❓ A WA parliamentary question probes the rationale behind choosing narrow gauge for the Southern Suburbs Railway, exploring the consideration of standard gauge and potential future conversion costs. The Minister defends the decision based on historical context, cost, and the successful operation of narrow gauge systems elsewhere.
AnsweredQoN 3185Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(b) without standard gauge tracks, can freight trains use this line; (c) was the cost of laying longer sleepers for standard gauge railway tracks considered in the planning process, in the long term eventuality of the extension of the railway, and the possible use of high-speed trains; (d) if this matter was considered, will the Minister table documents concerning that process of consideration, costing, recommendation and the reasoning behind it; (e) if the matter was not considered, why not; and (f) if in the future a decision is made to extend the railway further south, what will be the cost of replacing all the narrow gauge sleepers with standard gauge sleepers and track?
(c) was the cost of laying longer sleepers for standard gauge railway tracks considered in the planning process, in the long term eventuality of the extension of the railway, and the possible use of high-speed trains; (d) if this matter was considered, will the Minister table documents concerning that process of consideration, costing, recommendation and the reasoning behind it; (e) if the matter was not considered, why not; and (f) if in the future a decision is made to extend the railway further south, what will be the cost of replacing all the narrow gauge sleepers with standard gauge sleepers and track?
(d) if this matter was considered, will the Minister table documents concerning that process of consideration, costing, recommendation and the reasoning behind it; (e) if the matter was not considered, why not; and (f) if in the future a decision is made to extend the railway further south, what will be the cost of replacing all the narrow gauge sleepers with standard gauge sleepers and track?
(e) if the matter was not considered, why not; and (f) if in the future a decision is made to extend the railway further south, what will be the cost of replacing all the narrow gauge sleepers with standard gauge sleepers and track?
(f) if in the future a decision is made to extend the railway further south, what will be the cost of replacing all the narrow gauge sleepers with standard gauge sleepers and track?
(b) Regardless of the track gauge, the Southern Suburbs Railway and the entire existing suburban network to Clarkson, Armadale, Fremantle and Midland and the new Thornlie Spur are specifically dedicated to passenger traffic and there is no freight operation on these lines. (c) The Perth urban rail network is capable of being extended along most of the lines and if and when justified, this extension will use the existing track gauge and will use the existing forms of railway infrastructure and rollingstock. Extension of the railway does not require and is not conditional on the track gauge or the speed of the trains. (d) to (f) In terms of the railway gauge in Perth, this was considered as far back as the 1870's and there were a number of opinions about the appropriate railway gauge more-so then than now. The decision was taken then to build Perth's first passenger railway from Fremantle to Guildford in 1881 as a narrow gauge railway (1,067 mm). During the 1950's and '60's, there were a number of reviews of the railway and there was consideration to changing the gauge to Standard Gauge (1,435 mm). These reviews were considered by various governments and for reasons of spatial economy, relatively low population and patronage and for the high cost involved, the decision was taken to retain the narrow gauge railway. Prior to the decision to electrify the passenger railway network in the mid to late 1980's, this was again considered and after careful thought, it was decided to retain the narrow gauge railway. It is worth noting that many high capacity, high speed urban and inter-urban and freight railways operate successfully on narrow gauge track. The Brisbane suburban and Queensland east coast main lines are narrow gauge. Their east coast main line is the heaviest freight line operation in Australia, carrying mainly coal over long distances at high speeds. High speed narrow gauge country passenger trains also use these lines. Many parts of the passenger railway network in Japan and South Africa are narrow gauge and high speed, high capacity passenger services operate successfully on this track gauge. In Western Australia most of the freight railway in the south-west of the State is narrow gauge and operates very successfully. Given that there has been a long history of operations on narrow gauge in Perth and a large investment in rollingstock and infrastructure, it is unlikely that any future extensions of the Perth urban passenger railway will be in any other than narrow gauge as a natural extension of the existing network.
(c) The Perth urban rail network is capable of being extended along most of the lines and if and when justified, this extension will use the existing track gauge and will use the existing forms of railway infrastructure and rollingstock. Extension of the railway does not require and is not conditional on the track gauge or the speed of the trains. (d) to (f) In terms of the railway gauge in Perth, this was considered as far back as the 1870's and there were a number of opinions about the appropriate railway gauge more-so then than now. The decision was taken then to build Perth's first passenger railway from Fremantle to Guildford in 1881 as a narrow gauge railway (1,067 mm). During the 1950's and '60's, there were a number of reviews of the railway and there was consideration to changing the gauge to Standard Gauge (1,435 mm). These reviews were considered by various governments and for reasons of spatial economy, relatively low population and patronage and for the high cost involved, the decision was taken to retain the narrow gauge railway. Prior to the decision to electrify the passenger railway network in the mid to late 1980's, this was again considered and after careful thought, it was decided to retain the narrow gauge railway. It is worth noting that many high capacity, high speed urban and inter-urban and freight railways operate successfully on narrow gauge track. The Brisbane suburban and Queensland east coast main lines are narrow gauge. Their east coast main line is the heaviest freight line operation in Australia, carrying mainly coal over long distances at high speeds. High speed narrow gauge country passenger trains also use these lines. Many parts of the passenger railway network in Japan and South Africa are narrow gauge and high speed, high capacity passenger services operate successfully on this track gauge. In Western Australia most of the freight railway in the south-west of the State is narrow gauge and operates very successfully. Given that there has been a long history of operations on narrow gauge in Perth and a large investment in rollingstock and infrastructure, it is unlikely that any future extensions of the Perth urban passenger railway will be in any other than narrow gauge as a natural extension of the existing network.
(d) to (f) In terms of the railway gauge in Perth, this was considered as far back as the 1870's and there were a number of opinions about the appropriate railway gauge more-so then than now. The decision was taken then to build Perth's first passenger railway from Fremantle to Guildford in 1881 as a narrow gauge railway (1,067 mm). During the 1950's and '60's, there were a number of reviews of the railway and there was consideration to changing the gauge to Standard Gauge (1,435 mm). These reviews were considered by various governments and for reasons of spatial economy, relatively low population and patronage and for the high cost involved, the decision was taken to retain the narrow gauge railway. Prior to the decision to electrify the passenger railway network in the mid to late 1980's, this was again considered and after careful thought, it was decided to retain the narrow gauge railway. It is worth noting that many high capacity, high speed urban and inter-urban and freight railways operate successfully on narrow gauge track. The Brisbane suburban and Queensland east coast main lines are narrow gauge. Their east coast main line is the heaviest freight line operation in Australia, carrying mainly coal over long distances at high speeds. High speed narrow gauge country passenger trains also use these lines. Many parts of the passenger railway network in Japan and South Africa are narrow gauge and high speed, high capacity passenger services operate successfully on this track gauge. In Western Australia most of the freight railway in the south-west of the State is narrow gauge and operates very successfully. Given that there has been a long history of operations on narrow gauge in Perth and a large investment in rollingstock and infrastructure, it is unlikely that any future extensions of the Perth urban passenger railway will be in any other than narrow gauge as a natural extension of the existing network.
It is worth noting that many high capacity, high speed urban and inter-urban and freight railways operate successfully on narrow gauge track. The Brisbane suburban and Queensland east coast main lines are narrow gauge. Their east coast main line is the heaviest freight line operation in Australia, carrying mainly coal over long distances at high speeds. High speed narrow gauge country passenger trains also use these lines. Many parts of the passenger railway network in Japan and South Africa are narrow gauge and high speed, high capacity passenger services operate successfully on this track gauge. In Western Australia most of the freight railway in the south-west of the State is narrow gauge and operates very successfully. Given that there has been a long history of operations on narrow gauge in Perth and a large investment in rollingstock and infrastructure, it is unlikely that any future extensions of the Perth urban passenger railway will be in any other than narrow gauge as a natural extension of the existing network.
Given that there has been a long history of operations on narrow gauge in Perth and a large investment in rollingstock and infrastructure, it is unlikely that any future extensions of the Perth urban passenger railway will be in any other than narrow gauge as a natural extension of the existing network.
(c) was the cost of laying longer sleepers for standard gauge railway tracks considered in the planning process, in the long term eventuality of the extension of the railway, and the possible use of high-speed trains; (d) if this matter was considered, will the Minister table documents concerning that process of consideration, costing, recommendation and the reasoning behind it; (e) if the matter was not considered, why not; and (f) if in the future a decision is made to extend the railway further south, what will be the cost of replacing all the narrow gauge sleepers with standard gauge sleepers and track?
(d) if this matter was considered, will the Minister table documents concerning that process of consideration, costing, recommendation and the reasoning behind it; (e) if the matter was not considered, why not; and (f) if in the future a decision is made to extend the railway further south, what will be the cost of replacing all the narrow gauge sleepers with standard gauge sleepers and track?
(e) if the matter was not considered, why not; and (f) if in the future a decision is made to extend the railway further south, what will be the cost of replacing all the narrow gauge sleepers with standard gauge sleepers and track?
(f) if in the future a decision is made to extend the railway further south, what will be the cost of replacing all the narrow gauge sleepers with standard gauge sleepers and track?
(b) Regardless of the track gauge, the Southern Suburbs Railway and the entire existing suburban network to Clarkson, Armadale, Fremantle and Midland and the new Thornlie Spur are specifically dedicated to passenger traffic and there is no freight operation on these lines. (c) The Perth urban rail network is capable of being extended along most of the lines and if and when justified, this extension will use the existing track gauge and will use the existing forms of railway infrastructure and rollingstock. Extension of the railway does not require and is not conditional on the track gauge or the speed of the trains. (d) to (f) In terms of the railway gauge in Perth, this was considered as far back as the 1870's and there were a number of opinions about the appropriate railway gauge more-so then than now. The decision was taken then to build Perth's first passenger railway from Fremantle to Guildford in 1881 as a narrow gauge railway (1,067 mm). During the 1950's and '60's, there were a number of reviews of the railway and there was consideration to changing the gauge to Standard Gauge (1,435 mm). These reviews were considered by various governments and for reasons of spatial economy, relatively low population and patronage and for the high cost involved, the decision was taken to retain the narrow gauge railway. Prior to the decision to electrify the passenger railway network in the mid to late 1980's, this was again considered and after careful thought, it was decided to retain the narrow gauge railway. It is worth noting that many high capacity, high speed urban and inter-urban and freight railways operate successfully on narrow gauge track. The Brisbane suburban and Queensland east coast main lines are narrow gauge. Their east coast main line is the heaviest freight line operation in Australia, carrying mainly coal over long distances at high speeds. High speed narrow gauge country passenger trains also use these lines. Many parts of the passenger railway network in Japan and South Africa are narrow gauge and high speed, high capacity passenger services operate successfully on this track gauge. In Western Australia most of the freight railway in the south-west of the State is narrow gauge and operates very successfully. Given that there has been a long history of operations on narrow gauge in Perth and a large investment in rollingstock and infrastructure, it is unlikely that any future extensions of the Perth urban passenger railway will be in any other than narrow gauge as a natural extension of the existing network.
(c) The Perth urban rail network is capable of being extended along most of the lines and if and when justified, this extension will use the existing track gauge and will use the existing forms of railway infrastructure and rollingstock. Extension of the railway does not require and is not conditional on the track gauge or the speed of the trains. (d) to (f) In terms of the railway gauge in Perth, this was considered as far back as the 1870's and there were a number of opinions about the appropriate railway gauge more-so then than now. The decision was taken then to build Perth's first passenger railway from Fremantle to Guildford in 1881 as a narrow gauge railway (1,067 mm). During the 1950's and '60's, there were a number of reviews of the railway and there was consideration to changing the gauge to Standard Gauge (1,435 mm). These reviews were considered by various governments and for reasons of spatial economy, relatively low population and patronage and for the high cost involved, the decision was taken to retain the narrow gauge railway. Prior to the decision to electrify the passenger railway network in the mid to late 1980's, this was again considered and after careful thought, it was decided to retain the narrow gauge railway. It is worth noting that many high capacity, high speed urban and inter-urban and freight railways operate successfully on narrow gauge track. The Brisbane suburban and Queensland east coast main lines are narrow gauge. Their east coast main line is the heaviest freight line operation in Australia, carrying mainly coal over long distances at high speeds. High speed narrow gauge country passenger trains also use these lines. Many parts of the passenger railway network in Japan and South Africa are narrow gauge and high speed, high capacity passenger services operate successfully on this track gauge. In Western Australia most of the freight railway in the south-west of the State is narrow gauge and operates very successfully. Given that there has been a long history of operations on narrow gauge in Perth and a large investment in rollingstock and infrastructure, it is unlikely that any future extensions of the Perth urban passenger railway will be in any other than narrow gauge as a natural extension of the existing network.
(d) to (f) In terms of the railway gauge in Perth, this was considered as far back as the 1870's and there were a number of opinions about the appropriate railway gauge more-so then than now. The decision was taken then to build Perth's first passenger railway from Fremantle to Guildford in 1881 as a narrow gauge railway (1,067 mm). During the 1950's and '60's, there were a number of reviews of the railway and there was consideration to changing the gauge to Standard Gauge (1,435 mm). These reviews were considered by various governments and for reasons of spatial economy, relatively low population and patronage and for the high cost involved, the decision was taken to retain the narrow gauge railway. Prior to the decision to electrify the passenger railway network in the mid to late 1980's, this was again considered and after careful thought, it was decided to retain the narrow gauge railway. It is worth noting that many high capacity, high speed urban and inter-urban and freight railways operate successfully on narrow gauge track. The Brisbane suburban and Queensland east coast main lines are narrow gauge. Their east coast main line is the heaviest freight line operation in Australia, carrying mainly coal over long distances at high speeds. High speed narrow gauge country passenger trains also use these lines. Many parts of the passenger railway network in Japan and South Africa are narrow gauge and high speed, high capacity passenger services operate successfully on this track gauge. In Western Australia most of the freight railway in the south-west of the State is narrow gauge and operates very successfully. Given that there has been a long history of operations on narrow gauge in Perth and a large investment in rollingstock and infrastructure, it is unlikely that any future extensions of the Perth urban passenger railway will be in any other than narrow gauge as a natural extension of the existing network.
It is worth noting that many high capacity, high speed urban and inter-urban and freight railways operate successfully on narrow gauge track. The Brisbane suburban and Queensland east coast main lines are narrow gauge. Their east coast main line is the heaviest freight line operation in Australia, carrying mainly coal over long distances at high speeds. High speed narrow gauge country passenger trains also use these lines. Many parts of the passenger railway network in Japan and South Africa are narrow gauge and high speed, high capacity passenger services operate successfully on this track gauge. In Western Australia most of the freight railway in the south-west of the State is narrow gauge and operates very successfully. Given that there has been a long history of operations on narrow gauge in Perth and a large investment in rollingstock and infrastructure, it is unlikely that any future extensions of the Perth urban passenger railway will be in any other than narrow gauge as a natural extension of the existing network.
Given that there has been a long history of operations on narrow gauge in Perth and a large investment in rollingstock and infrastructure, it is unlikely that any future extensions of the Perth urban passenger railway will be in any other than narrow gauge as a natural extension of the existing network.
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
26 November 2004
Responded by
Minister for Planning and Infrastructure
Response time
73 days
(a) Yes. The Southern Suburbs Railway (previously referred to as the South West Metropolitan Railway) will be a narrow gauge electrified passenger railway. The railway will be an extension of the existing narrow gauge passenger railway system in Perth.
(b) Regardless of the track gauge, the Southern Suburbs Railway and the entire existing suburban network to Clarkson, Armadale, Fremantle and Midland and the new Thornlie Spur are specifically dedicated to passenger traffic and there is no freight operation on these lines.
(c) The Perth urban rail network is capable of being extended along most of the lines and if and when justified, this extension will use the existing track gauge and will use the existing forms of railway infrastructure and rollingstock. Extension of the railway does not require and is not conditional on the track gauge or the speed of the trains.
(d) to (f) In terms of the railway gauge in Perth, this was considered as far back as the 1870's and there were a number of opinions about the appropriate railway gauge more-so then than now. The decision was taken then to build Perth's first passenger railway from Fremantle to Guildford in 1881 as a narrow gauge railway (1,067 mm). During the 1950's and '60's, there were a number of reviews of the railway and there was consideration to changing the gauge to Standard Gauge (1,435 mm). These reviews were considered by various governments and for reasons of spatial economy, relatively low population and patronage and for the high cost involved, the decision was taken to retain the narrow gauge railway. Prior to the decision to electrify the passenger railway network in the mid to late 1980's, this was again considered and after careful thought, it was decided to retain the narrow gauge railway.
It is worth noting that many high capacity, high speed urban and inter-urban and freight railways operate successfully on narrow gauge track. The Brisbane suburban and Queensland east coast main lines are narrow gauge. Their east coast main line is the heaviest freight line operation in Australia, carrying mainly coal over long distances at high speeds. High speed narrow gauge country passenger trains also use these lines. Many parts of the passenger railway network in Japan and South Africa are narrow gauge and high speed, high capacity passenger services operate successfully on this track gauge. In Western Australia most of the freight railway in the south-west of the State is narrow gauge and operates very successfully.
Given that there has been a long history of operations on narrow gauge in Perth and a large investment in rollingstock and infrastructure, it is unlikely that any future extensions of the Perth urban passenger railway will be in any other than narrow gauge as a natural extension of the existing network.
(b) Regardless of the track gauge, the Southern Suburbs Railway and the entire existing suburban network to Clarkson, Armadale, Fremantle and Midland and the new Thornlie Spur are specifically dedicated to passenger traffic and there is no freight operation on these lines.
(c) The Perth urban rail network is capable of being extended along most of the lines and if and when justified, this extension will use the existing track gauge and will use the existing forms of railway infrastructure and rollingstock. Extension of the railway does not require and is not conditional on the track gauge or the speed of the trains.
(d) to (f) In terms of the railway gauge in Perth, this was considered as far back as the 1870's and there were a number of opinions about the appropriate railway gauge more-so then than now. The decision was taken then to build Perth's first passenger railway from Fremantle to Guildford in 1881 as a narrow gauge railway (1,067 mm). During the 1950's and '60's, there were a number of reviews of the railway and there was consideration to changing the gauge to Standard Gauge (1,435 mm). These reviews were considered by various governments and for reasons of spatial economy, relatively low population and patronage and for the high cost involved, the decision was taken to retain the narrow gauge railway. Prior to the decision to electrify the passenger railway network in the mid to late 1980's, this was again considered and after careful thought, it was decided to retain the narrow gauge railway.
It is worth noting that many high capacity, high speed urban and inter-urban and freight railways operate successfully on narrow gauge track. The Brisbane suburban and Queensland east coast main lines are narrow gauge. Their east coast main line is the heaviest freight line operation in Australia, carrying mainly coal over long distances at high speeds. High speed narrow gauge country passenger trains also use these lines. Many parts of the passenger railway network in Japan and South Africa are narrow gauge and high speed, high capacity passenger services operate successfully on this track gauge. In Western Australia most of the freight railway in the south-west of the State is narrow gauge and operates very successfully.
Given that there has been a long history of operations on narrow gauge in Perth and a large investment in rollingstock and infrastructure, it is unlikely that any future extensions of the Perth urban passenger railway will be in any other than narrow gauge as a natural extension of the existing network.
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