259 in 2016. Kuala Belait is officially a municipal area, as well as a village under the mukim of the same name. The town is located 85 kilometres (53 mi) west of the country's capital Bandar Seri Begawan, and 20 kilometres (12 mi) west of Seria, the district's other town. It is also in the westernmost part of country, near the mouth of the Belait River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seria</span> Town in Brunei

Seria or officially known as Seria Town, is a town in Belait District, Brunei. It is located about 65 kilometres (40 mi) west from the country's capital Bandar Seri Begawan. The total population was 3,625 in 2016. It was where oil was first struck in Brunei in 1929 and has since become a centre for the country's oil and gas industry. The town's bazaar, officially opened on 19 September 1954, has few retail establishments, fresh food markets, supermarkets, banking services, tourist information centers, and a range of restaurants, including Malay, Chinese, Indian, Indonesian and Italian ones as well as outdoor dining in somewhat rustic settings. For processing documentation related to owning a car and hiring domestic helpers (amahs), government offices are located in Kuala Belait.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muara, Brunei</span> Town in Brunei

Muara or officially known as Muara Town, is a port town in Brunei-Muara District, Brunei, about 28 kilometres (17 mi) from the capital Bandar Seri Begawan. The population of the town proper was 2,102 in 2016. It is home to Muara Port, the country's primary deep water port.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catholic Church in Brunei</span>

The Catholic Church in Brunei Darussalam is a part of the worldwide Catholic Church, in communion with the pope in Rome, and constitutionally recognised within the state of Brunei Darussalam. The entire territory of the Church in Brunei is organised as an apostolic vicariate, under the leadership of a bishop, since 2005. While no formal diplomatic relations exist between the Holy See and Brunei, there are existing quasi-diplomatic contacts between the church and government agencies at multiple levels. Since 1990, a papal nuncio has visited the country annually to make contact with the local church as well as the foreign affairs ministry. The Apostolic Delegation to Brunei Darussalam was established in 1998 following the establishment of the distinct Bruneian ecclesiastical territory as an apostolic prefecture. The Bruneian ecclesiastical jurisdiction falls under the purview of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.

The administrative divisions of Brunei Darussalam mainly consist of daerah (districts), mukim (sub-districts), and kampung or kampong (villages). They are organised hierarchically in Brunei Darussalam, with daerah being the largest first level, and kampong the smallest third level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mukim Seria</span> Mukim of Brunei

Mukim Seria is a mukim in Belait District, Brunei. It has an area of 169 square kilometres (65 sq mi); the population was 21,214 in 2016. The mukim encompasses Seria, one of the only two towns in the district. It is home to the oil and gas industry of the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brooketon Colliery</span>

Brooketon Colliery, formerly known as Muara Coal Mine, was one of the underground coal mines in Brunei.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pelumpong Spit, Brunei</span> An artificial island in Brunei

Pelumpong Spit is the easternmost point in the Brunei-Muara district of Brunei. Despite its name being labeled as a spit, it is now an island due to the artificially constructed 50m-wide, 10m-deep Muara cut, which separated the spit from the mainland to provide access to Muara Port.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brunei LNG</span> Liquified natural gas company in Brunei

Brunei LNG (BLNG), located in Lumut, Belait District, is the largest oil and gas producer in Brunei and has been a key player in the country's energy sector since its establishment in 1969. As the fourth largest oil producer in Southeast Asia and the ninth largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer globally, BLNG has supplied LNG to Japan since its first shipment in 1972. The joint venture between Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) and Mitsubishi Corporation has also expanded into ownership of LNG carriers and deepwater upstream oil and gas exploration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lumut, Brunei</span> Settlement in Brunei

Kampong Lumut or commonly known as Lumut, is a coastal settlement in Belait District, Brunei Daurssalam, about 30 kilometres from the district town Kuala Belait. The total population was 11,273 in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Brunei</span>

Transport in Brunei consists of air, land, and sea transport. Previously there was some rail transport in Brunei, but eventually most of it was closed down. Several public and commercial sector organizations are in charge of creating and overseeing these networks and infrastructures. The Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC) is in charge of overseeing the maritime and aviation industries, as well as planning and regulating all kinds of land transportation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kampong Sungai Liang</span> Village in Brunei

Kampong Sungai Liang or simply Sungai Liang, is a village in Belait District, Brunei, about 40 kilometres (25 mi) from the district's principal town Kuala Belait and 20 kilometres (12 mi) from the oil town Seria. The population was 910 in 2016. It is one of the villages within Mukim Liang. The postcode is KC1135.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kuala Belait Port</span> Commercial port in Kuala Belait, Belait District, Brunei

The Kuala Belait Port, also known as Kuala Belait Wharf, is a port operated by both the Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) and Maritime and Port Authority Brunei Darussalam (MPABD). The port can only accommodate low-draught ships. It is one of the only three existing ports in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berambang Island</span> Biggest island on the Brunei River

Berambang Island is an island at the southern bank of the Brunei River in the Mukim Kota Batu, Brunei-Muara District, Brunei. The island was formerly named Buang Tawer during The Brooke Era from 1841 until 1941. The mausoleum of the 9th Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Muhammad Hassan is located on the island, near Kampong Sungai Bunga.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salleh Bostaman</span> Bruneian businessman and politician

Salleh Bostaman bin Haji Zainal Abidin is a Bruneian businessman and politician who was among the members of Brunei's Legislative Council (LegCo) appointed in 2023. Additionally, he was the Deputy President of Football Federation of Brunei Darussalam (FFBD), Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (FABD), and chairman of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers Brunei Group (IMechE-BruG).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brunei Shell Petroleum</span> Joint venture in Brunei

Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) is a joint venture between the Royal Dutch/Shell Group and government of Brunei, primarily responsible for the exploration and production of oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Originally known as the British Malayan Petroleum Company (BMPC), it was established in 1922. BSP is crucial to Brunei's economy and political landscape, particularly regarding oil development and resource management. Its establishment and growth were closely tied to the Sultan of Brunei's decisions, as BSP provided essential insights into oil discoveries that influenced the Sultan's stance on joining Malaysia, thereby shaping the country's economic and political independence. Due to a lack of personnel, Brunei does not want to create a state oil corporation; nevertheless, the government does intend to raise its stake in BSP and solidify its influence over the energy industry.

References

  1. 1 2 Rozan Yunos: Before the Oil, it was Coal. The History of Brooketon Coalmine in Muara. Published in Brunei Times, Issue of 14 April 2007; Downloaded on 29 April 2017.
  2. ↑ A. N. M. Garry: Industrial Locomotives Overseas - Borneo: Brooketon Colliery. Downloaded on 29 April 2017.
  3. 1 2 Brunei Darussalam, a guide. Archived 2015-11-22 at the Wayback Machine Brunei Shell Group of Companies, 1992/2000. Downloaded on 29 April 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 Railways in Brunei (Brunei Darussalam). Downloaded on 29 April 2017.
  5. 1 2 The Far East and Australasia 2003. 34th Issue, Europa Publications, Taylor & Francis Group. p. 225.
  6. ↑ The Europa World Year Book 2004. Volume 1, Europa Publications, Taylor & Francis Group. S. 904.
  7. ↑ Trains in Brunei. 12 April 2008. Downloaded on 29 April 2017.
  8. ↑ Railway Line in Brunei. 4 October 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  9. 1 2 See also Seria#Rail.
  10. ↑ 60th anniversary of the oil and gas industry in Negara Brunei Darussalam 1929-1989 stamp of Brunei, 1989. Downloaded on 29 April 2017.
  11. ↑ Richard Davis: Daily Photo – Jungle Railway. Downloaded on 29 April 2017.
  12. ↑ Brunei: Lower Belait, 24 June (2013). Downloaded on 29 April 2017.
  13. ↑ Folkert: Wetlands International surveys. 10 March 2013. Downloaded on 29 April 2017.
  14. ↑ Industriespoor: Bemo Rail in Warmenhuizen. Published on 24 November 2016. Downloaded on 30 April 2017.
  15. ↑ Industrial Narrow Gauge Railways.
  16. ↑ Flame proof battery electric railcar and trailer, Shell/BLNG in Brunei.
  17. ↑ Light Railways - your project & our expertise.
  18. ↑ Installation of flame proof electric railcar for Shell/BLNG in Brunei.
  19. ↑ Brunei Imports by Product Sub-Chapter in US Dollars - Railway or tramway locomotives, rolling-stock and parts thereof - Yearly.
  20. ↑ Justin Calderon: Asean's southern grouping gets active. Borneo Post, 7 July 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  21. ↑ Arno Maierbrugger: Brunei Set To Become A Major Hub Of BIMP-EAGA. Investvine, 21 July 2013. Downloaded on 29 April 2017.
  22. ↑ Daniel Khoo: Prasarana eyes development of Brunei metro system. 18 April 2017. Downloaded on 29 April 2017.
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