Adelaide–Port Augusta railway line facts for kids

The Adelaide-Port Augusta railway line is a very important train track in South Australia. It's the main way trains travel north from Adelaide. This railway line is about 315 kilometers (196 miles) long.

It's a key part of two big train routes across Australia. These are the Adelaide–Darwin rail corridor and the Sydney–Perth rail corridor.

Many companies use this line for moving goods. These include One Rail Australia, Pacific National, and SCT Logistics. For passengers, only Journey Beyond runs special long-distance trains. These famous trains are The Ghan and Indian Pacific.

SCT Logistics has a special place called an intermodal terminal in Penfield. This terminal connects to the railway line. It helps move goods between trains and trucks.

History of the Railway Line

Building the First Tracks

The government-owned South Australian Railways started building parts of this line a long time ago. In 1915, they began building a "broad-gauge" line. This means the tracks were wider apart than usual.

This first section went from Salisbury to Long Plains. It was finished in 1917. Later, they extended the line further north. It reached Redhill by 1925.

Finally, in 1937, the line was extended to Port Pirie. At the same time, another company, Commonwealth Railways, extended its "standard gauge" line from Port Augusta to Port Pirie. Standard gauge tracks are narrower than broad-gauge.

Changing to Standard Gauge

For many years, trains from different parts of Australia couldn't easily connect. This was because they used different track widths (gauges). In 1980, the Australian and South Australian governments made a deal. They decided to change the Adelaide line to standard gauge.

This change meant that Adelaide became the last major city in mainland Australia to connect to the standard gauge network. The new standard gauge line opened in 1982. It allowed famous trains like The Ghan and Indian Pacific to travel directly to Adelaide. Before this, passengers had to change trains.

In 1998, the line became part of the Australian Rail Track Corporation network. This company now manages the tracks.

Making Train Travel Smoother

Until 2017, standard gauge trains had to cross another local train line at ground level in Adelaide. This crossing was called Torrens Junction. It often caused delays for both train services.

To fix this, the local Outer Harbor line was lowered into a trench. Now, it passes underneath the standard gauge line. This change made train travel much smoother and helped avoid delays.

Understanding Crossing Loops

A "crossing loop" is an extra section of track next to the main line. It allows trains to pull over and wait. This way, another train can pass them. It's like a passing lane on a highway for trains.

The longest trains on this line can be up to 1.8 kilometers long. Most crossing loops are built to be this length.

Mile End Loop

The crossing loop at Adelaide Parklands Terminal in Mile End is 1,658 meters long. This is where many long-distance passenger trains start or end their journeys.

Dry Creek Loop

The first crossing loop north of Adelaide is near Dry Creek. It is 1,950 meters long.

Bolivar Loop

The Bolivar crossing loop is 1,800 meters long. It was made longer in 2012. This happened after a road crossing was replaced by a bridge over the Northern Expressway.

Penfield Intermodal Hub

An "intermodal hub" is a place where goods can be easily moved between different types of transport, like trains and trucks. In 2007, there was a plan to build such a hub near Edinburgh Parks.

In the early 2010s, SCT Logistics started building this hub in Penfield. New tracks and facilities were built. This hub helps move goods more efficiently.

Two Wells Loop

The next crossing loop is at Two Wells. It is 1,817 meters long. This loop is located between Gawler Road and Tenby Road.

Crystal Brook Junction

Crystal Brook is a very important spot. It has a special "triangle junction." This is where the main line to Broken Hill and Sydney connects.

There's also a 968-meter crossing loop here. It has a siding where grain can be loaded from silos. The tracks then become double track for 20 kilometers towards Coonamia.

Coonamia Station Area

Coonamia is a key point on the railway. It's where the "0 km" mark is for routes to Port Augusta, Broken Hill, and Adelaide. This spot is also where train controllers hand over duties. Controllers in Adelaide manage trains south of Coonamia. Controllers in Port Augusta manage trains west of Coonamia.

Coonamia has a crossing loop that is 1,638 meters long. A bit further west, the double track ends. From there, single tracks go west to Port Pirie Yard and north to Port Augusta.

Port Germein Loop

The crossing loop at Port Germein is 1,960 meters long. In 2015, a 110-meter goods siding was added here. This siding is used by SCT Logistics for freight.