Trans-Australian
{{about|a former train service|the railway line between Kalgoorlie and Port Augusta it traversed|Trans-Australian Railway}}
{{italic title}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox rail service
|box_width =
|name = Trans-Australian
|logo =
|logo_width =
|image = Trans-Australian train soon after dawn at Cook station, 22 May 1986 -- locomotives GM36 and GM22 at head end.jpg
|image_width =
|caption = The Trans-Australian soon after dawn at Cook station bound for Perth in 1986
|status = Discontinued
|locale = South Australia
Western Australia
|predecessor =
|first = 1917
|last = 27 June 1991
|successor =
|operator =
|formeroperator = Commonwealth Railways
(1917–1975)
Australian National
(1975–1991)
Western Australian Government Railways
(1969–1991)
|ridership =
|start = Port Augusta /
Port Pirie /
Adelaide
|stops =
|end = Kalgoorlie /
Perth
|distance =
|journeytime =
|frequency =
|trainnumber =
|line_used = Adelaide-Port Augusta
Trans-Australian
Eastern Goldfields
Eastern
|class =
|access =
|seating =
|sleeping =
|autorack =
|catering =
|observation =
|entertainment =
|baggage =
|otherfacilities =
|stock =
|gauge = {{RailGauge|1435 mm}}
|speed =
|owners =
|routenumber =
|map =
|map_state = }}
The Trans-Australian (originally known as the Trans-Australian Express) was an Australian passenger train operated by the Commonwealth Railways initially between Port Augusta and Kalgoorlie on the Trans-Australian Railway line, and later extended west to Perth, and east to Port Pirie and Adelaide.
History
The train commenced operating between Port Augusta and Kalgoorlie in 1917{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article94879560 |title=Trans-Australian Express Delayed by Hotbox. |newspaper=Kalgoorlie Miner (WA : 1895 – 1950) |location=WA |date=8 June 1938 |accessdate=4 March 2013 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{Citation | author1=Gillman, B. H | title=Linking East and West: a trip with the first Trans Australian Express. – Reprinted from the S. A. R. Officers' Magazine, Nov/ Dec 1919- | journal=Bulletin (Australian Railway Historical Society) | publication-date=July 1982 | volume=33 | issue=July 1982 | pages=137–147 | issn=0005-0105 }} following the completion of the Trans-Australian Railway.[http://www.comrails.com/common/glossary_t.html Trans-Australian Passenger Train] comrail.com It was extended to Port Pirie in 1937 following the conversion of this line to standard gauge.{{cite book|last=Oberg|first=Leon|title=Locomotives of Australia 1850s – 1980s|year=1984|publisher=Reed Books|location=Frenchs Forest|isbn=0-730100-05-7|pages=122, 164}}
Initially the train was hauled by G class locomotives and from 1938 by C class locomotives. In 1951 it began to be hauled by GM class diesel locomotives.
Originally it only conveyed sleeping accommodation but aside from a period in the 1960s, it was not until 1981 that seated accommodation was provided. In 1964 Commonwealth Railways purchased 24 carbon steel carriages from Commonwealth Engineering, Granville.{{cite book|last=Dunn|first=John|title=Comeng A History of Commonwealth Engineering Volume 2 1955-1966|year=2008|publisher=Rosenberg Publishing|isbn=978-1877058738|pages=266–272}}[http://www.comrails.com/cr_carriages/cas00102.html Commonwealth Railways Passenger Carriage Information] Chris' Commonwealth Railways Pages These were later augmented by stainless steel carriages.{{cite book|last=Dunn|first=John|title=Comeng A History of Commonwealth Engineering Volume 3 1966-1977|year=2010|publisher=Rosenberg Publishing|isbn=9781877058905|pages=16–35}}"Railways of Australia (Indian Pacific) Cars" Railway Digest November 1986 page 353 It also operated with other rolling stock, de-motored Bluebird railcars being used by the late 1980s.
Following the conversion of the line from Kalgoorlie to standard gauge the Trans-Australian was extended to Perth on 15 June 1969 replacing The Westland.[http://www.bitre.gov.au/publications/1977/files/report_031.pdf A Study of East-West Rail Passenger Services The 'Indian Pacific' and 'Trans Australian'] Bureau of Transport Economics May 1977 For a time from December 1973 the service ran daily with the Trans-Australian combined with the Indian Pacific at Port Pirie on the days the latter ran.{{cite book|last1=Higham|first1=Geoffrey|title=Marble Bar to Mandurah: A history of passenger rail services in Western Australia|date=2007|publisher=Rail Heritage WA|location=Bassendean|isbn=978-0-9803922-0-3|pages=149–150}}
At this stage the service was operating five times per week, with the Indian Pacific operating on the other days to provide a daily service. This had ceased by May 1977 with each operating individually and the Trans-Australian reduced to three times weekly.
After the Port Pirie to Adelaide line was converted to standard gauge in 1982, the Trans Australian was extended to Keswick Terminal in Adelaide.
In the wake of a recession and cheaper air fares, the service was reduced from two services per week to one in February 1991 with this too cancelled from June 1991."Interstate cutbacks" Railway Digest July 1991 page 231
Gallery
{{gallery|File:G14 + Trans-Australian Express, Nullarbor Plain, 1924.jpg|The Trans-Australian in 1924|File:GA24 + Trans-Australian Express, nr Port Pirie, 1938.jpg|The Trans-Australian in 1938|File:GM2 + Trans-Australian, Port Pirie, ca 1951.jpg|The Trans-Australian in 1951|File:Commonwealth Railways poster -- Travel by Trans-Australian Railway, ca 1940.jpg|Poster advertising the Trans-Australian about 1940|File:Poster -- Trans-Australian Railway (steam locomotive), late 1940s.jpg|Post-war poster advertising the Trans-Australian in the final years of steam traction|File:Commonwealth Railways poster -- To the east in air-conditioned comfort (Trans-Australian Railway), 1951.jpg|Poster advertising the introduction of diesel locomotives for the Trans-Australian in 1951}}
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See also
{{portal|Trains|Australia}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category-inline}}
{{AustralianInterstateRail|state=collapsed}}
Category:Interstate rail in Australia
Category:Named passenger trains of Australia
Category:Night trains of Australia
Category:Railway services introduced in 1917
Category:Railway services discontinued in 1991
Category:1917 establishments in Australia