Australian National Railways Commission
AN · Australian National Railways · Australian National
1 July 1975 – 1998
Commonwealth railway authority that ran the former Commonwealth Railways lines and, from 1978, Tasmania's railways and South Australia's non-metropolitan railways, carrying freight and long-distance passengers.
How it came into existence
Established on 1 July 1975 under the Australian National Railways Act 1975, taking over the Commonwealth Railways undertaking with its track, rolling stock and staff.
- Trans-Australian, Central Australia and North Australia railways
- Commonwealth rail freight and passenger services
Legislation: Australian National Railways Act 1975; Australian National Railways Commission Sale Act 1997
Changes during its life
- 1 July 1975Traded as Australian National Railways, later shortened to Australian National (AN).
- March 1978Took over the Tasmanian Government Railways and South Australia's non-metropolitan railways under transfer agreements with those states.
- 1993Interstate rail freight operations passed to the National Rail Corporation.
- 1997The Australian National Railways Commission Sale Act 1997 provided for the sale of the Commission's businesses.
- 1 July 1998Management of the Commission's interstate standard-gauge track passed to the Australian Rail Track Corporation.
- Interstate rail freight services
Australian National's interstate freight passed to National Rail progressively from 1993; exact date not confirmed.
How it ended
Its interstate freight business passed to National Rail Corporation from 1993 and its South Australian freight, Tasmanian and long-distance passenger businesses were sold to private operators in late 1997 under the Australian National Railways Commission Sale Act 1997; its interstate track passed to the Australian Rail Track Corporation in July 1998, after which the Commission was wound up (formal abolition date not confirmed).
- Interstate standard-gauge track management
- Interstate track access
Main functions
- Interstate and intrastate rail freight
- Long-distance passenger trains, including the Indian Pacific and The Ghan
- Ownership and maintenance of Commonwealth railway track
- Operation of Tasmanian and South Australian country railways
Where it sits
Last in the portfolio of Department of Transport and Regional Development.
Lineage
Loading lineage…
Sources
Other sources
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.