South Line, Tasmania
Encyclopedia
The South Line, also known as the Main Line and sometimes the North/South Line or the North–South Line, is a freight rail corridor connecting Hobart
to the northern ports of Tasmania
. The Railway Line was built by the Tasmanian Main Line Company
. The route of the railway travels some reasonably poor topography, particularly in the southern section.
and included long sections of steep gradients and sharp curves. The final eighteen kilometres of the route from Western Junction to Launceston used the existing Broad gauge
alignment of the Launceston and Western Railway, with a third rail being laid for use by the narrow gauge trains. The Railway Line was officially opened on 1 November 1876. As Tasmania has a very competitive Road Transport industry and a modern road network, only limited deviations have been built in the Main line's 125 year history. Although the line still follows the original alignment, the standard of the track has improved by the use of heavier rail welded into long lengths, steel sleepers and better ballast. The line remains in service, and sees multiple freight trains most days, these generally operating Burnie to Boyer and Burnie / Launceston to Hobart and return.
to Bridgewater, where the river is crossed by the Bridgewater Bridge. From here the line runs generally north east though easy country to Rekuna (between Tea Tree and Campania). From here the often steep and/or twisty climb commences, with little respite for train crews until Rhyndaston and its 1200m long tunnel
is passed, some 28 km later.
The descent from near Parattah is not as steep or severe as its southern counterpart, although does still include a number of difficult sections including the Tin Dish and Nala deviations which were constructed in the 1930s to lessen gradients, although at the expense of more additional curvature in some sections.
North of Antill Ponds, the line roughly parallels the Midland Highway as they both follow the agriculturally rich valley's formed by the Macquarie and South Esk rivers. The South Line finishes at Western Junction near Evandale, where it connects with the Western Line.
thus freeing the train lines of most freight trains, although rail freight access to the port at Hobart will be retained for container rail traffic. A state of the art Light rail
could then ride the rail corridor creating a new express route to Hobart.
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
to the northern ports of Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. The Railway Line was built by the Tasmanian Main Line Company
Tasmanian Main Line Company
The Tasmanian Main Line Company was a private railway that opened a narrow gauge line from Hobart to Evandale, near Launceston, where it connected with the Launceston and Western Railway.- Initial proposals :...
. The route of the railway travels some reasonably poor topography, particularly in the southern section.
History
When building the railway Line the company had limited finances, the line was built to the (1067 mm) Narrow GaugeNarrow gauge
A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :...
and included long sections of steep gradients and sharp curves. The final eighteen kilometres of the route from Western Junction to Launceston used the existing Broad gauge
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
alignment of the Launceston and Western Railway, with a third rail being laid for use by the narrow gauge trains. The Railway Line was officially opened on 1 November 1876. As Tasmania has a very competitive Road Transport industry and a modern road network, only limited deviations have been built in the Main line's 125 year history. Although the line still follows the original alignment, the standard of the track has improved by the use of heavier rail welded into long lengths, steel sleepers and better ballast. The line remains in service, and sees multiple freight trains most days, these generally operating Burnie to Boyer and Burnie / Launceston to Hobart and return.
Route
The line commences at the Hobart intermodal Terminal at Maquarie Point, on Hobart's waterfront. The line follows the western side of the Derwent RiverDerwent River (Tasmania)
The Derwent is a river in Tasmania, Australia. It was named after the River Derwent, Cumbria by British Commodore John Hayes who explored it in 1793. The name is Brythonic Celtic for "valley thick with oaks"....
to Bridgewater, where the river is crossed by the Bridgewater Bridge. From here the line runs generally north east though easy country to Rekuna (between Tea Tree and Campania). From here the often steep and/or twisty climb commences, with little respite for train crews until Rhyndaston and its 1200m long tunnel
Rhyndaston Tunnel
The Rhyndaston Tunnel is a 955 m long 1 in 40 grade railway tunnel in southern Tasmania. The northern end of the tunnel is 72.5 km from the Hobart railway yards...
is passed, some 28 km later.
The descent from near Parattah is not as steep or severe as its southern counterpart, although does still include a number of difficult sections including the Tin Dish and Nala deviations which were constructed in the 1930s to lessen gradients, although at the expense of more additional curvature in some sections.
North of Antill Ponds, the line roughly parallels the Midland Highway as they both follow the agriculturally rich valley's formed by the Macquarie and South Esk rivers. The South Line finishes at Western Junction near Evandale, where it connects with the Western Line.
Future
A $400,000 feasibility study is currently underway for the possible introduction of commuter trains along the Hobart-Bridgewater end of the rail corridor. The rail corridor will be available for use when the Hobart freight yards are moved to BrightonBrighton Transport Hub
The Brighton Transport Hub is a $79 million Intermodal Transport hub currently under construction in conjunction with the Brighton Bypass on the northern fringes of Hobart, in southern Tasmania. The Bridgewater Industrial Estate was chosen as the preferred site of the Inland port because of its...
thus freeing the train lines of most freight trains, although rail freight access to the port at Hobart will be retained for container rail traffic. A state of the art Light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
could then ride the rail corridor creating a new express route to Hobart.