Rail electrification in Queensland
Encyclopedia
Electrification of the Brisbane
suburban network with a 25 kV AC
overhead power supply commenced in 1976. The suburban network was integrated with the construction of a cross-river rail Link between Roma Street and South Brisbane stations in 1978. The first electrified line was between Darra
and Ferny Grove
in 1979, finally to Eagle Farm station in 1988 (although services today only operate as far as Doomben station), completing the electrification of the Brisbane suburban network.
The new electrified Gold Coast
railway opened from Beenleigh
to Helensvale
in 1996, and was extended to Robina
in 1997, and to Varsity Lakes
in 2009. A new, private line was opened after Eagle Junction at Clayfield
to the Brisbane Airport
in 2001. Regular passenger services operate as far north as Nambour
and Gympie
, west to Rosewood
and as far south to Robina. An electrified rail system was developed in Brisbane from 1979. Many of the heavy haul coal lines were electrified from 1986, as was the North Coast Line between Brisbane and Rockhampton
, constituting Australia's only significant non-suburban electrified rail system.
was used on all services, with electrification
first proposed in 1897 when the Chief Engineer of Queensland Rail
ways was sent to study electrified railways in Europe and America. At the time the technology was cutting edge, but the costs outweighed the benefits, with the capital having a population of just 120,000. Further studies were carried out in 1915, but it was not until three decades later that more investigations were carried out.
After World War II the Brisbane suburban network had become run down, and coal shortages were affecting the ability to run regular services. A committee was appointed to investigate, delivering their report in November 1947. It recommended the electrification of the suburban network by 1959 with the 1.5 kV DC system. 290 km (180.2 mi) of single track including sidings would be involved, covering the lines to Shorncliffe, Yeerongpilly, Ferny Grove, Petrie, Pinkenba and Kingston. The report was adopted in February 1950 and preliminary works started.
However, the General Manager of QR's South Eastern Division decided track amplification was more important, with quadruplication of the line from Corinda to Zillmere given priority. A cutback in load funds in 1952-53 slowed the works further, and a change of state government in 1957 saw the scheme abandoned in 1959. The main legacy of the project was the 112 stainless steel locomotive-hauled SX carriages, that were intended to be converted to electric multiple unit
s at a later date. Built by Commonwealth Engineering
between 1961 and 1963, they replaced older wooden stock and were the first stainless steel carriages in suburban traffic, a great leap forward for passenger comfort.
In 1965, a transport study recommended the closure of the entire suburban railway network except for an electrified corridor between Darra and Zillmere. In 1970, another study recommended the electrification of the entire network with the 1.5 kV DC system, and the construction of a link between South Brisbane and Roma Street (later realised as the Merivale Bridge
).
offered the states a two-third subsidy on approved public passenger transport projects. The Queensland Government announced that it intended to electrify and modernize the Brisbane suburban network, but the Federal funding did not materialise and the state ended up funding the project itself. In 1974, Elrail Consultants and Transmark were engaged to advise of the design of the system. Tenders were called in 1975 for the electrifying of 150 route kilometers (93 mi) (250 single track kilometers (155 mi)) of lines.
As well as stringing overhead wire, room needed to be made for the overhead, and track amplification was also carried out. A new four-track capable tunnel was built between Brunswick Street (now Fortitude Valley) and Bowen Hills stations, and between Central and Fortitude Valley, and Central and Roma Street the tunnel floors needed to be lowered. A new operations centre was opened at Mayne
and the city sections of the network were resignalled
. A flyover
was built at Mayne to permit the Ferny Grove line to diverge without conflicts, and to serve the new electric car sidings. Work was also started on the Merivale Bridge
to link the two halves of the network, split by the Brisbane River
. The Petrie to Caboolture section of railway was rebuilt with five deviations to permit 100 km/h running speeds over the entire line, with similar deviation works carried out for the line to Beenleigh.
Work begun on string wires on 16 May 1977, where a ceremony for the digging of the first post hole was carried out at Ferny Grove railway station. The Ferny Grove to Darra section of line was chosen to be first due to the steep gradients and frequent stops. The contract for the trains themselves was let awarded in 1977 to a consortium of Walkers of Maryborough and Asea
of Sweden. Known simply as EMUs
, their acceleration of 0.75 m/s²
(2.46 ft/s²) and braking of 1.0 m/s² (3.28 ft/s²) enabled an all-stops train to operate a Ferny Grove service in 25 minutes, an eight minute saving over diesel-hauled services.
On 8 May 1979, the first section of the new system was energized, from Roma Street to Corinda to permit testing and driver training. On November 17 the same year, the Darra - Ferny Grove was officially opened. Only four three-car sets were available for traffic at the time. Commissioning of the remainder of the network started with Darra to Ferny Grove and Mayne Depot on 19 November 1979. Followed by Darra to Ipswich on 20 September 1980, Roma Street to Fortitude Valley (via Normanby and city relief line) on 3 March 1982, Bowen Hills to Shorncliffe, Roma Street to Kingston, Corinda to Yeerongpilly (down line only) on 18 September 1982, Northgate to Petrie on 23 April 1983, Park Road and Dutton Park to Thornside on 15 October 1983, Kingston to Beenleigh, Yeernongpilly to Corinda (up line), Indooroopilly to Chelmer (via main lines) on 3 November 1984, Petrie to Caboolture on 28 June 1986, Thornside to Wellington Point on 26 July 1986, Wellington Point to Cleveland on 24 October 1987 and finally Eagle Junction to Airport (Eagle Farm) on 6 February 1988.
The Roma Street to Mayne connection via Normanby enabled the operation of electric trains to the 1982 Brisbane Exhibition. The line to Yeerongpilly enabled the operation of trains between Sunnybank and Ipswich for the 1982 Commonwealth Games
. Other than electrifying existing lines, the line from Lota station was extended 3 km (1.9 mi) to Thorneside in 1982, then another 12 km (7.5 mi) to Cleveland in 1987.
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...
suburban network with a 25 kV AC
25 kV AC
The 25 kV Alternating current railway electrification system is commonly used in railways worldwide, especially for high-speed rail.-Overview:This electrification system is ideal for railways that cover long distances and/or carry heavy traffic...
overhead power supply commenced in 1976. The suburban network was integrated with the construction of a cross-river rail Link between Roma Street and South Brisbane stations in 1978. The first electrified line was between Darra
Darra, Queensland
Darra is a Brisbane suburb known for its high migrant population. It is one of the older suburbs and lies about 14 kilometres southwest of Brisbane. The houses are mainly of the Queenslander style built in the 1940s and 1950s. The majority of blocks in Darra are large enough to be subdivided, which...
and Ferny Grove
Ferny Grove, Queensland
Ferny Grove is a residential suburb in north-west Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It lies entirely within the Brisbane-metropolitan area administered by the Brisbane City Council.-General information:...
in 1979, finally to Eagle Farm station in 1988 (although services today only operate as far as Doomben station), completing the electrification of the Brisbane suburban network.
The new electrified Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
railway opened from Beenleigh
Beenleigh, Queensland
Beenleigh is a suburb in the Logan City area of Queensland, Australia. Beenleigh and adjoining suburbs are located near the confluence of the Logan and Albert rivers...
to Helensvale
Helensvale, Queensland
Helensvale is a suburb on the Gold Coast in Queensland , Australia and was named after Helena White.At the 2006 Census, Helensvale had a population of 14,767....
in 1996, and was extended to Robina
Robina, Queensland
Robina is a suburb on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 Census, Robina had a population of 19,182.The Robina Town Centre shopping centre and Bond University are located in Robina.- History :...
in 1997, and to Varsity Lakes
Varsity Lakes, Queensland
Varsity Lakes is a suburb of the Gold Coast, Queensland. This suburb was originally known as Stephens, however in 2002 Stephens, Andrews and a section of Robina was amalgamated to form the new suburb of Varsity Lakes. The 2001 Australian Census reported a population of 6,516 for the area.-Origin of...
in 2009. A new, private line was opened after Eagle Junction at Clayfield
Clayfield, Queensland
Clayfield is an inner-northern suburb of Brisbane, located approximately from the CBD. Clayfield is bordered to the north by Nundah, to the East by Ascot and Hendra, to the west by Wooloowin and to the South by Albion....
to the Brisbane Airport
Brisbane Airport
Brisbane Airport is the sole passenger airport serving Brisbane and the third busiest in Australia, after Melbourne and Sydney Airports. Brisbane Airport has won many awards. Located in the suburb with the same name, the airport serves the city of Brisbane and the surrounding metropolitan area...
in 2001. Regular passenger services operate as far north as Nambour
Nambour, Queensland
The area now known as Nambour, was first settled in 1870. The town was then called Petrie's Creek. In 1890 the Maroochy Divisional Board was established...
and Gympie
Gympie
Gympie may refer to:* Gympie, a city in Queensland, Australia** Gympie Airport** Electoral district of Gympie** Gympie Region, its local government authority* Gympie Gympie , a stinging plant...
, west to Rosewood
Rosewood, Queensland
Rosewood is a small town in the Bremer Valley, Queensland, Australia. It is located 60 km west of the Brisbane CBD in the Ipswich City Council area and is the terminus of QR Citytrain's Rosewood railway line. Rosewood Railway Station provides Citytrain commuter rail services to Ipswich and...
and as far south to Robina. An electrified rail system was developed in Brisbane from 1979. Many of the heavy haul coal lines were electrified from 1986, as was the North Coast Line between Brisbane and Rockhampton
Rockhampton, Queensland
Rockhampton is a city and local government area in Queensland, Australia. The city lies on the Fitzroy River, approximately from the river mouth, and some north of the state capital, Brisbane....
, constituting Australia's only significant non-suburban electrified rail system.
Proposed
Steam operationSteam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
was used on all services, with electrification
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
first proposed in 1897 when the Chief Engineer of Queensland Rail
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...
ways was sent to study electrified railways in Europe and America. At the time the technology was cutting edge, but the costs outweighed the benefits, with the capital having a population of just 120,000. Further studies were carried out in 1915, but it was not until three decades later that more investigations were carried out.
After World War II the Brisbane suburban network had become run down, and coal shortages were affecting the ability to run regular services. A committee was appointed to investigate, delivering their report in November 1947. It recommended the electrification of the suburban network by 1959 with the 1.5 kV DC system. 290 km (180.2 mi) of single track including sidings would be involved, covering the lines to Shorncliffe, Yeerongpilly, Ferny Grove, Petrie, Pinkenba and Kingston. The report was adopted in February 1950 and preliminary works started.
However, the General Manager of QR's South Eastern Division decided track amplification was more important, with quadruplication of the line from Corinda to Zillmere given priority. A cutback in load funds in 1952-53 slowed the works further, and a change of state government in 1957 saw the scheme abandoned in 1959. The main legacy of the project was the 112 stainless steel locomotive-hauled SX carriages, that were intended to be converted to electric multiple unit
Electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
s at a later date. Built by Commonwealth Engineering
Commonwealth Engineering
The Commonwealth Engineering Company Limited is the brand name of a former Australian Engineering Company that designed Locomotives, Electrical Multiple Units , Diesel Multiple Units and Trams.-History:...
between 1961 and 1963, they replaced older wooden stock and were the first stainless steel carriages in suburban traffic, a great leap forward for passenger comfort.
In 1965, a transport study recommended the closure of the entire suburban railway network except for an electrified corridor between Darra and Zillmere. In 1970, another study recommended the electrification of the entire network with the 1.5 kV DC system, and the construction of a link between South Brisbane and Roma Street (later realised as the Merivale Bridge
Merivale Bridge, Brisbane
The Merivale Bridge is a double track railway bridge crossing the Brisbane River. It crosses the Milton Reach of the river, slightly to the west of the William Jolly Bridge. Exclusively a railway crossing, it is located between the stations of South Brisbane and Roma Street, linking the northern...
).
Construction
In 1973, the Federal Government under Gough WhitlamGough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
offered the states a two-third subsidy on approved public passenger transport projects. The Queensland Government announced that it intended to electrify and modernize the Brisbane suburban network, but the Federal funding did not materialise and the state ended up funding the project itself. In 1974, Elrail Consultants and Transmark were engaged to advise of the design of the system. Tenders were called in 1975 for the electrifying of 150 route kilometers (93 mi) (250 single track kilometers (155 mi)) of lines.
As well as stringing overhead wire, room needed to be made for the overhead, and track amplification was also carried out. A new four-track capable tunnel was built between Brunswick Street (now Fortitude Valley) and Bowen Hills stations, and between Central and Fortitude Valley, and Central and Roma Street the tunnel floors needed to be lowered. A new operations centre was opened at Mayne
Bowen Hills, Queensland
Bowen Hills is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia, located 3 km northeast of the Brisbane CBD. It was named after a Governor of Queensland, Sir George Ferguson Bowen.-History:...
and the city sections of the network were resignalled
Railway signalling
Railway signalling is a system used to control railway traffic safely, essentially to prevent trains from colliding. Being guided by fixed rails, trains are uniquely susceptible to collision; furthermore, trains cannot stop quickly, and frequently operate at speeds that do not enable them to stop...
. A flyover
Overpass
An overpass is a bridge, road, railway or similar structure that crosses over another road or railway...
was built at Mayne to permit the Ferny Grove line to diverge without conflicts, and to serve the new electric car sidings. Work was also started on the Merivale Bridge
Merivale Bridge, Brisbane
The Merivale Bridge is a double track railway bridge crossing the Brisbane River. It crosses the Milton Reach of the river, slightly to the west of the William Jolly Bridge. Exclusively a railway crossing, it is located between the stations of South Brisbane and Roma Street, linking the northern...
to link the two halves of the network, split by the Brisbane River
Brisbane River
The Brisbane River is the longest river in south east Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay. John Oxley was the first European to explore the river who named it after the Governor of New South Wales, Thomas Brisbane in 1823...
. The Petrie to Caboolture section of railway was rebuilt with five deviations to permit 100 km/h running speeds over the entire line, with similar deviation works carried out for the line to Beenleigh.
Work begun on string wires on 16 May 1977, where a ceremony for the digging of the first post hole was carried out at Ferny Grove railway station. The Ferny Grove to Darra section of line was chosen to be first due to the steep gradients and frequent stops. The contract for the trains themselves was let awarded in 1977 to a consortium of Walkers of Maryborough and Asea
Asea
ASEA may mean:* African Securities Exchanges Association -- Formerly known as the African Stock Exchanges Association, ASEA is an alliance of African exchanges.* ASEA, a former Swedish company, now part of Asea Brown Boveri...
of Sweden. Known simply as EMUs
Electric Multiple Unit (Citytrain)
Electric Multiple Unit are an electric multiple-unit commuter trains operated on the by QR Citytrain in South East Queensland, Australia. They were the first EMUs in Queensland entering service from 1979 and remain in service today.-History:...
, their acceleration of 0.75 m/s²
Metre per second squared
The metre per second squared is the unit of acceleration in the International System of Units . As a derived unit it is composed from the SI base units of length, the metre, and the standard unit of time, the second...
(2.46 ft/s²) and braking of 1.0 m/s² (3.28 ft/s²) enabled an all-stops train to operate a Ferny Grove service in 25 minutes, an eight minute saving over diesel-hauled services.
On 8 May 1979, the first section of the new system was energized, from Roma Street to Corinda to permit testing and driver training. On November 17 the same year, the Darra - Ferny Grove was officially opened. Only four three-car sets were available for traffic at the time. Commissioning of the remainder of the network started with Darra to Ferny Grove and Mayne Depot on 19 November 1979. Followed by Darra to Ipswich on 20 September 1980, Roma Street to Fortitude Valley (via Normanby and city relief line) on 3 March 1982, Bowen Hills to Shorncliffe, Roma Street to Kingston, Corinda to Yeerongpilly (down line only) on 18 September 1982, Northgate to Petrie on 23 April 1983, Park Road and Dutton Park to Thornside on 15 October 1983, Kingston to Beenleigh, Yeernongpilly to Corinda (up line), Indooroopilly to Chelmer (via main lines) on 3 November 1984, Petrie to Caboolture on 28 June 1986, Thornside to Wellington Point on 26 July 1986, Wellington Point to Cleveland on 24 October 1987 and finally Eagle Junction to Airport (Eagle Farm) on 6 February 1988.
The Roma Street to Mayne connection via Normanby enabled the operation of electric trains to the 1982 Brisbane Exhibition. The line to Yeerongpilly enabled the operation of trains between Sunnybank and Ipswich for the 1982 Commonwealth Games
1982 Commonwealth Games
The 1982 Commonwealth Games were held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia from 30 September–9 October 1982. The Opening Ceremony was held at the QEII Stadium , in the Brisbane suburb of Nathan. The QEII Stadium was also the venue which was used for the athletics and archery competitions during the...
. Other than electrifying existing lines, the line from Lota station was extended 3 km (1.9 mi) to Thorneside in 1982, then another 12 km (7.5 mi) to Cleveland in 1987.
Expansion
Despite the coming of electric trains, the diesel hauled services continued, such as the train to Pinkenba which continued beyond the end of the wires on the Doomben line until September 1993. In 1983, the State Government promised to investigate the reconstruction of the Gold Coast railway as far as Robina, but it was not until 1991 that work was actually given the go-ahead. In 2009 the line was extended with a station at Varsity Lakes.See also
- Rail electrification in AustraliaRail electrification in AustraliaWith the electrification of suburban networks, which began in 1919, a consistent electric rail traction standard was not adopted. Electrification began in Melbourne in 1919 using 1500 V DC. Sydney's lines were electrified from 1926 using 1500V DC, Brisbane's from 1979 using 25 kV AC, and Perth's...
- Rail transport in QueenslandRail transport in QueenslandRail transport in Queensland began in 1865. Today it is one of the largest narrow gauge railway network in the world.-Public float:On 2 June 2009 the Queensland Government announced the 'Renewing Queensland Plan', with Queensland Rail's commercial activities to be separated from the Government's...
- Rail transport in AustraliaRail transport in AustraliaRail transport in Australia is a crucial aspect of the Australian transport network, and an enabler of the wider Australian economy. Rail in Australia is to a large extent state-based. The Australian rail network consists of a total of 41,461 km of track of three major gauges, of which...