This article is about the former Central Australia Railway, which was built between 1878 and 1929, and shut down in 1981. For the current north–south railway lines, see Adelaide–Darwin railway line. For the former narrow gauge line between Darwin and Birdum, see North Australia Railway. For the Adelaide to Darwin passenger train, see The Ghan. For the heritage railway between Port Augusta and Quorn, see Pichi Richi Railway.
Central Australia Railway
Route and principal completion dates
Overview
Termini
Stirling North near Port Augusta
Alice Springs
Service
System
South Australian Railways 1878–1917
South Australian Railways on behalf of Commonwealth Railways 1917–1926
Commonwealth Railways 1926–1975
Australian National (CR's successor agency) 1975–1981
Operator(s)
South Australian Railways Commonwealth Railways (became Australian National)
History
Opened
Port Augusta–Marree: 1884 Marree–Oodnadatta: 1891 Oodnadatta–Alice Springs: 1929
Closed
1981
Technical
Line length
1,241 km (771 mi)
Track gauge
1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in); 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge from 1957 to 2016 (new route Port Augusta–Marree)
Route map
Central Australia Railway (narrow gauge)
Marree railway line (standard gauge)
1241 km
Alice Springs (old)
Central Australia Railway
Adelaide–Darwin railway line
to Darwin
Alice Springs abattoir
Alice Springs (current)
1237 km
Heavitree
Adelaide–Darwin railway line
to Port Augusta
Macdonnell triangle
start preserved track
1231 km
Macdonnell
1224 km
Mount Ertwa
end preserved track
Ewaninga triangle
1208 km
Ewaninga
1192 km
Pohill Siding
1175 km
Ooraminna
1163 km
Deep Well
Deep Well siding
1141 km
Rodinga
Rodinga stock yards
1125 km
Maryvale
1099 km
Bundooma
1076 km
Engoordina
1060 km
Mount Squire
1044 km
Rumbalara
Rumbalara stock yards
1028 km
Musgrave
1014 km
Finke (Aputula)
1012 km
Finke stock yards
997 km
Crown Point
981 km
Duffield
965 km
Wall Creek
962 km
Northern Territory
South Australia
border
945 km
Abminga
Abminga sidings
929 km
Bloods Creek
908 km
Ilbunga
895 km
Mount Emery
876 km
Pedirka
859 km
Mt Rebecca
841 km
Mt Sarah (Stevenson Creek)
825 km
Macumba
811 km
Alberga
804 km
Wire Creek
Wire Creek siding
792 km
Todmorten
Oodnadatta sidings
770 km
Oodnadatta
744 km
North Creek
Mount Dutton stock yards
729 km
Mount Dutton
Mount Dutton triangle
Algebuckina Bridge
714 km
Algebuckina
698 km
Peake Creek
Warrina stock yards
682 km
Warrina
Edwards Creek triangle
666 km
Edwards Creek
Edwards Creek siding
650 km
Duff Creek (Weedina)
632 km
Boorthana
616 km
Box Creek
600 km
Anna Creek
588 km
Douglas
574 km
William Creek
William Creek triangle
554 km
Irrappatana
537 km
Strangways Springs
525 km
Beresford
501 km
Coward Springs
Coward Springs triangle
489 km
Margaret
473 km
Curdimurka (Stuarts Creek)
453 km
Lake Eyre
440 km
Bopeechee
425 km
Alberrie Creek
407 km
Wangianna
387 km
Callanna
Marree gauge interchange
Marree
356 km
372 km
Marree
359 km
Mundownda
Witchelina
339 km
Wirrawilla
Farina triangles
Farina
303 km
320 km
Farina
Lyndhurst
278 km
294 km
Lyndhurst
Old Mine loop
Telford
271 km
Telford
end of Leigh Creek line tracks
Leigh Creek Coalfield
Copley
245 km
262 km
Copley
Leigh Creek
240 km
Puttapa
231 km
247 km
Puttapa
Beltana
232 km
Beltana
212 km
Nilpena (Black Fellows Creek)
Parachilna
175 km
195 km
Parachilna
Commodore
163 km
183 km
Commodore
Brachina
153 km
173 km
Brachina
163 km
Edeowie
Moralana
127 km
137 km
Mern Merna
Cotabena
107 km
124 km
Hookina (Wonoka)
Neuroodla
89 km
105 km
Hawker
89.6 km
Wilson
73.0 km
Gordon
57.5 km
Willochra
Wilkatana
48 km
Peterborough–Quorn railway line
end of Pichi Richi Railway
39.8 km
Quorn
Quorn Pichi Richi Depot
32.4 km
Summit siding
23.6 km
Woolshed Flat
18.2 km
Saltia siding
start dormant tracks
Bungala Solar Plant
Goods yard
Adelaide-Port Augusta railway line
Northern Power Station
Port Augusta Racecourse
0 km
Port Augusta
Pichi Richi Depot
Adelaide–Darwin railway line
to Alice Springs
The routes of the narrow-gauge Central Australia Railway (1878–1980) and the standard-gauge Marree line which replaced the southernmost third of the route (1957–2019).
Perspective view with the southern Flinders Ranges routes in the foreground. Political pressure mandated the difficult eastern alignment of the original route.
The former Central Australia Railway, which was built between 1878 and 1929 and closed in 1980, was a 1241 km (771 mi) 1067 mm narrow gauge railway between Port Augusta and Alice Springs.[1] A standard gauge line duplicated the southern section from Port Augusta to Maree in 1957 on a new nearby alignment. The entire Central Australia Railway was superseded in 1980 after the standard gauge Tarcoola–Alice Springs Railway was opened, using a new route up to 200 km to the west. A small southern section of the original line between Port Augusta and Quorn has been preserved as the Pichi Richi Tourist Railway.
^"Central Australia Railway". War Time History of the Commonwealth Railways. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
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