In late January 2010 the new Tasmanian Railways company implemented a revised timetable for freight services between Hobart and Burnie - services on the Bell Bay ceasing. It is expected that Bell Bay trains will return in September or October 2010, although it is unknown what timetable these will operate to at present.
This is a summary of the current TasRail timetable, made up from observations of people from around Tasmania. The times included are typical of trains seen, and are a guide only, as they do vary by up to an hour (or more) each way depending on the day — if they even run! All trains that regularly operate have been included, although often only times for the daylight portion of the trip have been listed. Please note that not all trains operate every day, and when they do the times do vary.
All train movements are coordinated by a single train controller in Launceston, via a State-wide VHF radio network, backed up with mobile phones as required. Frequencies can be found at the Australian Communications and Media Authority internet site. (Try “Land Mobile System” category, in the range 158 MHz to 163 MHz for repeaters, "Ambulatory System" around the same range for shunting).
There are up to two return trips scheduled between Hobart/Boyer and northern ports per day. The trains vary depending on the day of the week.
Trains 35 (intermodal service) run south overnight, usually arriving in Hobart between 6 and 8am (Sunday morning excepted). Train 31 (the ‘Paper Train’) runs south from Burnie during the day, arriving Boyer around 6 to 7pm (Monday to Friday), generally crossing the northbound service at Tea Tree.
Northbound trains generally run at night, although a mid afternoon train (or light engines) operates from Hobart to Boyer (weekdays, although sometime on a Sunday) with loading for Boyer or Burnie, usually departing around 2:30pm. These locomotives then form the northbound "Paper Train" from Boyer to Burnie, the train departing around 5:30pm (Sunday to Friday) and running to Burnie overnight, crossing the southbound service at Tea Tree or Colebrook.
Shunting takes place in Hobart throughout the day, with the Hobart yard adjoining the large public areas of the ‘Regatta Grounds’ and Cenotaph area. The Boyer yard is within the Norske Skog paper mill, and has no public access, although some shunting of wagons toward New Norfolk is visible at a distance from Boyer Road.
The only train during the day in the southern midlands is the southbound ‘paper train’ which passes through Conara around 2:30pm on weekdays. The loaded coal train on the Fingal Line is scheduled to depart Fingal around 10:30am, and run to Conara, then Western Junction and then directly to Railton. This usually operates three days a week (generally Monday and Thursday).
No freight services operate in the Launceston area at present. Transfers of locos and wagons operate between Western Junction and East Tamar as required.
Access to East Tamar yard and the workshops area is restricted, although limited public viewing is available from the adjacent netball courts (off Hoblers Bridge Road), and nearby Cypress Street.
Western Junction, about 18 km south of Launceston, is the junction station on the main Hobart–Burnie line. The eastbound paper train and westbound coal train pass through during daylight hours. The Boyer-bound ‘paper train’ is scheduled at around 1:30pm, while the coal train usually arrives at around 3:30pm. The westbound train from Hobart leaves Western Junction around 10am
The Railton to Devonport cement train can operate almost continuously, seven days a week, depending on shipping schedules. The a two or three times a week coal train runs as far as Railton, arriving about 6pm before unloading and returning east.
During daylight hours, the westbound container train from Hobart pass though Devonport around 1:30pm, depending on its lateness, while the eastbound Paper Train passes around 10am.
The unloading of the cement train is visible from the main road in Devonport, although care must be taken of the road traffic in the area.
Trains arrive and depart Burnie in two directions: south to Melba and Rosebery, and east to Devonport and then to Launceston and Hobart.
Concentrate trains on the West Coast line leave around 4:40am and 3:45pm, returning around 2pm and 2am. The early train operates 6 times per week (Monday to Saturday) to Primrose, while the late train usually operates as required, (up to five days a week) to Melba Flats, although these schedules vary depending on shipping schedules and the customers requirements.
The south/east bound “Paper Train” departs around 8am (Monday to Saturday), with the Intermodal service for Hobart arriving around 3pm
Shunting is carried out all day, and is visible from Marine Terrace, which parallels the yard for most of its length, or from other public roads/open space in this area.
Compiled by Stuart Dix with assistance from Michael Dix and Phil Lange
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Page last updated: August 19, 2010, 20:18:23
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