At the moment train 31/32 (the “Paper Train”) and 35/36 (Burnie – Hobart intermodal services) have remained relatively unaffected. A pair of additional overnight Western Junction – Hobart services have been added, these operating in conjunction with the previous Bell Bay line services. The arrival in Hobart (variable but up to 9am), and departure (any time from 5:30pm onward, operates via Boyer) may have opportunities for photography. The lunchtime departure from Hobart continues to operate, but does not return to Hobart.
Last updated October 2005
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. Frequencies can be found at the Australian Communications Authority internet site. (Try “Land Mobile System” category, in the range 158 MHz to 163 MHz).
There can be up to four trains in/out of Hobart each weekday. Departures are about 12:45 (shunt movement to Rogerville) & 18:30 (to Burnie). The main arrival (from Burnie) is scheduled for 06:25, while the shunt movement from Rogerville returns as convenient during the afternoon. Shunting takes place throughout the day, with the Hobart yard adjoining the large public areas of the ‘Regatta Grounds’ and Cenotaph area.
Bridgewater, 22 km / 30 minutes north of Hobart, is the junction for the Derwent Valley and South lines. In addition to the trains to/from Hobart, there are two return trains from the north serving the Boyer paper mill. A daylight train from East Tamar passes Bridgewater at around 14:45, while the ‘paper train’ heading south passes around 17:00. The northbound return paper train passes around 19:00, while the second outbound train from Boyer passes through for the north of the state between 20:00 and 22:00.
On weekends, trains depart from Hobart around 16:00 on Saturdays and 15:00 on Sundays, depending on loading. The paper train to/from Boyer also runs on Sundays.
| Hobart Arrivals | |||
| 35 | 67 | ||
| 0625 | As required | ||
| Hobart Departures | |||
| 66 (Mon-Fri) | 36 | 36 | |
| 1245 | 1830 (Mon-Fri) | 1600 (Sat), 1500 (Sun) | |
On weekdays, a coal & log train departs from Fingal around 10:30. This train currently continues through to Devonport. A southbound goods usually passes Conara at around 1000, while the southbound ‘paper train’ passes through Conara around 13:00.
A train leaves East Tamar for Bell Bay each weekday at around 07:00, and usually also runs on Saturdays but at a later time. The arrival time of the return Bell Bay train is extremely variable, although 19:00 is common. The Wednesday evening Paper Train from Boyer often runs to Bell Bay rather than Burnie. When this happens, departure from Bell Bay is around 10:00 on Thursday.
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 a major station on the main Hobart–Burnie line. Although most train movements are at night, the eastbound paper train and westbound coal train pass through during daylight hours. The Boyer-bound ‘paper train’ is scheduled at around midday, while the coal train usually arrives at around 14:00.
The only trains on weekends are the two container trains (usually in the evening) and the eastbound paper train on Saturday, and an empty coal train movement on Sunday morning.
| Launceston Departures | ||||
| Bell Bay (Container) | Bell Bay (paper) | 43 | Western Jct shunter (Early) | Western Jct shunter (Late) |
| 0630 | 0410 | 0730 | 2030 | 2230 |
| Launceston Arrivals | ||||
| Bell Bay (Container) | Bell Bay (paper) | 44 | Western Jct shunter (Early) | Western Jct shunter (Late) |
| 19:20 | 1130 | 0440 | 2130 | 0500 |
The Railton to Devonport cement train can operate almost continuously, seven days a week, depending on shipping schedules. The weekday coal train runs to Devonport before returning east.
The container train between Burnie and Hobart passes though Devonport around 06:00 while the eastbound train passes around 19:00 (these trains usually spend some time shunting Devonport, and these are typical departure times). The ‘paper train’ passes though at about 03:00 (westbound) and 09:00 (eastbound).
The unloading of the cement train is visible from the main road, as are some shunting operations. Devonport is an important source and destination of container traffic.
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 down the West Coast leave around 04:00 and 16:00, returning around 13:00 and midnight. The early train operates 5 or 6 times per week (Monday to Friday or Saturday), while the late train usually operates around three days a week.
The procession of trains along the coast starts at 04:40 with the arrival of the Burnie-bound ‘paper train’. The southbound working of this train departs around 08:00, after the Hobart container train arrives which is about 07:20. The return run of the container train is often between 17:00 and 18:00. This train runs seven days a week. Departures and arrivals of the paper train are dependant on whether product is destined for Burnie or Bell Bay. The former Sunday morning departure now runs on Saturday.
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.
| Burnie Arrivals | |||||
| 32 | 36 | 72 | 78 | ||
| 0440 | 0720 | 1300 | 0000 | ||
| Burnie Departures | |||||
| 31 | 35 | 71 | 77 | ||
| 0750 | 1700 | 0400 | 1600 | ||
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Page last updated: October 11, 2007, 11:43:53
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