Transport in Townsville, Queensland
Encyclopedia
Road
Bruce Highway
The Bruce Highway is a major highway in Queensland, Australia. Commencing in the state capital, Brisbane, it passes through areas close to the eastern coast to Cairns in Far North Queensland. The route is a part of the Australian National Highway and also part of Highway 1...
(A1
Highway 1 (Australia)
Australia's Highway 1 is a network of highways that circumnavigate the Australian continent, joining all mainland state capitals. At a total length of approximately it is the longest national highway in the world, longer than the Trans-Siberian Highway and the Trans-Canada Highway...
) bypasses the city and runs through the western suburbs, and the Flinders Highway
Flinders Highway, Queensland
Flinders Highway is a highway that crosses Queensland from east to west, from Townsville on the Pacific coast to Cloncurry . Flinders Highway and passes a number of small outback towns. Typical outback landscape predominates towards the inland...
(A6), the main highway to western localities such as Mount Isa and the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
, meets the Bruce Highway
Bruce Highway
The Bruce Highway is a major highway in Queensland, Australia. Commencing in the state capital, Brisbane, it passes through areas close to the eastern coast to Cairns in Far North Queensland. The route is a part of the Australian National Highway and also part of Highway 1...
just south of Townsville. The Bruce Highway links Townsville to all of the State's major cities along the eastern seaboard, including Cairns, Proserpine
Proserpine, Queensland
-External links:* * * * *...
, Mackay
Mackay, Queensland
Mackay is a city on the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia, about north of Brisbane, on the Pioneer River. Mackay is nicknamed the sugar capital of Australia because its region produces more than a third of Australia's cane sugar....
, Rockhampton
Rockhampton
Rockhampton can refer to:* Rockhampton, Queensland is a city in Queensland, Australia* Rockhampton City, Queensland, a suburb of Rockhampton, Queensland* Electoral district of Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia...
, Bundaberg and Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, the state capital.
Townsville has an orbital motorway, and is called the Townsville Ring Road
Townsville Ring Road
The Townsville Ring Road, is the future A1/M1 Route that will eventually bypass the inner metro area of Townsville, Australia. The road will be built in 4 stages with the first three stages built as a two-laned main road...
and is the new Bruce Highway
Bruce Highway
The Bruce Highway is a major highway in Queensland, Australia. Commencing in the state capital, Brisbane, it passes through areas close to the eastern coast to Cairns in Far North Queensland. The route is a part of the Australian National Highway and also part of Highway 1...
link that bypasses Townsville city and link the Bruce Highway
Bruce Highway
The Bruce Highway is a major highway in Queensland, Australia. Commencing in the state capital, Brisbane, it passes through areas close to the eastern coast to Cairns in Far North Queensland. The route is a part of the Australian National Highway and also part of Highway 1...
south of Townsville to the Bruce Highway
Bruce Highway
The Bruce Highway is a major highway in Queensland, Australia. Commencing in the state capital, Brisbane, it passes through areas close to the eastern coast to Cairns in Far North Queensland. The route is a part of the Australian National Highway and also part of Highway 1...
in the north-west urban area. The first stage of the motorway, Douglas Arterial Road
Douglas Arterial Road
The Douglas Arterial Road is a two-lane motorway grade road located in Townsville, Queensland. The road is commonly known by locals as either the Ring Road or the Douglas Motorway...
opened in 2005. The second stage opened in 2009.
In addition to the city's highways and motorway, it is serviced by a system of state and local gov routes, mainly suburban and arterial roads which span to all parts of the metropolitan area.
Rail
The North Coast railway lineNorth Coast railway line, Queensland
The North Coast railway line is a narrow gauge railway line in Queensland, Australia. It runs from Brisbane, along the Queensland coast to Cairns in Far North Queensland. The line is electrified between Brisbane and Rockhampton...
operated by Queensland Rail passes through the city, and the Western line meets it in the city's south. Rail services from Brisbane pass through Townsville and continue through to Cairns. Townsville also has a regular Tilt Train service to and from Brisbane and Cairns. The Tilt Train commenced operations in mid-2003. However, due to the destruction of a train set in a high-speed derailment in 2004 near Bundaberg (The train in question was named the City of Townsville), services were temporarily suspended. Townsville is a major destination and generator of rail freight services. Container operations are run by both QR
Queensland Rail
Queensland Rail, also known as QR, is a government-owned railway operator in the state of Queensland. Under the control of the Queensland Government, Queensland Rail operates the inner-city and long-distance passenger services, as well as some freight operations and gives railway access to other...
in South Townsville and PNQ
Pacific National
Pacific National is one of Australia's largest private rail freight businesses. Originally a joint venture between Patrick Corporation and Toll Holdings; it is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Asciano Limited following the restructure of Toll Holdings....
at Stuart. The local nickel and copper refineries as well as minerals from the western line (Mount Isa) are transported to the port for trans-shipment to other destinations.
Public transport
Townsville's public transport system consists of bus services operated by SunbusSunbus Townsville
Sunbus is the principal provider of public transportation in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It operates bus routes under the new QConnect scheme in Regional Queensland.- Service Area :...
. Sunbus provides regular services to and from many parts of the city, and also operates several express routes. For example, routes 1, 1A, 1B, 1C and 1X link the CBD to the Townsville Hospital
Townsville Hospital
The Townsville Hospital is a public tertiary care hospital in the city of Townsville and serves patients from the entire North Queensland region, with patients from as far as Mount Isa and Cape York being airlifted or transported to the Hospital on a daily basis. The hospital is relatively new and...
via Stockland
Stockland Townsville
Stockland Townsville Shopping Centre is located in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. The shopping centre is often referred to simply "Stockland" or sometimes "Stockies" locally and is Townsville's largest shopping centre. In the early 1990s, Stockland Townsville opened as a major upgrade to what...
and to the suburb of Kelso
Kelso, Queensland
Kelso is a suburb in the City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia, the last of three suburbs along Riverway Drive. Kelso is the only suburb on Riverway Drive that has homes backing onto the Ross River.-History:...
. A public transport route is also available from the CBD to Bushland Beach, a route run by Townsville's Hermit Park Bus Service, also Townsville's biggest Charter Bus Service.
In addition to the bus system, Taxis operate 24 hours a day and service all parts of the metropolitan area.
There has also been calls to create a local commuter-rail network and extend the line into the newer suburbs, eventually encompassing all areas of Townsville and the Burdekin, although this is not expected for many years.
Sea
Townsville has a significant port at the mouth of Ross Creek.The Port of TownsvillePort of Townsville
Port of Townsville is a seaport in Townsville, Queensland. It is the third largest seaport in Queensland after Port of Brisbane and the Central Queensland Port in Gladstone. Port of Townsville handles numerous imports and exports mainly, Mineral Ores, Fertiliser, Concentrates, Sugar and Motor...
mainly handles cargoes of cement and nickel ore, for processing at the Yabulu Nickel Refinery, 30 km north of the port. The port also serves as an export point for sugar and for products from north Queensland's mines. The port has three sugar storage sheds, with the newest being the largest under-cover storage area in Australia.
Regular ferry services operate to Magnetic Island and Palm Island. The service to Magnetic Island is operated by Sunferries
Sunferries
Sunferries is a ferry company based in Townsville, Queensland.It operates both ferry services to Magnetic Island and Palm Island, as well as charter and tour vessel services to the Great Barrier Reef....
.
Air
Townsville International Airport
Townsville Airport is a major Australian regional airport that services the city of Townsville. The airport is also known as Townsville International Airport, and Garbutt Airport, a reference to its location in the Townsville suburb of Garbutt...
at Garbutt was greatly expanded by U.S. forces during World War II. These expansions made Townsville's airfield the largest in the southern hemisphere for some time. The airport has since been rebuilt several times. Townsville International Airport serves as a hub for Queensland regional airline Alliance Airlines
Alliance Airlines
Alliance Airlines is a charter airline based in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It specialises in long-term contract charter to the mining and resources industry and governments in Australia, as well as ad-hoc charter operations and aircraft leasing to international airlines...
, which operates charter services to major mines located in outback Queensland. The airport land is also shared with RAAF Base Townsville
RAAF Base Townsville
RAAF Base Townsville is, along with RAAF Base Tindal and RAAF Base Darwin, one of northern Australia's primary defence installations. It is also Headquarters for No...
. The airport was upgraded in 2003 to include new terminal departure and arrivals areas, and three new aerobridges. Townsville International Airport has direct flights to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane as well as direct connections to many regional centres in Queensland including Cairns, Mackay, Hamilton Island and Mount Isa. International flights resumed on 3 December 2010 with Strategic Airlines
Strategic Airlines
Strategic Airlines Pty Ltd, trading as Air Australia Airways is a scheduled passenger and charter airline with its head office in Hendra, Brisbane, Australia,...
services to Bali
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
(Denpasar
Denpasar
Denpasar is the capital city of the province of Bali, Indonesia. It has a rapidly expanding population of 788,445 in 2010, up from 533,252 in the previous decade. It is located at .-History:...
) twice weekly.
The Airport is served by all three major Australian domestic carriers - Qantas
Qantas
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
, Jetstar Airways
Jetstar Airways
Jetstar Airways is an Australian low-cost airline headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. It is a subsidiary of Qantas, created in response to the threat posed by low-cost airline Virgin Blue...
, and Virgin Australia - as well as regional carriers QantasLink
QantasLink
QantasLink is a regional brand of Australian airline Qantas and is an affiliate member of the Oneworld airline alliance. It is a major competitor to Regional Express Airlines, Virgin Australia and Skywest Airlines. As of September 2010 QantasLink provides 1900 flights each week to 54 domestic and...
, Regional Express Airlines
Regional Express Airlines
Regional Express Pty Ltd is an airline based in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia. It operates scheduled regional services. It is Australia's largest regional airline outside the Qantas group of companies and serves New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, North Queensland and Tasmania...
, Alliance Airlines and Skytrans Airlines
Skytrans Airlines
Skytrans is an Australian airline and air charter business with bases in Cairns, Townsville, Darwin, Brisbane and Perth. The airline flies regularly from Cairns to Cooktown, Lockhart River, Coen, Aurukun, and from Townsville to Palm Island.-History:...
See also
- Townsville
- Townsville International AirportTownsville International AirportTownsville Airport is a major Australian regional airport that services the city of Townsville. The airport is also known as Townsville International Airport, and Garbutt Airport, a reference to its location in the Townsville suburb of Garbutt...
- Sunbus TownsvilleSunbus TownsvilleSunbus is the principal provider of public transportation in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It operates bus routes under the new QConnect scheme in Regional Queensland.- Service Area :...
- Port of TownsvillePort of TownsvillePort of Townsville is a seaport in Townsville, Queensland. It is the third largest seaport in Queensland after Port of Brisbane and the Central Queensland Port in Gladstone. Port of Townsville handles numerous imports and exports mainly, Mineral Ores, Fertiliser, Concentrates, Sugar and Motor...
- Townsville Ring RoadTownsville Ring RoadThe Townsville Ring Road, is the future A1/M1 Route that will eventually bypass the inner metro area of Townsville, Australia. The road will be built in 4 stages with the first three stages built as a two-laned main road...
External links
- Sunferries Townsville - Magnetic Island Ferry Service