Understanding Australia's Urban Railways provides an overview of the urban passenger and freight railways in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. For passenger rail, the report explores service provision; patronage trends; recent and planned network expansion; and the key challenges facing each system. In addition, the report examines the main characteristics of each city's rail freight network including: the extent of the freight/passenger rail interface; recent and planned network expansion; and the principal freight task on each system.

• Understanding Australia's urban railways
  
  report_131.pdf
  (8.88 MB)

This is a Report on the proposed terminal facility at Acacia Ridge. It is becoming increasingly apparent that terminal facilities are a key to the efficient operation of the Australian railway system. In many cases, however, the layout and structures do not permit modern. Methods to be employed effectively, so that serious delays occur. As the problems are so serious at Acacia Ridge, this report was compiled in 3 months.

• Development of a Rail Freight Terminal at Acacia Ridge
  
  report_012.pdf
  (4.66 MB)

Subsequent growth in Canberra, particularly in the post-war period, and projections suggesting continued rapid growth, prompted the Minister for Shipping and Transport in 1964 to request from the Commonwealth Railways Commissioner a report on the proposed rail link between Canberra and Yass.

That report stated that when the considerable savings are taken into account that would accrue to the various instrumentalities and people located in the Australian Capital Territory as the result of lower freight rates and passenger fares consequent upon the direct linking of Canberra with Yass, construction of the Canberra-Yass railway could be justified on economic grounds.

In April this year, the Minister for Shipping and Transport requested the Bureau of Transport Economics to carry out a detailed economic evaluation of the link.

• Economic Evaluation of a Canberra to Yass Rail Link
  
  report_001.pdf
  (4.95 MB)

The evaluations presented in this Report have been made to determine the least cost sleeper alternative for each of three railway projects. They are the proposed new railway line from Tarcoola to Alice Springs, the standard gauge connection from Adelaide to Crystal Brook, and the re-sleepering of the Trans-Australian Railway.

• Economic Evaluation of Timber and Concrete Sleepers for Three Railway Lines
  
  report_004.pdf
  (3 MB)

This Report presents the results of a consumer preference survey in urban rail carriage design. The survey was carried out by the BTE in Brisbane in May and June, 1973, with the cooperation of Queensland Railways.

• Consumer Preferences in Urban Rail Carriage Design: Results of a Survey Conducted in Brisbane During May and June, 1973
  
  report_010.pdf
  (4.39 MB)

The majority of Australia's intercapital railway lines are single track and these all experience some degree of congestion. Various combinations of capital investment and improved operating practices are evaluated in this report, with a view to eliminating the growing congestion on the Melbourne Sydney rail link.

• Mainline Upgrading: Evaluation of a Range of Options for the Melbourne to Sydney Rail Link
  
  report_020.pdf
  (6.25 MB)

The majority of Australia's intercapital railway lines are single track and these all experience some degree of congestion. Various combinations of capital investment and improved operating practices are evaluated in this report, with a view to eliminating the growing congestion on the Victorian portion of the Melbourne to Adelaide rail link.

• Mainline Upgrading: Evaluation of a Range of Options for the Melbourne to Serviceton Rail Link
  
  report_021.pdf
  (7.73 MB)

"The operations of a railway system can often be enhanced by the introduction of improved technology. Clearly the benefits of the new technology should more than compensate for its costs.

The introduction of the 2CM freight bogie would enhance the operations of the Australian railways, however the question of the value of the benefits in relation to the additional costs has been a vexed one. This report has been prepared with the object of clarifying the economic merits of the 2CM bogie."

• The 2CM Freight Wagon Bogie–an Appraisal
  
  report_023.pdf
  (3.47 MB)

Government railways in Australia operate in all mainland States and Territories. Interstate movement of freight over the rail network is a potentially important method of transportation within the nation. However, intersystem railway arrangements operate against a background of State railways providing predominantly intrastate freight services. This report presents the results of a study of intersystem railway freight rating practices as they apply to a particular area of New South Wales.

• Study of Intersystem Railway Freight Rating Practices
  
  report_025.pdf
  (9.57 MB)

Because of separate development by the individual States, the Australian railway network contains links of a number of different gauges.

For this reason bogie exchange facilities have been established at several locations including two in South Australia, at Port Pirie and Peterborough, where the State broad gauge system meets the interstate standard gauge system.

The intention of these exchanges is to allow ready transfer of loaded and unloaded freight wagons from one system to the other. Traffic through the exchange at Port Pirie has increased to the extent that difficulties are being experienced in handling it.

• Study of Port Pirie Bogie Exchange
  
  report_026.pdf
  (3.77 MB)